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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : ArmmiteF407 future - big news
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| matherp Guru  Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 9122 |
Recently I posted an update to the ArmmiteF407 firmware. What I didn't know was that Gerry Allardice (disco4now) has not only created the manual for the ArmmiteF407 but has been working away at the firmware for some time. My recent post elicited the following reaction. Hmm, I thought, more work and how can that be made to fit in the limited flash on the STM32F407VET? Gerry then sent me a message to say he had a version of the firmware which solved both the library and options issues and already incorporated many of my other changes. I've now taken his version and implemented the hashed variable lookup into it as well as some of my other tweaks. Gerry now has the combined source and in future will take ownership of the Armmite family code. Once he has had a chance to correct my bugs you can expect a major new release from Gerry for the ArmmiteF407 together with an updated manual. For reference here is my assessment of some of the pros and cons of the ArmmiteF407 vs the PicoMite (standard version) Armmite407 advantages Support for fast 16-bit parallel displays - much better for graphics intensive applications Faster, more robust, SDcard access c30% faster at standard clock speeds Better ADC In-built battery backed RTC More I/O Ability to secure code (copy protection) PicoMite advantages Cheaper Smaller Better PWM Flash file system PIO |
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thwill Guru Joined: 16/09/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4042 |
Hi guys, If you've pulled in the regex stuff from the PicoMite then I believe you are in violation of the LGPL and need to pull it out, possibly replace with tiny-regex-c. I *think* it is OK in the PicoMite because anyone can download the source, modify and distribute (subject to some conditions), but the license and availability for the Armmite is more restrictive and I do not believe compatible. Also the PicoMite's onewire code has an LGPL copyright on it, IIRC this was from someone outside our community getting over-enthusiastic and applying the LGPL license header where they didn't have cause/right. I believe it was fixed on the CMM2, but perhaps the PicoMite forked from an MMBasic version before this fix ? Best wishes, Tom Edited 2023-08-18 02:43 by thwill Game*Mite, CMM2 Welcome Tape, Creaky old text adventures |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 9122 |
Doesn't have regex and subject to Geoff's agreement Armmmite will become open with same license as PicoMite. |
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RendPhys Newbie  Joined: 29/10/2020 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 6 |
Hi guys, That's good news! The F407 version is an easy way to pack a lot of power, including an LCD display that fits directly. Just an idea: perhaps this could be a good moment to (also?) implement a version for the larger STM32F407ZGT6. This processor has a larger FLASH (1024k) which would allow an easy addition of the extra commands and features while also giving the opportunity to select a higher speed optimization for the compilation. Perhaps also larger user programs could be implemented. The STM32F407ZGT6 is part of the 10-year Product Longevity of ST, so the future seems solid. At least for the processor. A first search reveals there are boards available: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32827402179.html? I did not check the details yet, perhaps it requires too much effort. The experts will have better view on this. Best wishes, Henk. |
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| circuit Senior Member  Joined: 10/01/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 245 |
Oh my goodness! This is the best news, indeed. I look forward to Autumn/Winter evenings building new toys with the new firmware. Dare I say it, given that I know and understand the amount of time that the firmware authors are putting into these projects, but perhaps... Peter, now that the ArmmiteF407 is now unexpectedly taking less of your time, could I nudge you towards an update for what I consider to be your most magnificent firmware - the MicroMite eXtreme MZ. For me, this port remains the best of all. When the PIC32MZ2048EFH144 became available again in late spring, I bought half-a-dozen chips and after some myopic soldering under my stereo microscope I have wired up a couple with SSD1963 displays and brought them back into my project portfolios - simply spectacular devices! And if you could bring Gerry's driver code for the OTM8009A displays over to the MZ, well... how indebted I would be! I remain deeply appreciative of the vast amount of work that you are all putting into this system; Geoff, Peter, Gerry and not forgetting Jim with his invaluable MMEDIT. This is a most collegial and enjoyable website with such excellent support from so many contributors around the World. Live long and prosper, one and all! |
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phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2135 |
One more item for the list.The Armmite F4 has 2 12-bit DACs built into the chip. |
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| morgs67 Regular Member  Joined: 10/07/2019 Location: AustraliaPosts: 75 |
Great news. My stash of F407 boards has moved from the back of the cupboard to the front. |
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Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6798 |
Please can we hold back on the other platforms until Peter and Gerry have got themselves sorted out? The STM32F407ZGT6 has never been a MMBasic platform and may have unforeseen problems. The PIC32MZ2048EFH144 hasn't had regular support for some time now and may not be suitable for Gerry's display code. Both of these are really projects in their own right and probably have low priority at this stage. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| Bernie3D Newbie Joined: 02/08/2023 Location: United StatesPosts: 19 |
