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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : PicoMite Firmware Release Version 6.02.00

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Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3336
Posted: 05:12am 25 Jan 2026
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Peter has delivered the latest release version of the PicoMite firmware V6.02.00.

This can be downloaded from https://geoffg.net/picomite.html (scroll to the bottom of the page).   It includes the updated user manual and additional specialised manuals (see the Extra Documentation folder in the firmware zip).

In addition to fixing all reported bugs this version includes many new commands/functions and enhancements including ASTRO for calculating the position of celestial objects, an extended BITSTREAM command for generating precise bitstreams, a driver for HD44780-compatible character LCD displays, a comprehensive system for controlling stepper motors and the command STRUCT which allows for the manipulation of structures.

Geoff
Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net
 
Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9854
Posted: 06:10am 25 Jan 2026
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Damn, does that man ever sleep?!      
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!
 
matherp
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Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 10896
Posted: 08:58am 25 Jan 2026
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Release notes:
This release is fundamentally about the implementation of structured types in MMbasic and their use in many commands and functions

New commands:
TYPE
END TYPE
STRUCT
BITSTREAM command with dual pin capability
I2CLCD

New Functions:
STRUCT(

Other changes:
Memory footprint of MODFILE playback reduced
Improved handling of errors during tokenising the code
Removed constraint on number of case statements in SELECT CASE block
Enhancements to SPRITE command and function
COLOUR MAP now available for framebuffers on PicoMite versions
COPY command now allows copying a single file to a directory without specifying the destination filename
Includes the SUN in ASTRO and STAR commands
Major rework of the interaction between foreground and background I2C tasks on the SYSTEM I2C to avoid conflicts
Reduced memory overhead of various systems if not used: Turtle graphics, PLAY MP3, Sprites, Virtual Displays
MM.INFO(LCDPANEL) now returns the current mode for VGA and HDMI versions
XMODEM now always pads with NULL characters and terminates lines with CR/LF



Bug fixes:
Fixed bug where audio could play at the wrong speed after playing a MODFILE
Fied bugs in use of virtual screen drivers
Fixes bugs in editor when default mode is not 1
Fixes lockup when trying to FLASH CHAIN or FLASH RUN an empty flash slot
Fixes bug when copying a file to itself
Fixes bug where GPS data with incorrect checksum was not invalidated
Fixes bug where program could attempt to free unallocated heap memory
Fixes bug in OPTION LIST for some LCD displays
 
bfwolf
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Joined: 03/01/2025
Location: Germany
Posts: 146
Posted: 09:49am 25 Jan 2026
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  Geoffg said  Peter has delivered the latest release version of the PicoMite firmware V6.02.00.
...
Geoff


  matherp said  Release notes:
This release is fundamentally about the implementation of structured types in MMbasic and their use in many commands and functions

New commands:
TYPE
END TYPE
STRUCT
BITSTREAM command with dual pin capability
I2CLCD

New Functions:
STRUCT(

Other changes:
...


I was wondering why Peter was so quiet on the release candidate thread: I thought, "Either he's still hatching an improvement or new feature, or he's waiting a few days for bugs to be found before he can fire off version 6.02.00?"

Congratulations and many thanks for the work, Peter!

Thanks to you too, Geoff!
 
Volhout
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Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 5632
Posted: 10:59am 25 Jan 2026
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  Geoffg said  a comprehensive system for controlling stepper motors

Geoff


I missed that one in testing. Is it RP2350 only ?  "2350 only" was not listed in the user manual. On 2040 I get "unknown command"

Volhout
Edited 2026-01-25 21:18 by Volhout
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
cosmic frog
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Joined: 09/02/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 307
Posted: 11:47am 25 Jan 2026
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Thankyou to Peter, Geoff and everyone involved.
 
lizby
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Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3569
Posted: 02:36pm 25 Jan 2026
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Super upgrade, Peter. I've been using structures a lot for the indices in my PicoDB database (files which are arrays of structures), and they're very helpful--especially for sorting.

A question regarding the warning that drive A: may be erased. That's definitely the case for earlier versions, and I think for at least the first RC. Will that happen with the later RCs?
PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed
 
matherp
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Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 10896
Posted: 02:44pm 25 Jan 2026
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Yes, for new releases I force a complete flash clear - we have ways...
 
karlelch

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Joined: 30/10/2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 314
Posted: 05:46pm 25 Jan 2026
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Thank you for the new release, Peter!
 
homa

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Joined: 05/11/2021
Location: Germany
Posts: 533
Posted: 07:16pm 25 Jan 2026
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Does anyone else have this problem with MP3 playback from the FM175? It used to work without any problems.
It also works when I start playback from the prompt.

> option list
PicoMiteHDMI MMBasic USB RP2350A Edition V6.02.00
OPTION SERIAL CONSOLE COM2,GP8,GP9
OPTION SYSTEM I2C GP20,GP21
OPTION FLASH SIZE 4194304
OPTION COLOURCODE ON
OPTION KEYBOARD GR
OPTION RESOLUTION 640x480 @ 315000KHz
OPTION SDCARD GP22, GP26, GP27, GP28
OPTION AUDIO GP10,GP11', ON PWM CHANNEL 5
OPTION RTC AUTO ENABLE
OPTION MODBUFF ENABLE  192
OPTION PLATFORM HDMIUSB
>


Matthias
 
phil99

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Joined: 11/02/2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 2955
Posted: 08:54pm 25 Jan 2026
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  Quote  a comprehensive system for controlling stepper motors ... I missed that one in testing. Is it RP2350 only ?

That does appear to be the case.
On the RP2040 there is the new 2 pin Bitstream command that could run a stepper motor in bursts. The amount of memory for the arrays would limit continuous running.
If more than one motor I think it would only do one at a time.
 
Volhout
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Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 5632
Posted: 06:05am 26 Jan 2026
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Hi phill,

Look in the new user manual, command STEPPER.
Look at the new EXTRA DOCUMENTATION folder in the zip.
This looks a g-code converter for stepper motors.

But this is 2350 only, I think.

Volhout
Edited 2026-01-26 16:06 by Volhout
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
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