tools News - Page 9 of 13 - CNX Software

October 27, 2016October 27, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

Realtek RTL8710AF (PADI IoT Stamp) vs Espressif ESP8266 (ESP-07) WiFi RF Performance Comparison

After I posted about PADI IoT Stamp IoT kit based on RTL8710AF ARM Cortex M3 WiSoC yesterday, I was soon asked whether I could compare the RF performance against ESP8266 modules like ESP-12. I don’t have any equipment to do this kind of test, except for some simple test like testing range with WiFi Analyzer app, but I remember Pine64 told me they had some comparison data a little while, and accepted to share their results. The test setup is comprised of Litepint IQ2010 multi-communication connectivity test system and PC software, as well as the device under test (DUT) with PADI IoT Stamp (version with u.FL antenna connector) and ESP-07 ESP8266 module as a u.FL connector is required to connect the test system. They’ve tested 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n, but for IoT projects 802.11b is the most important as usually long range is more important than data rate. Test results […]

October 25, 2016October 25, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

NXP Unveils MCUXpresso Development Tools for LPC and Kinetis Microcontrollers

After NXP bought Freescale, you had development tools for Freescale Kinetis MCUs such as Design Studio or Kenetis SDK, and others such as LPCXpresso for NXP LPC microcontrollers. The company has worked to unifying software and tools support between its ARM Cortex-M MCU families, and has now announced MCUXPresso software and tools for both NXP Kinetis and LPC MCUs. MCUXpresso unifies thousands of Kinetis and LPC microcontrollers under a set of compatible tools including MCUXpresso SDK – Open-source software MISRA-compliant development kit (SDK) with peripherals drivers, wireless & wired connectivity stacks, middleware, real-time OS, getting started guides, API documentation, and application examples. MCUXpresso IDE – Integrated development environment (IDE) for editing, compiling and debugging. It also integrates MCU-specific debugging views, code trace and profiling, multicore debugging, etc… Both free and professional edition of the IDE will be available, and LPCXpressor and previously Freescale Freedom & Tower platforms will be supported. […]

April 14, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 6 Comments

Intel Launches $15 Quark D2000 Arduino Compatible Board

Intel introduces three new Quark Micro-controllers last year, and I already experimented with Intel System Studio tools, quite similar to the Arduino IDE, and designed for hardware such as Intel Quark D1000 Customer Reference Board. So far the company had not released any boards available to the general public, but this has now changed since they’ve launched the “Intel Quark Microcontroller Developer Kit D2000”. Intel Quark D2000 development board specifications: MCU – Intel Quark D2000 32-bit processor Intel Pentium x86-compatible without x87 FPU @ 32 MHz with 8 KB SRAM, 32 KB instruction flash, 8 KB OTP flash and 4 KB OTP data flash USB – 1x micro USB (JTAG) for power and programming/debugging Sensors – 6-axis Accelerometer / magnetometer with temperature sensor (Bosch Sensortec BCM150) Expansion options: Arduino Uno compatible SIL sockets (3.3V IO only) Booster pack compatible SIL headers (3.3V IO only) Misc – Reset and user buttons, jumpers, […]

March 21, 2016March 21, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Decode or Generate QR Codes in Ubuntu with QtQR and zbar-tools

Sometimes I’ve found myself having to decode a QR code on my computer, and usually I’d just get my Android smartphone, use a QR code app to decode it, and send the results to my computer by email. It works, but wouldn’t it be better to simply do this straight from my computer instead? After a few minutes searching, I eventually found out QtQR graphical utility that can both generate and decode QR codes. In Ubuntu and Debian, you can install it as follows:

sudo apt-get install qtqr

1	sudo apt-get install qtqr

You can create a QR code with a given pixel size and level of error correction for text, URL, bookmark, email, phone number, SMS/MMS, WiFi network, and so on, and then use the Save QRCode button to save the resulting picture. If instead you simply want to decode a QR code from an image or your webcam use the Decode button, and the tool will […]

March 17, 2016March 17, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

RPi-Monitor is a Web-based Remote Monitoring Tool for ARM Development Boards such as Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi

It can be pretty useful to monitor the CPU load, memory and storage usage, and network traffic of your boards, and they are already graphical tools like System Monitor on Ubuntu providing most of the information, and monit can be used on server, but I’ve recently been introduced to RPi-Monitor utility for Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi boards (patched version), that very easy to install, and provide neat chart of many different variables. Since I’m currently playing with Orange Pi One board running armbian, so that’s the platform I’ve used to run RPi-Monitor (OPi-Monitor). The usage should be exactly the same on Raspberry Pi, but the installation steps are little different. To install RPi-Monitor on Orange Pi One, open a terminal or access the serial console, and you can install and start the service with a single command line:

sudo armbianmonitor -r
 Installing RPi-Monitor. This can take up to 5 minutes. Be patient please

....

