Embedded Computing
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  • Hardware
    • Which Platform?
    • Controller Platforms >
      • Adafruit Platform >
        • Adafruit Feather M0
      • Arduino Plaform >
        • Arduino Primo and Primo Core
        • Arduino Uno
        • Arduino M0 Pro
        • Arduino mini Pro
        • Arduino Zero
        • Arduino Tian
        • Shields for Arduino Uno
      • chipKIT Plaform >
        • chipKIT Uno32 and uC32
        • chipKIT WF32 and WiFire
        • Compatibility
        • chipKIT PGM Programmer-Debugger
        • 4D Systems PICadillo-35T
        • Shields for chipKIT Uno32
      • 4D Systems Platform >
        • 4D Systems PICadillo-35T
        • 4D Systems gen4-IoD-28T
      • DFRobot Platform >
        • DFRobot BLuno
        • DFRobot Wido
      • Digistump Platform >
        • Digispark
        • Oak
      • ESP8266 Platform >
        • ESP8266-01
        • NodeMCU Board
        • 4D Systems gen4-IoD-28T
      • LaunchPad Plaform >
        • LaunchPad MSP430G2
        • LaunchPad MSP430FR2331
        • LaunchPad MSP430FR2433
        • LaunchPad MSP430FR4133 and MSP430FR6989
        • LaunchPad MSP430FR5529
        • LaunchPads MSP430FR5969 Pins Maps
        • LaunchPad MSP432: RTOS for Everyone
        • Stellaris LM4F120 LaunchPad
        • LaunchPad TM4C123 Tiva C Series
        • Connected LaunchPad TM4C129 Tiva C Series
        • LaunchPad CC1310 Sub-1 GHz
        • LaunchPad CC3200 WiFi
        • LaunchPad Hercules
        • LaunchPad MSP430FR5994
      • BoosterPacks for LaunchPads >
        • iMeter BoosterPack
        • Anaren CC110L AIR BoosterPack
        • CC2650 BLE BoosterPack
        • CC3100 WiFi LaunchPad
        • Audio BoosterPack
        • Breadboard BoosterPack
        • BoosterPack Pins
        • Capacitive Touch BoosterPack
        • CapTIvate Development Kit
        • CapTIvate Touch Keypad BoosterPack
        • Educational BoosterPack MK-II
        • Fuel Tank BoosterPack MK-II
        • Grove BoosterPack
        • Pervasive Displays e-Paper EPD Extension Kit Gen 2
        • LCD 2.2" With Touch BoosterPack
        • Nokia 7110 LCD BoosterPack
        • microSD-Card BoosterPack
        • Sensors BoosterPack
        • Sharp Memory LCD BoosterPack
        • 4D Systems BoosterPack Adaptor
        • Universal 1.8" Colour LCD BoosterPack
      • LightBlue Bean
      • Microduino Plaform >
        • Microduino
      • Microsoft Azure IoT DevKit
      • Particle Platform >
        • Particle Core
        • Particle Photon
        • Particle Tools
      • Protostack Platform >
        • Protostack Boards
      • Teensy Plaform >
        • Teensy 3.0
        • Teensy 3.1
    • Computer Platforms >
      • BeagleBone Platform >
        • BeagleBone Green Wireless
      • Mediatek Platform >
        • Mediatek LinkIt One
        • Mediatek LinkIt Smart 7688 Duo
      • UDOO Platform >
        • UDOO Neo
    • Legacy Platforms >
      • Cosa, an Alternative Framework for AVR Boards
      • Intel Platform >
        • Intel Edison
      • Little Robot Friends
      • Maple Plaform >
        • LeafLabs Maple
      • RedBear Platform >
        • RedBearLab CC3200
        • RedBearLab WiFi Mini
        • RedBear Duo
      • Wiring Plaform >
        • Wiring S
        • Wiring Play Shield
    • Boards and Plugs
    • I²C Logic Level Converter
    • Peripherals >
      • Shields
      • Grove System
      • Sensors >
        • Serial GPS Unit
        • I²C Voltage-Current-Power INA219 Sensor
        • I²C Inertial Measurement Unit
        • I²C True Colour Sensor >
          • Arduino Hardware
          • Arduino Software
          • Arduino TX-C Digital Two Bits Connection
          • Robo Pro Program and Results
          • True Colour Sensor Calibration
          • True Colour Sensor Integration
          • Extensive Tests: Hardware
          • Extensive Tests: Software
          • Extensive Tests: Results
          • Step-by-Step Instructions
        • Pressure Sensor
      • Actuators >
        • I²C Stepper Motor Controller
    • Displays >
      • General Purpose 3.5" Screen
      • Pervasive Displays e-Paper EPD Extension Kit Gen 2
      • Kentec 3.5" LCD with Touch BoosterPack for Stellaris
      • Sharp Memory LCD BoosterPack
      • Universal 1.8" Colour LCD BoosterPack
      • The 2.2" LCD with Touch BoosterPack
      • The 2.8" HY28A LCD Screen
      • High-Definition 480x320 3.5" Screen With Touch and Fonts
      • Kentec 3.5" LCD SPI with Touch BoosterPack
      • 4D Systems Intelligent Screens >
        • 4D Systems gen4-uLCD-35DCT-CLB​
        • 4D Systems μLCD-32PT (SGC) Screen
        • 4D Systems uLCD-32WPTU Screen
        • 4D Systems Arduino Adaptor
        • 4D Systems BoosterPack Adaptor
