When I think microcontroller, I think < $5. I'm not sure what this is supposed to be for - it's almost as expensive as a gumstix board.
Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript
81–90 of 92 posts
Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript
#82Earlier 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.
So...people who want to play around with hardware development without actually learning anything about hardware development? How is that helpful? Why not just learn what you need to learn and do it right the first time?
So kids shouldn't play before they go to school?
Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript
#83Yes, because we really, really need something else to run JS.
Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript
#84Earlier quoted context omitted.
Dude. You need to get some perspective on this. People are not going to buy a Tessel to build a production-grade hardware project. It is for hobbyists.
Fine; it's the paint by numbers of the hardware world. Oh, and it's really expensive to boot. Raspberry Pi's and Arduinos are for hobbyists; this is a child's toy.
Seriously, who cares? Why is there a badge of pride on our industry being hard? Its not like using a Tessel is something grandmas can do. Why is it a requirement for someone to know how to wire up a LED without blowing it? Software has become huge specifically because you don't need to know Assembly or even C to build real things that people can use.
If anything, you would think that you'd be overjoyed. People would hypothetically try to create products with these "child's toys" and give people like you a more robust job market and salary prospects. Or they wouldn't and it doesn't affect you at all.
Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
Fine; it's the paint by numbers of the hardware world. Oh, and it's really expensive to boot. Raspberry Pi's and Arduinos are for hobbyists; this is a child's toy.
Seriously, who cares? Why is there a badge of pride on our industry being hard? Its not like using a Tessel is something grandmas can do. Why is it a requirement for someone to know how to wire up a LED without blowing it? Software has become huge specifically because you don't need to know Assembly or even C to build real things that people can use. If anything, you would think that you'd be overjoyed. People would…
You seem to be repeatedly straw-manning EpicEng without replying to what he/she is actually saying. Maybe I'm just seeing that because I agree, but writing a useful embedded application in javascript seems about 100x harder than any of the standard ways, teaches you nothing useful, and would have to be rewritten from the ground up to go into production. It's a legitimate concern, not an "I'm so much smarter than you" brag.
Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript
#86Earlier quoted context omitted.
Seriously, who cares? Why is there a badge of pride on our industry being hard? Its not like using a Tessel is something grandmas can do. Why is it a requirement for someone to know how to wire up a LED without blowing it? Software has become huge specifically because you don't need to know Assembly or even C to build real things that people can use. If anything, you would think that you'd be overjoyed. People would…
You seem to be repeatedly straw-manning EpicEng without replying to what he/she is actually saying. Maybe I'm just seeing that because I agree, but writing a useful embedded application in javascript seems about 100x harder than any of the standard ways, teaches you nothing useful, and would have to be rewritten from the ground up to go into production. It's a legitimate concern, not an "I'm so much smarter than you"…
I don't think you read me correctly.
I agree with the facts and premise he presents. A Tessel is a toy. It is not going to teach you C, Assembly, or any of the realities of hardware development.
I disagree with the premise that this is a bad thing. I disagree with the premise that people are buying Tessels with the intent to create production grade products. This is literally a toy for people who want to screw around with hardware. This is not a bad thing.
Would you give people shit for buying some Lego Mindstorms to do the same thing instead of a Tessel?
Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript
#87Earlier quoted context omitted.
In Europe, the one who imports the device must submit a certification document for the device ... so even if you just stick already-approved products together you have to do a complete recertification. This, sadly, also includes selling a "Raspberry Pi computer" with you as distributor packing a Pi and a Wifi stick in a case. Only if you ship the individual components to the customer to self-assemble, you don't need…
Where is the "individual components" line drawn?
As soon as you take anything and put it together, my lawyer has told me. Technically, even computer shops assembling computers from parts will need a full certification for every combination they sell... it's crazy.
Add the WEEE regulation (valuable resource recycling) to the mess and you're out a couple thousand bucks if you do everything by the books.
Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript
#88Earlier quoted context omitted.
Where is the "individual components" line drawn?
As soon as you take anything and put it together, my lawyer has told me. Technically, even computer shops assembling computers from parts will need a full certification for every combination they sell... it's crazy. Add the WEEE regulation (valuable resource recycling) to the mess and you're out a couple thousand bucks if you do everything by the books.
Interesting. Are Adafruit (https://www.adafruit.com/category/112) and Sparkfun (https://www.sparkfun.com/categories/16) certifying each of their wireless module breakout boards, for example?
Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript
#89Earlier quoted context omitted.
As soon as you take anything and put it together, my lawyer has told me. Technically, even computer shops assembling computers from parts will need a full certification for every combination they sell... it's crazy. Add the WEEE regulation (valuable resource recycling) to the mess and you're out a couple thousand bucks if you do everything by the books.
Interesting. Are Adafruit ( https://www.adafruit.com/category/112 ) and Sparkfun ( https://www.sparkfun.com/categories/16 ) certifying each of their wireless module breakout boards, for example?
Adafruit is an US company, they can take advantage of simpler US regulations. As long as I import the modules for private usage, I don't need EU regulations (but in case my device causes RF interruptions, I still am liable!).
As soon as I start to selling them for money in the EU, I am the importer and thus need to provide CE certification, R&TTE inspection, WEEE trash register, etc pp.
Re: Tessel: A microcontroller that runs JavaScript
#90Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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!
It currently consists of a bunch of single purpose modules, some output (light switch and door lock via GPIO, music player, notification sender, etc.), some input (SMS via Twilio, Github webhooks, web interface, etc.), and a central broker. They're all communicating by sending JSON messages over ZeroMQ sockets. Each module connects to and registers with the broker, which keeps track of module health with heartbeats, and routes and schedules commands based on the modules' registered handlers.
It's less complicated than it might sound, I've got some (unorganized, undocumented) code up at https://github.com/spro/drsproboto if you want to take a peek.