Now patching RPi-Monitor to deal correctly with H3                              
                                                                                
Now you're able to enjoy RPi-Monitor at http://192.168.0.112:8888

sudo armbianmonitor -r

Installing RPi-Monitor. This can take up to 5 minutes. Be patient please

....

Now patching RPi-Monitor to deal correctly with H3

Now you're able to enjoy RPi-Monitor at http://192.168.0.112:8888

It actually took around 8 minutes on my board, as […]

March 10, 2016March 10, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 15 Comments

Using a Cheap USB Microscope To Read IC Part Numbers

It’s not always easy to read the part number on IC you find on boards, and some time ago, I watched a video where Lady Ada used a USB microscope to demonstrate how to solder some components, and probably using that 5.0 MP model sold on Adafruit for about $80. But I found a similar looking USB microscope with a 2.0MP sensor and 1000X magnification on Ebay for $16.59 shipped, so I bought it, received it today, and I’ve given it a try. Such microscopes can be used to inspect skin and hair, PCB, textile, bank notes, jewelery, and so on. There are apparently other models based on the one I purchased with useful features like auto-focus, wireless support, different levels of magnification, and different colors. Supported operating systems include Windows and Linux, Android, and Windows 8 according to the package. The microscope comes with a stand, a CDROM with […]

March 1, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

GNU Complexity Command Line Tool Measures Complexity of C Code

GNU complexity is a command line tool that computes a complexity measure of C source code, similar to pmccabe, but with a different method of calculating results with short functions scoring lower than pmccabe and highly nested functionality can score considerably higher. It can be useful to locate suspicious areas in unfamiliar code, get an idea of the efforts required to either understand the code or test it, or self-assess your own code. Bruce Korb, the maintainer, has just released version 1.5 with some bug fixes, so I’ve given it a quick try. We’ll need to get the code, build and install it first:

wget ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/complexity/complexity-1.5.tar.gz
tar xvf complexity-1.5.tar.gz
cd complexity-1.5
./configure
make -j8
sudo make install

wget ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/complexity/complexity-1.5.tar.gz

tar xvf complexity-1.5.tar.gz

cd complexity-1.5

./configure

make -j8

sudo make install

The user’s manual provides some insights and an example, which I’ve used against a directory in Linux source code:

cd ~/edev/linux/arch/arm64/kernel
complexity --histogram --score --thresh=3 `ls *.c`
procedure fpsimd_pm_init in fpsimd.c ended before final close bracket
procedure fpsimd_hotplug_init in fpsimd.c ended before final close bracket
Complexity Scores
Score | ln-ct | nc-lns| file-name(line): proc-name
    3      28      17   perf_callchain.c(111): perf_callchain_user
    3      20      18   insn.c(337): aarch64_insn_decode_immediate
    3      21      19   io.c(27): __memcpy_fromio
    3      21      19   io.c(56): __memcpy_toio
    3      30      19   cpufeature.c(860): verify_local_cpu_capabilities
    3      21      20   module.c(74): reloc_data
    3      24      20   setup.c(199): request_standard_resources
    3      27      20   alternative.c(89): __apply_alternatives
    3      29      20   cpu_ops.c(53): cpu_read_enable_method
    3      29      24   insn.c(362): aarch64_insn_encode_immediate
    3      31      24   ptrace.c(76): ptrace_hbptriggered
    3      54      24   kgdb.c(159): kgdb_arch_handle_exception
    3      28      25   armv8_deprecated.c(145): update_insn_emulation_mode
    3      32      25   debug-monitors.c(334): aarch32_break_handler
    3      35      26   smp.c(413): acpi_map_gic_cpu_interface
    3      42      26   process.c(249): copy_thread
    3      58      27   perf_event.c(572): armv8pmu_handle_irq
    3      32      28   hw_breakpoint.c(544): toggle_bp_registers
    3      34      28   insn.c(1019): aarch64_insn_gen_data3
    3      34      29   insn.c(519): aarch64_insn_gen_comp_branch_imm
    3      56      29   setup.c(121): smp_build_mpidr_hash
    3      35      30   insn.c(397): aarch64_insn_encode_register
    3      42      31   signal.c(167): setup_sigframe
    3      37      33   hw_breakpoint.c(349): arch_bp_generic_fields
    3      49      34   setup.c(232): relocate_initrd
    3      41      35   insn.c(708): aarch64_insn_gen_add_sub_imm
    3      63      38   setup.c(292): setup_arch
    3     109      57   cpufeature.c(469): update_cpu_features
    4      46      26   smp.c(477): of_parse_and_init_cpus
    4      38      31   traps.c(335): call_undef_hook
    4      36      32   insn.c(924): aarch64_insn_gen_data1
    4      49      33   armv8_deprecated.c(464): cp15barrier_handler
    4      71      34   stacktrace.c(41): unwind_frame
    4      42      35   ptrace.c(437): hw_break_set
    4      42      37   insn.c(968): aarch64_insn_gen_data2
    4      49      37   smp.c(708): handle_IPI
    4      58      37   hw_breakpoint.c(231): hw_breakpoint_control
    4      47      40   insn.c(757): aarch64_insn_gen_bitfield
    4      54      44   ptrace.c(376): hw_break_get
    4      60      44   armv8_deprecated.c(378): swp_handler
    5      28      27   hw_breakpoint.c(198): hw_breakpoint_slot_setup
    5      45      35   ptrace.c(672): compat_gpr_get
    5      50      36   hw_breakpoint.c(764): reinstall_suspended_bps
    5      59      37   hw_breakpoint.c(476): arch_validate_hwbkpt_settings
    5      48      42   insn.c(811): aarch64_insn_gen_movewide
    5      49      42   insn.c(868): aarch64_insn_gen_add_sub_shifted_reg
    5      60      44   psci.c(36): cpu_psci_cpu_init_idle
    5      49      46   insn.c(277): aarch64_get_imm_shift_mask
    5      95      89   asm-offsets.c(34): main
    6      34      32   cpufeature.c(792): __raw_read_system_reg
    6      67      37   signal.c(332): do_signal
    6      43      39   topology.c(50): parse_core
    6      54      41   ptrace.c(724): compat_gpr_set
    6      74      44   traps.c(147): dump_backtrace
    6      55      49   insn.c(646): aarch64_insn_gen_load_store_pair
    6      76      49   hw_breakpoint.c(393): arch_build_bp_info
    6      71      52   hw_breakpoint.c(584): breakpoint_handler
    6      61      54   insn.c(1062): aarch64_insn_gen_logical_shifted_reg
    6      73      59   ptrace.c(1120): compat_arch_ptrace
    8      50      30   cpuinfo.c(102): c_show
    8      64      50   topology.c(97): parse_cluster
    8      97      65   hw_breakpoint.c(660): watchpoint_handler
    9      44      32   traps.c(59): dump_mem
   11      71      55   signal32.c(129): copy_siginfo_to_user32
   31     198     172   module.c(184): apply_relocate_add

Complexity Histogram
Score-Range  Lin-Ct
    0-9        2206 ************************************************************
   10-19         55 *
   20-29          0
   30-39        172 *****

Scored procedure ct:       65
Non-comment line ct:     2433
Average line score:         7
25%-ile score:              3 (75% in higher score procs)
50%-ile score:              5 (half in higher score procs)
75%-ile score:              6 (25% in higher score procs)
Highest score:             31 (apply_relocate_add() in module.c)