Excellent! I look forward to the F407 port. Bernie. |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6798 |
I'm currently bringing my F407 board back from the afterlife (well, from its chinese takeaway box at the back of the drawer anyway). I'd previously done some mods to the battery side of things so I've started to fix those. I've also removed the battery holder and fitted a CR2032 holder in more or less the same place. Hot glue and wire are a fearsome combination. :) Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| thwill Guru Joined: 16/09/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4042 |
That is good news. You might still want to see if you can "correct" the copyright on Onewire.{c|h}, I had a look at the version in the CMM2 source and as I had recalled that does not have the GPL license header tacked onto it. YMMV. If Geoff does allow the Armmite license agreement to change you might want to consider using the license headers I adopted for MMB4L (with the attributions corrected of course), see https://github.com/thwill1000/mmb4l/blob/main/src/main.c This was approved by Geoff and is functionally the same as the PicoMite license but re-orders and IIRC slightly re-words the clauses so that it closely corresponds to the standard BSD-3 license + the additional name and advertising clauses. Again YMMV. Best wishes, Tom Game*Mite, CMM2 Welcome Tape, Creaky old text adventures |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 9122 |
He has, and this will be something for Gerry to consider. As you know I don't give a .... about licensing wording |
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| thwill Guru Joined: 16/09/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4042 |
"Mad, bad, and dangerous to know" ?  Game*Mite, CMM2 Welcome Tape, Creaky old text adventures |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 3802 |
It's great to see such excellent news - thanks! John |
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| circuit Senior Member Joined: 10/01/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 245 |
Gerry, I have commented several times in previous posts regarding the high quality of the draft manual that you have compiled for the F4. May I now make a request on the formatting to improve it even further. The existing format of the 'Mite manuals did not allow for two-side printing or proper two-page viewing on hi-res monitors because the page numbers were set for single side printing and viewing. The even-number page numbers always got buried in the binding when printed. I drew Geoff's attention to this for the PicoMite manual and he addressed this in the current edition. This manual prints and binds properly, making the perfect textbook. Also, when the PDF is viewed in two-page view on a 4K screen it looks correct. The adjustment to set the page header/footer options to 'different odd and even pages' so that the page numbers are always on the outer edge of the page is quite straightforward and the improvement in both the on-screen and more especially the printed version would be very significant. As I hope you realise, my appreciation of your work is enormous. I wait with unbridled anticipation for the new firmware and manual. The idea of having LIBRARY back in the system is worth waiting for, but more importantly the idea that I can chuck away the battery (I don't need RTC) is the simply the best. Good luck with the project and your collaboration with Peter. This is a real milestone in the Micromite system. |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 4243 |
I have a question for those who used the F4 platform more than I did. There is reference to several displas that it supports. - the 3.2" that is a buying option from some site (I have that display) - the 3.97" IPS display that can be bought from 12$ with 3551 controller - the 4,5.3,7,9" displays that use the SDD1963 controller For my new project I would like a larger displat than the 3.2" I have now. What can be advised ? I heard the 3.97" IPS is very good, but needs a 32->34 pin adapter. Is there any display bigger that is equally good (contrast/readability in light), and is compatible. Does anyone have a link to something that is worth purchasing and works with he F4 (and is below $100). Thank you in advance for suggestions.. Volhout P.S. the manual Gerry wrote is very helpful. I was always under the impression that the F4 platform would have limited IO left after connecting the 16 bit wide LCD. But the contrary. So many pins left (40+).This is a nice controller. That is what limited the pico. On the VGA version there are only 10 pins left (GP0..GP5, GP22, GP26..28). The standard pico is better with the shared SPI for LCD, SD. F4 has one disadvantage on this particular board: the MISO pin is not on J2 or J3. It must be taken from the 2401 header. But there is a second SPI bus that is full available. Edited 2023-08-20 19:10 by Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6798 |
I solved the page number thing on the manuals for my PCBs ages ago. I just centre the headers and footers on everything so it doesn't matter how you print it. Cheap & cheerful, that's me. No 4K screens here. :) I find the RTC very useful for keeping a record of versions when programming. The little CR1220 is a pain to get though, only available online. You never know, I might even dig out the NRF24L01 again. I never did get it to work. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 4243 |
+1 I think I ever threw them away.... Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6099 |
Here in Australia, they are available from the local Woolworths supermarket. I still prefer to hang a CR2032 holder of it instead. Jim VK7JH MMedit MMBasic Help |
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stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2129 |
Here in Australia, they are available from the local Woolworths supermarket. I still prefer to hang a CR2032 holder of it instead. Jim Woolworths disappeared here 25 years ago. They had shops for years. |
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