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$1 Microcontrollers (2017)

jaycarlson.net

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Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#91

Post by lpmay »

sgt wrote: post #75
lpmay wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the platform is very much still alive and kicking. It is still the only uP platform I am aware of which is available with embedded FRAM which is low power, non volatile, extremely more write durable than flash and rad hard. Again, maybe not top selling features for a hobbyist project but absolutely compelling for certain industrial use cases.

Thanks - you got me excited about MSP430 again. I am wondering if I should build an AC motor controller for fun, since I happen to have an AC motor on my bench.

No problem! You are not the first person I've heard express the impression that the MSP430 is slipping into irrelevance, and while I agree the places it shines may be getting squeezed by low power ARM parts I think they can be pretty compelling for applications where they are a good fit. They are simple, yet modern enough to support full featured c compilers, have a history of focusing on low power and the FRAM is a pretty solid differentiator if your use case can take advantage of it. Jay's article here can't really show any of that off because the one dollar price point is below the sweet spot where most of the nice features kick in

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#92

Post by drewzero1 »

cf141q5325 wrote: post #73
drewzero1 wrote: post #53

I just came across this site on Friday when looking for a possible replacement for some Digispark (ATTiny85 board) clones at work to connect to some 5v relay modules. I'm not too invested in the Arduino ecosystem at this point and am still looking into other options, haven't finished reading through the whole list yet.

I just used some attiny85 as a software based USB interface with v-usb for interfacing with an atmega328p. I especially love the DIP size, its amazing that i could solder the entire thing learning about capacitors and pull up resistors in the process. The use of multiple processors also allowed for some security by design, having functionalities capsuled with strictly defined directions of communication. I think the…

I should've specified that I don't dislike the ATTiny85 or Arduino, far from it. I just needed to find a replacement for a Digispark that I bricked (flashed the wrong bootloader) and wanted to see what other options were out there for a low-spec, low-cost MCU/dev board. I've been using Arduino for years and it's hard to beat the docs and community.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#93

Post by waschl »

HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #57
waschl wrote: post #43

Semi-related: Since few months I am digging into tinkering and electronics. It’s really great to learn about modern era solutions which enable cool projects with low entry barrier. However, I happen to learn about new solutions (new sensors, actors, boards, ICs) more randomly than systematically. I tried to google for databases, blogs or news outlets, but couldn’t find anything suited for my consumerish needs. Going…

Usually if you have accounts at the major distributors(Arrow, Digi-Key, Newark, etc.), you'll get occasional updates passed on from some of the manufacturers whose parts they sell. But those are typically not the hobbyist/consumer items you may be looking for. Perhaps sign up for a SparkFun account? I get a lot of OSHW and new module information from them.

Thanks,will try!

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#94

Post by waschl »

iudqnolq wrote: post #68
waschl wrote: post #43

Semi-related: Since few months I am digging into tinkering and electronics. It’s really great to learn about modern era solutions which enable cool projects with low entry barrier. However, I happen to learn about new solutions (new sensors, actors, boards, ICs) more randomly than systematically. I tried to google for databases, blogs or news outlets, but couldn’t find anything suited for my consumerish needs. Going…

(total noob) I like looking at the components adadruit builds in-house. For most of them they have open-sourced the schematics, and you can then look up the building blocks on sites like DigiKey.

Yeah Adafruit is a good source! However one supplier of potentially many

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#95

Post by iudqnolq »

waschl wrote: post #94
iudqnolq wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(total noob) I like looking at the components adadruit builds in-house. For most of them they have open-sourced the schematics, and you can then look up the building blocks on sites like DigiKey.

Yeah Adafruit is a good source! However one supplier of potentially many

Absolutely, but I find them more valuable because of that. I don't know enough to pick the ideal component, but I know if I get what they use it'll be good enough.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#97

Post by rramadass »

GeorgeTirebiter wrote: post #90
GeorgeTirebiter wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have been struggling to get TI's (free) Code Composer Studio to recognize my MSP430FR2311 boards now on-and-off for months. They 'upgrade' the code, and then I can't program my devices. In fact, so far, I've spent more time trying to get the dev environment to work than developing my code. Not Fun. Very cool when it does work, tho. I'd prefer to pay a little more for parts and get some English-based support. I'll w…

It helps if the USB cable one is using actually provides more than just Power and Ground. (red-faced blushing....) I take back all the mud about CCS; except of course now it wants to put a new bootloader on one of the boards, but seems unable to do that. Good thing the other board is fine.

>It helps if the USB cable one is using actually provides more than just Power and Ground. (red-faced blushing....)

Ha, ha, ha. We have all been there.

Have you tried the Energia IDE? - https://energia.nu/

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#98

Post by cf141q5325 »

drewzero1 wrote: post #92
cf141q5325 wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just used some attiny85 as a software based USB interface with v-usb for interfacing with an atmega328p. I especially love the DIP size, its amazing that i could solder the entire thing learning about capacitors and pull up resistors in the process. The use of multiple processors also allowed for some security by design, having functionalities capsuled with strictly defined directions of communication. I think the…

I should've specified that I don't dislike the ATTiny85 or Arduino, far from it. I just needed to find a replacement for a Digispark that I bricked (flashed the wrong bootloader) and wanted to see what other options were out there for a low-spec, low-cost MCU/dev board. I've been using Arduino for years and it's hard to beat the docs and community.

Wasnt meant as a value judgement, just hijacked your post sorry :) In fairness it was already downvoted.

For a better price point check silicon labs 8 bit variant, otherwise you need to give more data about your scenario

edit: That is chip cost. I dont know about devboards

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#99

Post by auxym »

makapuf wrote: post #66
auxym wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TBH the rpi pico (rp2040 dev board) is hard to beat for the price of 5$. Dual core ARM cortex-m0+ at 100 something MHz and loads of ram and flash.

Dont forget programmable io ports with their independent tiny cores.

Oh yes, the PIO is very cool and somewhat unique. The list of examples of things that can be implemented with such a tiny "computer" (9 instructions assembly language, program size maximum of 32 instructions) is quite impressive:

https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-examples/tree/master/pio

In fact, the rp2040 examples and SDK docs are very, very good compared to most traditional manufacturer's documentation and by itself makes it a very good value proposition for hobbyists.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#100

Post by GeorgeTirebiter »

rramadass wrote: post #97
GeorgeTirebiter wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It helps if the USB cable one is using actually provides more than just Power and Ground. (red-faced blushing....) I take back all the mud about CCS; except of course now it wants to put a new bootloader on one of the boards, but seems unable to do that. Good thing the other board is fine.

>It helps if the USB cable one is using actually provides more than just Power and Ground. (red-faced blushing....) Ha, ha, ha. We have all been there. Have you tried the Energia IDE ? - https://energia.nu/

Wow, didn't know about that. Interesting! thanks. The MSP430 branch is meant for low power; and or getting you and interface translation without needed an FPGA. They are cool -- sort of like pdp-11 in philosophy.
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