 Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me. |
Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : (MM) Raison D’etre
| Author | Message | ||||
| ryanm Senior Member  Joined: 25/09/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 203 |
Hi all, I definitely don't mean to insult anybody or cause outrage by this, just looking to become more well informed. I've recently stumbled across this site and forum and have realised that there are a lot of very smart people here. There also seems to be a lot of love for the Maximite platform. As an outsider I see it and I think that I could get a far more powerful fully featured linux board for the same or a smaller price. I'm just wondering what features the Maximite must have to effect such a following? Please bear in mind that I am quite comfortable developing on *nix platforms so may be this just isn't the right road for me? |
||||
Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9643 |
Simplicity of code, mainly. Most Linux systems expect you to be able to write C, and if you can, that is fine. While there are the likes of Python for Linux and the Raspberry Pi etc, the simplicity of BASIC is what draws most of us here. The fact you DON'T need huge C libraries and other dependencies - it is all in the main program - that is a big drawcard for me, anyway. Since Cfunctions came along, special drivers etc for various LCD displays can now be included and those LCD's controlled with just single lines of BASIC code. The MM+ supports a full touch-screen controlled GUI, with all those touch controls etc being handled by MMBASIC natively - you only need a couple of lines of code to get basic GUI's up and running. Case in point is that even the Raspberry PI, running Python, it still is remarkably hard to just blink and LED on and off on that platform, not to mention you have a reasonably large Linux OS running behind Python for what might be simple tasks. On the MM, it is ready to run instantly as soon as you power up - no boot-up delays waiting for Linux to boot first before you can run Python etc. 
Having said that, even the MM+'s GUI is simplistic compared to any modern graphical GUI, but if all you want is something simple, that works without you having to fight it, then perhaps have a look at the MM. 
Have a look at this link if you have not already: MM+ Intro and features Welcome aboard the forums. 
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
||||
| ryanm Senior Member Joined: 25/09/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 203 |
I could not have hoped for a more informative reply. Thank you Grogster. I have to say I understand the draw of BASIC. I still remember writing programs for my TI calculator in high school that solved the problems on the tests we were given automatically. Sad thing is I was smart enough to write them, but not smart enough to sell them to my mates! |
||||
| matherp Guru  Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 10406 |
You need to distinguish between the Maximite and the Micromite. The Maximite is a single board computer that directly connects to a VGA monitor and keyboard and has very simple to use peripheral connectivity i2c, SPI, analogue etc. programs are stored on an SD card. The Micromite is firmware that can be loaded onto various PIC32MX chips and is specifically targeted at embedded computing. A simple environment could be just a 28-pin chip and a couple of capacitors. It can be programmed using a simple USB/TTL uart and the program is then stored in flash memory to be run immediately if required on power up - no additional components needed. Recent developments in the Micromite firmware have somewhat blurred the distinction between the Micromite and the Maximite as the PIC32MX470 based firmware now supports SD cards, keyboards and TFT screens and has GUI development capability but the code is still stored in the microprocessors flash memory. For the development of embedded solutions I think the Micromite is unparalleled for speed of development, simplicity of hardware, and robustness. If you want a single-board computer then there is a different discussion to be had |
||||
| WhiteWizzard Guru Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2948 |
This is probably the response most people will correctly give you. I have worked on literally hundreds of MicroMites, and custom MaxiMites, since early 2014 and the ease of use always shines through. The development cycle time of code, run, debug, re-run is SO easy on the 'Mites' compared to all other platforms and should not be under-estimated. Also bear in mind the Mites are truly stand alone too - no need for any App running on any other connected hardware (but if you want to, then you can in the form of MMEdit). So to make something flash an LED takes seconds to achieve by people of all ages and abilities (I know - I have spent over a year investigating the use of MMBasic in various age groups). The fact there is no need to 'compile and download' code