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Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript

tessel.io

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Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript

#21

Post by aikah »

GuiA wrote: post #3

$100 for something vastly inferior to a Raspberry Pi, Beaglebone, etc. that cost 1/2 to 1/3 of that. What am I missing here?

Tessel is marketed as a "micro-controller" while the PI as a "micro-computer".

Javascript marketing aside,it would be interesting to know if one can reproduce all Tessel capabilites with a Pi + extensions.

I dont think the "but it runs nodejs modules!" matter that much,if you're going to write for embedded devices,you need to go low level and seek optimizations like crazy.The stuff has like 32MB of ram,you cant do much in javascript+nodejs with that.AFAIK it doesnt even run a javascript engine,but translate the code to LUA.

Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript

#22

Post by Joeboy »

kasbah wrote: post #19
noodle wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lower barrier of entry for people interested in playing around with hardware development. No breadboards and wires, only pluggable modules. Javascript instead of C.

No Linux, which can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on whom you talk to.

You don't have to run Linux (or any OS) on the pi either.

Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript

#23

Post by pmontra »

batmansbelt wrote: post #8

Espruino is a similar device (without the cool plugins though, so expect to use a soldering iron). Much cheaper too.

I got one and I'm starting to experiment. I discovered that soldering can be a problem. First, I had to buy a solder. Second, physics is merciless and a mistake can toast your card (didn't happened to me yet) vs the run-fail-debug loop we're used to in sw development.

Anyway, some hw modules have been tested with Espruino and the web site explains how to use them. My understanding is that you can plug almost anything into it, you just (!) have to know its specs and how to wire it to the board.

Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript

#24

Post by eurleif »

justincormack wrote: post #14

Actually, a microcontroller that runs Lua. They released the source for the JavaScript to Lua compiler today https://github.com/tessel/colony-compiler

I wonder if this can be used for redis scripting. I bet a lot of people writing node.js apps would like to be able to write redis scripts in JS.

Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript

#25

Post by dzhiurgis »

johnpmayer wrote: post #2

This is great. I have some small background in real time embedded systems, but I think that 99% of the "internet of things" need not be written in low-level C. I'll probably pick this up... ...however, I do hope that they can bring down the price for future models. $100 is a bit steep for a hobby project to control my AC. For now, I understand that the premuim is rewarding the software effort.

STM32 + espruino.

Lost my interest the first day. Couldnt manage to make it run.

Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript

#26

Post by sprobertson »

aikah wrote: post #21
GuiA wrote: post #3

$100 for something vastly inferior to a Raspberry Pi, Beaglebone, etc. that cost 1/2 to 1/3 of that. What am I missing here?

Tessel is marketed as a "micro-controller" while the PI as a "micro-computer". Javascript marketing aside,it would be interesting to know if one can reproduce all Tessel capabilites with a Pi + extensions. I dont think the "but it runs nodejs modules!" matter that much,if you're going to write for embedded devices,you need to go low level and seek optimizations like crazy.The stuff has like 32MB of ram,you cant do mu…

> it would be interesting to know if one can reproduce all Tessel capabilites with a Pi + extensions.

You can, I've had a Node-on-Pi based home automation system running for a few months now. It looks like Tessel's main advantage is the plug & play nature of their modules.

Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript

#27

Post by vikramhaer »

sprobertson wrote: post #26
aikah wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tessel is marketed as a "micro-controller" while the PI as a "micro-computer". Javascript marketing aside,it would be interesting to know if one can reproduce all Tessel capabilites with a Pi + extensions. I dont think the "but it runs nodejs modules!" matter that much,if you're going to write for embedded devices,you need to go low level and seek optimizations like crazy.The stuff has like 32MB of ram,you cant do mu…

> it would be interesting to know if one can reproduce all Tessel capabilites with a Pi + extensions. You can, I've had a Node-on-Pi based home automation system running for a few months now. It looks like Tessel's main advantage is the plug & play nature of their modules.

That sounds awesome, any details on what kind of setup you have on the Pi for home automation? Would love to try and setup something similar!

Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript

#28

Post by pjc50 »

johnpmayer wrote: post #2

This is great. I have some small background in real time embedded systems, but I think that 99% of the "internet of things" need not be written in low-level C. I'll probably pick this up... ...however, I do hope that they can bring down the price for future models. $100 is a bit steep for a hobby project to control my AC. For now, I understand that the premuim is rewarding the software effort.

Arguably should not be written in low level C, but something safer, lest it become the Internet of Unfixable Botnets.

Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript

#30

Post by SamReidHughes »

bsder wrote: post #20
Timmmmbob wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't have to write in low-level C. You can write in high level C++, which is vastly preferable to javascript! Or hell, why not write in Lua! It's what this apparently transpiles to, and is much nicer. The only reason javascript became popular is because it was the only option on the web. Why does that mean we would want to use it when we have better options?

> You can write in high level C++, which is vastly preferable to javascript! First, C++ compilers are not available everywhere. Second, C++ compilers do not always implement all corners of the language on embedded systems. Third, C++ is better than Javascript? That's going to take some explanation. > Or hell, why not write in Lua! Lua has it's own share of "Wat". 1-based indexing when a non-trivial amount of your stu…

> Third, C++ is better than Javascript? That's going to take some explanation.

It's statically typed, and the types you have to work with are a lot simpler.

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