      • East Rising 5" LCD with RA8875, Touch, Fonts, Flash and SD-card
      • East Rising 5" LCD with SSD1963, Touch, Flash and SD-card
  • Software
    • The IDE Question >
      • The Battle of IDEs
      • More IDE Options
      • Looking for a Better IDE
      • Assessing the Next Generation of IDEs
    • Exploring RTOS with Galaxia >
      • Event Library
      • Semaphore Library
      • Mailbox Library
      • Timer Library
      • Clock Library
      • SWI Library
      • Task Library
    • Ultra-Low Power with MSP430
    • Using Integers Instead of Reals
  • IoT
    • IoT Platforms: Which Hardware?
    • IoT Services: Which Solution? >
      • Recommended IoT Solutions >
        • IoT with Node-RED
        • IoT OTG with Blynk
        • Private IoT with Blynk on Local Server
        • Plug-and-Play IoT with dweet and freeboard
        • IoT with Sparkfun Data and analog.io
        • Advanced IoT Data Processing with ThinkSpeak
        • IoT Hub with Zapier
        • Send Mail with SMTP2GO
      • Platform-Specific IoT Solutions >
        • IoT with Particle
        • IoT with LightBlue Bean and Node-RED
        • IoT with LinkIt One
      • Other IoT Solutions >
        • IoT with Sub-1 GHz Sensor Network
        • IoT with Project Things by Mozilla
        • IoT with Losant
        • IoT with Exosite
        • Data and Action IoT with Xively and Zapier
        • IoT with PubNub and freeboard
        • IoT Hub with Temboo
        • IoT with Cayenne MQTT
      • Not tested IoT Solutions >
        • IoT with IBM Bluemix
        • IoT with MQTT and 2lemetry
        • IoT with Parse
    • Get Date and Time from Internet with NTP
    • Fast and Easy WiFi Connection with QR-Code
  • Tools
    • How to Start?
    • Reference >
      • Asking for Help
      • LaunchPads and BoosterPacks Pins Maps
      • Ruler
      • Standards for Connectors
    • Training >
      • Texas Instruments Workshops
      • Embedded Systems: Shape The World —MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.02x
      • Real-Time Bluetooth Networks: Shape the World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.RTBN.12.01x
    • Books >
      • Getting Started with the MSP430 LaunchPad
      • Getting Started with Arduino
      • Arduino Cookbook
    • IDEs >
      • Texas Instruments Code Composer Studio 6
      • Texas Instruments Code Composer Studio Cloud
      • Energia
      • Tools for Documentation
    • Equipment >
      • Saleae Logic Analyser >
        • First Generation Logic Analyser
        • Second Generation Analog and Logic Analyser
        • Logic Software
      • Rigol DS1102E Oscilloscope
      • Segger J-Link Programmer-Debugger >
        • Segger J-Link EDU Programmer-Debugger
        • Segger J-Link EDU mini Programmer-Debugger
        • Segger J-Link Software
        • Connecting to Boards >
          • Segger J-Link with Arduino Due​
          • Segger J-Link with LaunchPad MSP432
          • Segger J-Link with Adafruit Feather M0
          • Segger J-Link with Adafruit Feather nRF52
          • Segger J-Link with Arduino Primo Core
  • Projects
    • Libraries >
      • Master I²C Software Library
      • Date and Time Library
      • LCD_screen Library Suite >
        • Concepts and Scope >
          • Compatibility with Serial_LCD
          • Integers Only
          • Fast SRAM Support
          • Supported Screens
          • Roadmap
        • Training Video
        • LCD_graphics Library >
          • LCD_graphics — Clock
          • LCD_graphics — Gauge
        • LCD_GUI Library >
          • LCD_GUI — Label
          • LCD_GUI — Button
          • LCD_GUI — Area
          • LCD_GUI — Dialog Window
          • LCD_GUI — Menu
          • LCD_GUI — Slider
          • LCD_GUI — Text Box
        • Download Library
        • Install Libraries on Energia 1.6.10E18
        • Examples >
          • Life Game
          • Digital Micrometer on VGA Display
          • Touch Screen GPS
      • Others Libraries
    • smartDevices >
      • I²C smartColours Smart Sensor
      • I²C smartRFID Smart Sensor
      • I²C smartLED Display
      • I²C smartControls Smart Device
      • I²C smartWiFi Smart Device
      • I²C smartBLE Smart Device
      • I²C smartNode Smart Device
    • IoT Projects >
      • Weather and Security Station with Blynk
      • SensorTag to Blynk Using Node-RED
      • Pervasive Reporting
    • Other Projects >
      • General Purpose 3.5" Screen
      • Colour Recognition with Neural Network
      • A Low Power Weather Station
      • Digital Volt-Amp-Watt Meter
      • Mobile Measurement with LCD Display
      • Screen with SRAM for GUI
      • Volt-Amp-Watt-Meter for Grove
      • Multi-Touch Project with CapTIvate

