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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Micromite Explore 28 in the U.S....
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| robert.rozee Guru  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 2442 |
and therein lies the problem... there are dozens of variants from ST, available on an equally large number of chinese development PCBs. any single compiled mmbasic binary is unable to run on more than one (or maybe two) combinations. and having a different binary for each possible processor and PCB variation creates an ecosystem that is impossible to maintain. - with the MX170/MM2, there is just ONE chip and two variants (28-pin and 44-pin). as a result, it is possible for geoff to maintain the code. - the MX470 has two variants (64-pin and 100-pin), but a wide variety of colour LCD combinations. it is, dare i say it, just maintainable. - the CMM2 has ONE variant, two PCB options that are 100% interchangeable. it has a high level of maintainability. does one see the pattern emerging? the more variations available, the less maintainable the code is. and the less maintainable the code, the less successful the product is (in this case, the product being processor + PCB layout + source code). cheers, rob :-) |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 10315 |
The ArmmiteF4 supports one PCB design with a single processor The ArmmiteH7 supports one PCB design with a single processor |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3378 |
But there are other problems as well: - with the MX170/MM2 -- no SD card (without a restriction, and in multiple attempts I was never able to get it to work). - the MX470 has two variants (64-pin and 100-pin) -- expensive and more expensive. - the CMM2 has ONE variant, two PCB options that are 100% interchangeable -- and very expensive if you just want to twiddle bits and write to SD. Of course, the specific Armmite F4 board for which Peter wrote the F4 port could go out of production. There are always tradeoffs. With the alternate F4 board I tried, I was just trying to see if it magically might work. Seemed hopeful at first, but not for long. There's no expectation that Peter should divert his attention from the very successful and interesting CMM2 to save anyone a few bucks or a few square inches of PCB. PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 5091 |
Hi matherp, where can we get one? PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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| robert.rozee Guru Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 2442 |
in terms of 'ability' sitting between the MX170 and MX470 is the STM32F411CEU6 supplied on this PCB: https://www.ebay.com/itm/264823162105 double the RAM, double the flash, and double the speed of an MX170, onboard RTC and USB, more I/O pins, enough flash for full SD support via an offboard SD socket. and a cost of just us$6 delivered. any other option that involves someone outside of china soldering parts onto a PCB is going to be considerably more expensive. it is just a sad reality that we can do nothing about. might i suggest getting enough folks together who represent a userbase of 100 or more units, then petition geoff to port the MX170/MX470 code to it. at the same time, think about ways to get hold of the gerber files for the PCB, so that if needsbe we can get more made independently of the current suppliers in china. i would even go so far as to suggest that for most applications the above board would be an E28/44-pin MX170/E64 'killer'. the MX170 28-pin DIP will remain viable as it remains the only single-DIP solution. cheers, rob :-) |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3378 |
Agree that would be a fine F4 board--but for only $2 more, the slightly larger F4 Volhout suggested here already has the SD socket and only needs to have a battery holder soldered to 2 existing pin holes to have an RTC. And the existing F4 port partly works. An embarrassment of riches, when the real scarcity is developer time. ~ Edited 2020-09-19 05:20 by lizby PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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