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How to use the free Catalina C compiler with Flashpoint modules to run
very large (2 Megabytes!) ANSI C code on your Propeller.
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Introduction:
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Catalina is a free ANSI C compiler that can compile programs
that are much larger that the limit of 32kB imposed by the available
RAM on the Propeller (Prop) chip by storing code on external flash
and/or SRAM memory, like that of Flashpoint. |
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Flashpoint support began with Catalina version 3.3.
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Adding a
SuperQuad module to your Propeller allows you to run
programs in "small" mode where up to 2 MB of code can be run
from flash (but data and stack have to fit within Propellers
32kB of RAM). |
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Adding a
RamPage module to your Propeller allows you to run programs
in "large" mode where code can be up to 2 MB and data can be up
to 128kB. |
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Links:
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Hardware Requirements:
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All you need is a FlashPoint memory module, a Propeller chip,
and a serial connection to a PC for many examples. However,
some examples may benefit from additional things such as keyboard,
mouse, SD card, TV out, VGA out, etc.
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SuperQuad will allow you to run in "small" (program stored
in flash) mode. SuperQuad requires six Propeller pins to operate
and four of them need to be together as they form a 4-bit wide
bus (the other two can be on any Prop pins.) |
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RamPage will allow you to run in either "small" (flash only)
or "large" (flash plus SRAM). RamPage requires eight
Propeller pins to operate. Again, four of them need to be
together as they form a 4-bit wide bus (the other four can be on
any Prop pins.) |
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For ease of use, the Catalina FlashPoint driver allows you
to use Propeller pins to provide power (Vdd and Vss) to
FlashPoint memory modules. So, you can just plug SuperQuad
right into a Propeller Platform board, a Parallax Demo board,
breadboard or other setup without wires. |
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Note: There are very small programs you can run with
Catalina without a FlashPoint board (but they're not as much fun).
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Software Requirements:
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All you really need is the Catalina as it includes the
CodeBlocks IDE and all the other tools you need. |
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However, the guide assumes you have some kind of serial terminal
program. You can use the Propeller Serial Terminal that is
included when you install the Propeller Tool. But, in some
other cases the free terminal program "putty" is more flexible.
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Guides for Using Catalina on a PC with Flashpoint:
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These guides are to show you how to get started with the simple
example programs that come with Catalina and then how to compile and
run the cool large ones that require the extra memory that
FlashPoint modules provide:
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