is a massive 'benefit' in certain situations. And the fact you can look at code and pretty much understand what it does is such a benefit - no complex syntax's to remember. The Mites are not the perfect solution for all scenarios (and indeed is not designed to be such), BUT it makes light work of many tasks and is a perfect platform if you want to design and build something quickly. Probably the most impressive (in terms of speed) development I have done is to make an automatic light controller for my house the day before I was flying overseas for 5 weeks. I did not want to leave the house looking un-occupied, so I grabbed a MicroMite (Version 1, MX150) and hooked it to a remote Tx via three 4066 quad switches. This took about an hour to build (it didn't need to look pretty). Then another hour to do some test code and I could control ALL the lights in the house. It took the longest to write some 'timings' into the code but within just a few hours I had what was needed. There are many other examples I could give of their use, but the common factor is EASE of use, and SPEED of development without a doubt. By the way, I have used RaspberryPi's, Arduinos, and 'raw' PICs, but have not used them for a LONG time now. Hope this is useful feedback
WW |
||||
| robert.rozee Guru Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 2447 |
the (MX170) micromite is available in a 28-pin SDIP, with 0.1" through-hole pin spacing that almost anyone can solder onto a scrap of veroboard. with the addition of just a single 10uF ceramic capacitor this provides a complete and fully self-contained system (BASIC interpreter + editor + 50k of RAM) that will happily run on a pair of AA cells and can be configured to draw as little as 6mA (less than 100uA when in sleep mode). on the communications/programming front, all that is needed is a TTL terminal. a bit like the 8052-BASIC that intel offered way back in the dark ages, except the MX170 only costs about us$5 and has far far more resources available. there are few alternatives that can beat this in terms of ease of putting something together quickly (just 3 components including the veroboard), and speed of getting code running with a minimal learning curve. and a pair of AA cells will provide enough juice to run for several hundred hours (several years if sleep mode is used). i have said it before - the MX150/170 micromites are something a little special that allows almost anyone to tinker with a tiny computer and make something that works. cheers, rob :-) addendum: looks like while i was mulling this over several others have said much the same as what i've written! |
||||
| Chris Roper Senior Member Joined: 19/05/2015 Location: South AfricaPosts: 280 |
Just to add to the above, the PIC32MX devices are available in DIP Packaging so it is very quick and easy to setup a PIC32 with MicroMite on a breadboard, no soldering required. An added bonus is that you are not tied to a PC based development system, all you need is a terminal. So having set up your device on a small breadboard you can program it with a Tablet or even a Cell Phone, if that is all you have on hand. DIP packaging, No need for large compiler / IDE suits, solderless construction and interaction with any available serial terminal, make it perfect for teaching, even in remote locations or third world conditions. Cheers Chris http://caroper.blogspot.com/ |
||||
| ryanm Senior Member Joined: 25/09/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 203 |
Thanks everyone for the super helpful feedback. I'd just like to say that my curiosity is well sated, I understand the attraction to the platform now. Coming from a compile and upload background I assumed similar processes, but there are some obvious benefits to this model. I didn't actually know that that such a thing existed to tell the truth. The older you get the more you learn... |
||||
| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4071 |
You may like to know that almost all the source code (essentially it's written in C) can be obtained but it's not actually open source and you're a bit restricted in what you can do with the source. Probably doesn't matter to you... John |
||||
panky Guru Joined: 02/10/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1116 |
Hi Ryanm, I echo all the other comments - a fantastic little device. Reliability and stability is also worth a mention. I have a Circuit Gizmos Colour Maximite based Caravan Battery System Monitor I developed and it has bee running CONTINUOUSLY now for over 2 years! That's 24/7 for the entire time - no resets, no re-starts, just continuous operation, and it's still going. I would like to upgrade to a Micromite with some enhancements but just can't bring myself to stop the little beggar! Doug. ... almost all of the Maximites, the MicromMites, the MM Extremes, the ArmMites, the PicoMite and loving it! |
||||
 Print this page |
 |
The Back Shed's forum code is written, and hosted, in Australia. | © JAQ Software 2025 |
