Author Topic: Software for an open source project  (Read 4884 times)

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Offline @rtTopic starter

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Software for an open source project
« on: May 12, 2017, 03:52:22 am »
Hello,
I’m wondering if anyone would volunteer to write an easy Windows or Mac application to support an open source microcontroller GPS project.
The hardware is not quite ready for release yet, but quickly getting there... so there will be a little time before I’m ready to engage in this.

The software needed is already written in C, and runs in Xcode for iPhone Simulator where it’s pretty useless :D
but should be pretty easy to reproduce with the likes of Borland C (which I have used, but don’t own).

It’s basically just a file parser/converter that takes a few Mb of free map file as input, a couple of values from the user to be
inserted at the beginning of the new file, and outputs a converted file. It can all be done in a big RAM buffer on a desktop system.
The only difference between the existing code is the way a Windows package will handle opening and creating the files.
Cheers, Brek.

 

Offline daveatol

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Re: Software for an open source project
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2017, 04:00:25 am »
I can code it in C# if you want. The executable can then be run on Windows/Linux/MacOS either natively, or through Mono. If you provide the source, some input files for testing, and the expected output files, it shouldn't be too hard.
 

Offline daveatol

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Re: Software for an open source project
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2017, 05:56:27 am »
If I am to do this, I will use C to write data processing code and compile a dll/so/dynlib for each platform, then call them from a common C# code running on .NET or Mono.
You should be able to do everything straight in C#. I am guessing the import/parsing is not very complex, and it will be cleaner/simpler and more maintainable just to have C#.
 

Offline @rtTopic starter

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Re: Software for an open source project
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2017, 06:37:14 am »
Great :)
I should have said two RAM arrays. The original file is loaded into the first array which is limited to 10Mb (and the file size is remembered),
then the parser part writes the new file into the second array which is also size limited, but the second file will always be smaller than the first.
IIRC, about 3 values are required as input from the user to be inserted into fixed locations in the new file (so also fairly easy).

The most it does is convert ASCII coordinates to 32 bit binary float values to save the microcontroller having to do that at execution time.
Making the file smaller also has the side effect of making if faster for the microcontroller to search the file, and render the map screen.

If more than one person is willing to have a crack at it, I’ll just make a zip package of some input and output files,
along with the Xcode (C) source I have, and anyone can have a crack at it. I’d do it myself if I had an uninfected copy of Borland :D

Hopefully I’ll have that sorted some time next week.
Thanks for the replies also, I appreciate the interest :)


 

Offline jiro

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Re: Software for an open source project
« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2017, 12:49:55 am »
Hi all,

Well, I think the language doesn't matter as long as it can be executed/compiled in the plattaforms you need. Java, C#, Python or Object Pascal if you feel a little rebel.

Even if the app require a heavy calculation those can be good options (to a certain point of course)
 


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