An Open Source Hardware Development Tool 68
LuxuryYacht writes "The PLAICE is an open source hardware and software project developing a powerful in-circuit development tool that combines in one device the features of a FLASH Programmer, Memory Emulator, and High Speed Multi-Channel Logic Analyzer. It runs uClinux. The logic analyzer features up to 200MHz sampling rates and up to 32 input channels. The logic analyzer Java client supports up to 200MHz sampling rates, user-controlled filtering operations, time line in diagrams, transfer rates, and user configurable drawing modes. The Java client supports access via almost any PC with a serial port and uses the RXTX serial library with support for 34 platforms including Linux, Windows, and Solaris. Java client plugins include an SPI and I2C bus protocol analyzer, conversion of timing analysis to state analysis, and post-processing functions."
This could eventually be important (Score:3, Informative)
Being able to create Linux friendly hardware could, if Microsoft succeeds, be necessary if we are to have high performance video and audio.
This project is not alone as open source hardware. My current favorite is the Arduino board using an Atmel microcontroller. www.arduino.cc I am also playing with the Make controller that uses an Arm. www.makezine.com/controller
Re:RS-232? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:RS-232? (Score:2, Informative)
Not open source hardware... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:RS-232? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:RS-232? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:That's nice (Score:4, Informative)
Just because there's a clamour for ever faster (and hotter) chips in PCs and servers, it does not follow that the same is true of an embedded computer. If a 4MHz processor works for a particular application, there is absolutely no benefit in using something that 'expects DDR2'. Normal 70ns static RAM and flash chips are sold by the millions because they are cheap, electronically simple to interface, and low speed circuits are much cheaper and easier to lay out on a PCB. You don't need DDR2 on a weather station embedded computer or washing machine.
Many microcontrollers like the Atmega can interface with external memory (even though they have some internal flash and RAM).
Re:That's nice (Score:3, Informative)