cd ~/edev/linux/arch/arm64/kernel

complexity --histogram --score --thresh=3 `ls *.c`

procedure fpsimd_pm_init in fpsimd.c ended before final close bracket

procedure fpsimd_hotplug_init in fpsimd.c ended before final close bracket

Complexity Scores

Score | ln-ct | nc-lns| file-name(line): proc-name

3 28 17 perf_callchain.c(111): perf_callchain_user

3 20 18 insn.c(337): aarch64_insn_decode_immediate

3 21 19 io.c(27): __memcpy_fromio

3 21 19 io.c(56): __memcpy_toio

3 30 19 cpufeature.c(860): verify_local_cpu_capabilities

3 21 20 module.c(74): reloc_data

3 24 20 setup.c(199): request_standard_resources

3 27 20 alternative.c(89): __apply_alternatives

3 29 20 cpu_ops.c(53): cpu_read_enable_method

3 29 24 insn.c(362): aarch64_insn_encode_immediate

3 31 24 ptrace.c(76): ptrace_hbptriggered

3 54 24 kgdb.c(159): kgdb_arch_handle_exception

3 28 25 armv8_deprecated.c(145): update_insn_emulation_mode

3 32 25 debug-monitors.c(334): aarch32_break_handler

3 35 26 smp.c(413): acpi_map_gic_cpu_interface

3 42 26 process.c(249): copy_thread

3 58 27 perf_event.c(572): armv8pmu_handle_irq

3 32 28 hw_breakpoint.c(544): toggle_bp_registers

3 34 28 insn.c(1019): aarch64_insn_gen_data3

3 34 29 insn.c(519): aarch64_insn_gen_comp_branch_imm

3 56 29 setup.c(121): smp_build_mpidr_hash

3 35 30 insn.c(397): aarch64_insn_encode_register

3 42 31 signal.c(167): setup_sigframe

3 37 33 hw_breakpoint.c(349): arch_bp_generic_fields

3 49 34 setup.c(232): relocate_initrd

3 41 35 insn.c(708): aarch64_insn_gen_add_sub_imm

3 63 38 setup.c(292): setup_arch

3 109 57 cpufeature.c(469): update_cpu_features

4 46 26 smp.c(477): of_parse_and_init_cpus

4 38 31 traps.c(335): call_undef_hook

4 36 32 insn.c(924): aarch64_insn_gen_data1

4 49 33 armv8_deprecated.c(464): cp15barrier_handler

4 71 34 stacktrace.c(41): unwind_frame

4 42 35 ptrace.c(437): hw_break_set

4 42 37 insn.c(968): aarch64_insn_gen_data2

4 49 37 smp.c(708): handle_IPI

4 58 37 hw_breakpoint.c(231): hw_breakpoint_control

4 47 40 insn.c(757): aarch64_insn_gen_bitfield

4 54 44 ptrace.c(376): hw_break_get

4 60 44 armv8_deprecated.c(378): swp_handler

5 28 27 hw_breakpoint.c(198): hw_breakpoint_slot_setup

5 45 35 ptrace.c(672): compat_gpr_get

5 50 36 hw_breakpoint.c(764): reinstall_suspended_bps

5 59 37 hw_breakpoint.c(476): arch_validate_hwbkpt_settings

5 48 42 insn.c(811): aarch64_insn_gen_movewide

5 49 42 insn.c(868): aarch64_insn_gen_add_sub_shifted_reg

5 60 44 psci.c(36): cpu_psci_cpu_init_idle

5 49 46 insn.c(277): aarch64_get_imm_shift_mask

5 95 89 asm-offsets.c(34): main

6 34 32 cpufeature.c(792): __raw_read_system_reg

6 67 37 signal.c(332): do_signal

6 43 39 topology.c(50): parse_core

6 54 41 ptrace.c(724): compat_gpr_set

6 74 44 traps.c(147): dump_backtrace

6 55 49 insn.c(646): aarch64_insn_gen_load_store_pair

6 76 49 hw_breakpoint.c(393): arch_build_bp_info

6 71 52 hw_breakpoint.c(584): breakpoint_handler

6 61 54 insn.c(1062): aarch64_insn_gen_logical_shifted_reg

6 73 59 ptrace.c(1120): compat_arch_ptrace

8 50 30 cpuinfo.c(102): c_show

8 64 50 topology.c(97): parse_cluster

8 97 65 hw_breakpoint.c(660): watchpoint_handler

9 44 32 traps.c(59): dump_mem

11 71 55 signal32.c(129): copy_siginfo_to_user32

31 198 172 module.c(184): apply_relocate_add

Complexity Histogram

Score-Range Lin-Ct

0-9 2206 ************************************************************

10-19 55 *

20-29 0

30-39 172 *****

Scored procedure ct: 65

Non-comment line ct: 2433

Average line score: 7

25%-ile score: 3 (75% in higher score procs)

50%-ile score: 5 (half in higher score procs)

75%-ile score: 6 (25% in higher score procs)

Highest score: 31 (apply_relocate_add() in module.c)

The resulting table shows six information per line: the computed score, the number of lines between the opening and closing curly braces (ln-ct), the number […]

February 23, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Hexiwear is an Open Source Wearable Development Kit Expandable with Add-on Boards (Crowdfunding)

MikroElektronika has designed Hexiwear, a wearable development kit that you can wear and hack as a smartwatch thanks to an (optionally) included wristband, or use a an IoT development kit thanks to its docking station taking up to three “Click” boards among a choice of over 180 modules. . Hexiwear hardware specifications: MCU – NXP Kinetis K64x ARM Cortex-M4 MCU @ 120 MHz with 1MB Flash and 256KB SRAM Storage – 8 MB Flash memory Display – 1.1” full color OLED display with capacitive touch Connectivity – Bluetooth 4.0 LE and 802.15.4 via NXP Kinetis KW4x Cortex-M0+ wireless MCU Sensors -3D accelerometer and magnetometer (NXP FXOS8700CQ), 3-Axis gyroscope (NXP FXAS21002), pressure sensor (NXP MPL3115A2R1), light-to-digital converter, humidity and temperature sensor, heart-rate sensor (HRM) USB – micro USB cable for power and charging Misc – RGB LED, haptic feedback engine, docking connector Battery – 190 mAh 2C Li-Po battery; 600 mA […]