Re: [Gumstix-users] UML, Quantum Programming, Embedded Statecharts for Gumstix

[Ben H. <si...@lo...>]

Thanks for this,

At present we (our programmers) just design the code in a brief
architectural diagram (Visio) and Word; then implement it in C, comment it
well, and then generate documentation from the comments (moving to use
Doxygen for that).

>From what you're saying, the design process begins with external UML
modelling tools of some sort? What was the Visio based one which you used?

Thanks,
Ben


-----Original Message-----
From: AKS [mailto:aun...@gm...] 
Sent: 09 November 2011 11:33
To: General mailing list for gumstix users.
Subject: Re: [Gumstix-users] UML, Quantum Programming, Embedded Statecharts
for Gumstix

Hi Ben

I have been using Ubuntu on Gumstix Overo COM and
developed drivers and posix codes on Monta Vista Linux.
And I think state machines are just condition checking
like switch or if - else if - else and function pointers, so
you can easily create hierarchial state machines using
nested switch statements and modules.

I think for pure embedded systems (without a RTOS or a
simple soft RTOS, I have used a Visio based state chart
making software. So that tool will convert nested FSMs
you have drawn into text file with events and transactions
and destination state. Those text files can be parsed by
a C file inclusion trick so that they will be transformed
into state machine C code in compile time. If I remember
the code use #ifdef loop_x #include "xyz.c", the c file
is included in abc.h file, the same abc.h includes the
text file .def file, so using conditional parsing using #ifdef,
if that file is being parsed for xth time then it is included.
As you can see c file inclusion will bloat the memory and
that was deadly for embedded system. But that trick was
necessary because the platform designers want to hide
implementations detail from application developers and
it has to do in that way so that if an application developer
wants to add a new state machine then he can just edit
that .def file. That was in C and so no object orientation
or information hiding like in C++.

But for this Gumstix, you are using full fledged Linux, I
cannot say for OE/Armstrong but I use Ubuntu and it is
as good as Monta Vista and you can still make Ubuntu
hard real time if you want. So if you want to add state
machine you can just code. Or if you are a platform guy
you can create simpler way to achieve that allows apps
developers to add new events, transactions, destination
state in C++ a fully OOP.

For UML to C++, you can use tools like Borland Architect.
I have played with such a tool but I found they are not that
useful for embedded firmware. I may be wrong, but this is
my opinion. I hope you got some pointers now. Cheers!

On 11/9/11, Ben Harrison <si...@lo...> wrote:
> Apologies if this is too far off topic,
>
>
>
> I've been experimenting with the Gumstix Overo platform for an upcoming
> project. I've cross compiled application code, kernel drivers, attached
> custom hardware to it, and generally bent it to my will (with a few
hiccups
> and assists along the way).
>
>
>
> Since the initial experimentation / familiarity phase I've been given a
book
> "Practical Statecharts in C/C++: Quantum Programming for Embedded Systems"
> by Miro Samek, and told to begin using Quantum Statecharts as described
> therein. These are to be used for providing design, management, testing,
> traceability and documentation for all of the code within the overall
> system, including the code which we create for the Gumstix.
>
>
>
> I know this isn't specifically a Gumstix related question yet, but here's
> the specific bit - The Quantum Statechart Framework as described in the
> above reference provides code examples and hints towards specific plug-ins
> for different embedded hardware platforms.
>
>
>
> -Has anyone used this process successfully on the Gumstix?
>
> -Would anyone be able to point in the direction of any support packages /
> plug-ins for the Gumstix within this framework or one which could be
> modified to suit?
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ben
>
>
>
>

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
RSA(R) Conference 2012
Save $700 by Nov 18
Register now
http://p.sf.net/sfu/rsa-sfdev2dev1
_______________________________________________
gumstix-users mailing list
gum...@li...
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/gumstix-users