Assessing the Next Generation of IDEs

The new boards are mostly based on 32-bit Cortex-M MCUs. The larger memory, faster clock and increased computational power allow more ambitious projects.  

As a consequence, ​the development of larger projects has a direct impact on the expectations towards the IDE. The developer wants an advanced editor, debugging capabilities and version management, among other features.

The Requirements List

​I've defined six requirements:
  • OS-agnostic: The IDE should run on Linux, macOS and Windows.
  • Category: A self-contained IDE is a must, so is an offline IDE. Co-existence with today's Arduino IDE is welcomed.
  • Underlying build manager: Let's try and stick to standards, like the GNU make.
  • Advanced editor: Modern niceties include auto-completion, contextual help, syntax checking, ...
  • Debug​: Maybe the most critical feature, with hardware debugging.
  • Version management: Based on GitHub or BitBucket.

Today's Arduino IDE fulfils the first 3 requirements, or 40% only.
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The Test Protocol

The protocol includes building and linking, uploading and running, plus debugging with two breakpoints (one standard and another conditional) and one watchpoint. 

Target boards include the LaunchPad TM4C123, the LaunchPad MSP432 and the Arduino M0 Pro. All those three boards feature a hardware debugger. 

When possible, I'm performing two series of tests:
  • one with dedicated extensions, when available,
  • another with the makefiles I've developed with embedXcode.

Target operating systems include Linux Mint 18.1, macOS 10.12.4 and Windows 10 Pro. 
e-716.zip
File Size: 1813 kb
File Type: zip
Download File

A New Generation of IDEs

​Luckily, a new generation of IDEs brings innovative ideas. Some are IDEs, other are plug-ins. Sometimes, the same IDE offers different plug-ins.
​
I've assessed so far
  • Atom, 
  • PlatformIO extension for Atom,
  • Qt Editor,
  • Visual Studio Code,
  • Arduino extension for Visual Studio Code.
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Posted May 11, 2017
Updated June 16, 2017
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