Custom preprocessor.

[atomix]

Release v1.0.40 - custom preprocessor:

Features:

1) Eval inline script code (unlimited possibilities of LangMF)
2) Auto convert long name var to short
3) Simple struct types
4) Simple auto counters
5) Insert contents of external files in any formats
6) Version information from file (*.mci) to code
7) ... you can easily add new preprocessor files (*.mf *.js *.vbs *.py *.cmd *.exe) yourself

[top204]

Lovely words to read Atomix, and many thanks.

I've been down that road before Atomix, and I got fooled again into making others money and a good reputation with third party compilers and compiler backends, with nothing beneficial for myself. i.e. No payments and no recognitions.

I'm afraid at this time in my life and what has happened to me in my life, from others using my skills for their benefit, I would need payment in advance and full written permissions with conditions before I would allow the compilers to be used as backend code generators for a third party. I would like to say "Once bitten, twice shy", but in my case it is "Multiple times bitten, and not learned because of mis-guided trust". :-(. Foolish on my part I know, by unfortunately, that is my personality thanks to being brought up by two lovely caring parents who only showed us love and trust, and not the "real" world.

Just a few weeks before my lovely mum passed away, earlier this year, she said to me and my younger sister "I am so sorry for bringing you up with so much trust in others, and not understanding how to be a little devious so you can see it in others", because she knew what has happened to me through my working life, and how I have used my skills and natural curiousity for the benefit of others that I have worked for or been friends with, and not actually for me!! But, we had a lovely upbringing and we took it so much for granted that the "real" adult world was the same as the adults we knew, and once I was older, it was almost impossible to change my, underlying, personality that much.

[John Lawton]

There is no \PDS\Custom directory on my machine, so this discussion is beyond me. If a different code parser was to be used, that implies a different high level language, non?

[atomix]

I condole with you about your mom.

Regarding the custom preprocessor, I meant that users could add their own preprocessors, for example:

1) add variables from the untitled.mci file
2) add data processing like structures
3) ...

[top204]

As John stated, that would need a new compiler, generating Positron code, so the Positron compilers generate the tight, optimised assember code and efficiently handle the awkward architecture of the Harvard microcontrollers. i.e. PIC, PIC24 and dsPIC33 devices.

That is what a few other compilers have done that used the Proton as the backend, and I received nothing, and a full compiler I created for the Met forensics and Cr#wn#ll (in my own time), with the promise of £10,000 when it was finalised. But that was dropped by Cr#wn#ll because the forensics, rightly, wanted control over what they were going to purchase, but the control freak running Cr#wn@ll did not want ot give anything up, so the deal dropped through, and even though he would have been paid in full for the R&D that I did on the, concept, design, electronics and firmware and software of the unit's Beta, in my out of work time, that were all finalised and working flawlessly.... I never got a single penny in payment, because I had trust, and got nothing in writing. So my months of work in my own time came to nothing, yet again!!!! Looking back, I was so, so, stupid to have been in similar situations with "him" a few times, and do nothig about it! I stupidly stayed there for 16 years. Looking back, I cannot believe I did it, and neither can friends and people I knew when they worked there for a few months. That was the maximum amount of time they could tolerate him, and they had the common sense to leave!

I am actually looking forward to retiring in the future, so I can get back a little money I have paid all my life in tax, and sit back and try to relax as much as my injury allows.

[ricardourio]

Hi Les,

    Many years ago I took sales classes and the teacher asked us what the main purpose of our business is.
Some say "to have a good service", others say "to satisfy my customers" and some other good expressions.
Then the teacher yells at us saying that "the objective of our business is to make a profit". The way you reach it is the difference and we don't need to be mercenaries, but we shouldn't be immature.
If your parents teach you such good things, you can be proud of it, because the world needs good people like you, and you need to be with the same kind of people around you.
We just need to improve on the good teachings of our parents and never ignore them.
I'm sorry for your loss my friend.

Regards

Ricardo Urio

[atomix]

update post below

[top204]

An excellent, and very interesting, future add on.

I can see a future issue with the code produced.

