Category Archives: compilers

Minibloq v0.8 Beta released

Minibloq ver 0.8 has been released. “Minibloq is a graphical programming environment for Arduino™, Multiplo, physical computing devices and robots. One of it’s main goals is to bring closer physical computing and robotic platforms to primary schools, kids and beginners.” You can download this Beta version for Windows and OSX here.

MSPGCC Uniarch install tutorial

Sergio Campama has written this tutorial on installing MSPGCC Uniarch. “Uniarch is an initiative to unify all the work left behind by mspgcc3 and mspgcc4, while also separating the boundaries between the compiler and TI header files. This ‘branch’ of mspgcc is the most advanced one, having over 300 supported MSP430 devices.” Sergio writes: I […]

propgcc: GCC for the Parallax Propeller microcontroller

Here’s an interesting code project in the development stage. Propgcc is an open source GCC port for the Parallax Propeller P8x32a Microcontroller. The project is currently in the Alpha Test Phase, and its developers note that it’s not yet ready for general use. Testing and documentation are still in progress. They report that the compiler […]

Arduino IDE hack speeds up code compile

Paul Stoffregen over at PJRC sent us a link to this video highlighting how to modify the Arduino IDE by editing the boards.txt file to allow the compiler to use precompiled files. This helps to speed up the overall compile and upload process. A cool enhancement originally developed for the Teensyduino board. Paul submitted this […]

Google winds down Android app inventor, to open source code

Last December we noted the announcement of the Android App Inventor from Google. Now Google has announced the discontinuance of the project and states that they will open source the code. With the winding down of Google Labs, Google will discontinue App Inventor as a Google product and will open source the code. Additionally, because […]

Plunify online FPGA compiler conference call

MP3 download Plunify is an online compiler for Altera and Xilinx CPLDs/FPGAs. The developers’ goal is to build an interface to instant license and computer resources for large FPGA projects. Download the MP3 to hear more about their start-up and some of the difficulties they face with compiler licensing. We’re interested in Plunify because it […]

New release: XILINX ISE Design Suite 13.2

Xilinx has announced the availability of their ISE Design Suite 13.2. While most of the improvements appear geared toward the 7 Series FPGA families, if you’re in need of the Xilinx software or just want to upgrade you’ll find downloads for Windows and Linux here. As a much appreciated courtesy, Xilinx is also making DVDs […]

One step XSVF file generation for CPLD

If you’re using one of our CPLD Development Boards you need to have a file in XSVF format to download to the board using the Bus Pirate loaded with the BPXSVFPLAYER firmware. We’ve posted a method to convert SVF files to XSVF format, but Xilinx has included a handy way to produce “One Step XSVF” […]

PropForth IDE for the Parallax Propeller

PropForth is a fully interactive development environment which runs on the Parallax Propeller allowing you to program the chip interactively in Forth using a PC serial terminal program. Their latest code release is Version 4.5. According to their project description: Propforth 4.5 introduces standardized interfaces (cog, serial, ethernet, etc), SD support (thanks caskaz), completed EEPROM […]

EKOPath 4 Compiler Suite going open source

PathScale has announced that the EKOPath 4 Compiler Suite is now available as an open source project and free download for Linux (RedHat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 and 11, and Ubuntu 10), FreeBSD and Solaris. According to the press release: This release includes documentation and the complete development stack, […]

chipKIT PIC32 compiler Q&A

You had a lot of unanswered questions about the chipKIT compiler. Here’s some answers from Jason Kajita, a compiler developer. Jason wants to us to emphasize that this is the current plan and subject to change. Thanks for the lengthy answers! Is there any new open source code in the chipKIT compiler – files that […]

KTechlab IDE for microcontrollers and electronics

KTechlab is an open source IDE for microcontrollers and electronics design and works with Linux systems. It includes a simulator for analog and digital circuits and incorporates a C compiler. You can download the user manual in PDF here. The software is available from Sourceforge.

Altera releases new Quartus II v11.0 with Qsys

Quartus II is Altera’s comprehensive IDE for system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) design, including CPLD and FPGA development tools. They have just released their new Quartus II Software v11.0. The free downloadable web edition includes the Qsys system integration tool in production release, promises up to 2X higher interconnect performance compared to SOPC Builder, improved design reuse and […]

Advanced Arduino hacking

Maik Schmidt likes the Arduino, but like many of us he realizes the platform’s potential for advanced techniques beyond the IDE. In this article from the Pragmatic Bookshelf, he highlights the steps a beginner can take to learn how to develop software for the Arduino in a deeper way. Starting with how the IDE turns […]

Xilinx releases ISE Design Suite 13

Xilinx has released version 13.1 of their ISE Design Suite. including a number of new features. This software is used to develop programs from Xilinx CPLD and FPGA products, including the CoolRunner-II chips found in our development boards. The suite includes the free Webpack ISE. Note that this is a ~4 GB download. However, Xilinx […]

Atmel releases AVR Studio 5 beta

Atmel has released the beta version of their Atmel® AVR Studio® 5, the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for developing and debugging embedded Atmel AVR® applications. Version 5 provides one development environment for all 8-bit and 32-bit AVR microcontrollers. Features include an integrated C compiler, new project wizard, and an improved editor displaying code suggestions, shortcuts […]