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Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: AustraliaPosts: 5189
| Posted: 04:31am 15 May 2011 |
While I've been waiting for my Maximite to ( ever ) show up, I'm been thinking of ways to use it. The Maximite could ( if the one I ORDERED EVER SHOWS UP. Yes Altronics, I'm talking to you! ) bridge the gap between boring old control/logging applications on a PicAxe or other micro-controller, and a full blown computer. The Maximite is just like the computer a lot of us cut our teeth on, 20 to 30 years ago.
The thing is, those old computers were easy to learn on. They all used some version of BASIC, which was designed as a simple to understand language. The PicAxe chips use a very simple version of BASIC, very limited, a bit hard to understand, but it works for its intended use, to control a microchip. At the other end of the spectrum are modern PC based versions of BASIC, like VB.Net ( or VB.Bloat as I call it ). In between are the older versions of BASIC, like GWBasic, QBasic, and the Maximite Basic, called MMBasic. These are powerful yet easy to understand and compact versions of BASIC. QBasic ( or its big brother QB ) is still in use today, over 20 years since its first release.
So I'm thinking the Maximite will be a good teaching tool. Not only can you learn BASIC programming, which is dead easy once you get started, but you can use it to do useful stuff, like control irrigation, batter charging, security systems, CNC, gen set watch dog, even log your windmill/solar/beer fridge etc.
To get started on my own Maximite ( IF I EVER GET ONE ) I thought it would be cool to rewrite a few programs I remember from 30 years ago when I started programming at school. Fun stuff, like games. The Maximite has the commands of those old computers, including graphics, but with a lot more speed.
Anyway, I've been thinking about adding a new section to the forum called Programming. We already get a few discussions about PicAxe programming, and I think once the Maximite reaches market (!), there will be a lot of interest in it on this forum, especially when it comes to wind/solar/etc applications. I would like to limit the scope to BASIC programming on devices like the PicAxe, Maximite, etc, but would also like to cover programming commercial regulators, etc. I know a few forum members use devices like the PicLog without understanding what is happening in the BASIC code. I can understand that, the BASIC used on the PicAxe isn't the easiest to understand, its designed to be compact and use limited chip resources. But the Maximite BASIC IS easy to understand, and I know of many forum members who will catch on quickly once they get started, and have a place to ask questions.
Open to suggestions.
Glenn
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
JAQ