The hash '#' character will no longer be used in the next generation of compilers because the new assembler program does not support them. I have made the next compiler's parser recognise the # in the BASIC code, but these get converted to an underscore in the assembler code. So MyArray#1 will be MyArray_1 in the asm listing, otherwise, the assembler gives an error.

[atomix]

As soon as new version is ready with all the fixes, i buy another copy of the complete compiler Positron to support you.

[JonW]

Totally agree Atomix.  I too will follow and buy another for the fixes and support.
maybe better to donate via Paypal rather than pay the ebay fees.
USC is a good idea but many just save all the fixes and updates to a yearly release.  £40 for this compiler is FAR too cheap and I  would limit to a few devices for that price or force a code limit.  Over that increase the cost to where it can be maintained with time duly paid for.  USC guarantees income if you want support. 

We pay close on £10k for USC every year.  ADS, EMPRO, Altium, Labcenter, Softplot... its the norm

I would be lost without the compiler on FW projects.  Today I had a customer doing their own code on a RF module we designed and stating the  hardware was an issue.  Fortunately I designed in an unpopulated 18F that connects to SPI, I2C with serial trace port, within 3 hrs I had the hardware running using the compiler.  Pass on the basic files and the FW engineer copies to C and oh it works...  There is nothing like it.  If it was £3k i would buy it as commercially it saves so much time.  Yeah on the odd occasion you get an anomaly but you find this in every compiler and just work around it.

J

[atomix]

update post below

[CPR]

P.M. I suggest that everyone buy the new version every year so that you have an income from it.

I disagree. I think it makes more sense to put effort into marketing to broaden the user base rather than penalizing the existing dedicated & very small amount of users. For those that have suggested they'd happily pay thousands for Positron, then go ahead and give through Paypal to Les. It's simple enough. 

[John Drew]

Regarding donations.
Our forum community has a mix of professionals and hobbyists. Some with big pockets, others with small ones.
To me the question is how much do we each get out of Positron?
Perhaps we should think about the parts we need. Positron is an item on the parts list. In the case of the professionals, how much time has it saved?
A fraction of those costs might provide a guide as to an annual payment to Les.
Personally, I'm a hobbyist and I get a huge amount of fun out of my projects. Far more than going to the movies. My projects keep my mind active and hopefully stave off Alzheimer's disease. I'm 81.
Positron has a better effect than the pills I take and it's a lot cheaper.
I give an annual donation because of the above - worth every penny. But it's what I can afford.
If you can't afford to give don't. You've helped by buying in the first place.
The marketing comment is fair enough but it does cost and I suspect the return may be less than the costs. On my part I have a review on my website. Word of mouth is important too. Small steps!
Best wishes to all,
John

[John Lawton]

Hi John,

err, what's the address of your website?

It's a bit chicken and egg about increasing the user base but not asking for an annual upgrade fee. How can marketing be funded otherwise?

The compilers are great tools and in my opinion should command a reasonable annual upgrade fee.  Alternatively I suggest an annual fundraising event, with every user emailed beforehand. That would also be more effective than just hoping for occasional giving.

Just my penny's worth as we say.

John

[John Drew]

G'day John,
My website is: vk5dj.com
Click on Software menu item then Proton Development Suite
I know that Les arranged for a website but I'm not sure if it has progressed. I think this would be helpful for sales too, especially if it had a point of sale. An increase in the price of Positron would easily cover the costs.
If Les wants help in setting it up I'm sure there are people among the users here who would help.
John
Australian Amateur Radio Callsign VK5DJ

[atomix]

update post below

[atomix]

See first post.

[atomix]

I have updated the preprocessor.

[top204]

It seems like a fascinating scripting creator. However, how is it initiated with a .bas file to then run the compiler, or how is it initiated to create a seperate .bas file?

In the "Custom/Parsers" directory, there is a single Demo.exe file, but this produces a "Run Time Error 75" error message and does nothing else when double clicked!

Can you please create clear, simple step by step, instructions how to use it, so that we can load a file and run the compiler with the modified script etc... :-)

When creating applications for other people to use, the instructions for its use are extremely important, and can take longer to create than the actual application.

[atomix]

 run AtomixPreProcessor_setup.exe - he execute the following