Focus

I know, It's been some time... I feel sorry for not posting any update on the project but unfortunately / fortunately I've been busy on some big projects for my company.

But the project never quitted inside me! The dream of a device with an easy and fast to use visual programming language still is my priority.

And the last week as been veeeery productive...

Do you want to see the results? Here there are!

This is a sneak peek at the compiler developed completely in JavaScript and HTML for the best cross-platform experience!

This is a WORKING example (running on the FOCUS board at over 1khz refresh) of a counter with a FullAdder and a Latch made entirely of NOR gates!

Yes, a 'MAD GEEK' experiment just to test the power of this language! 

Just as a proof:

This is the ADD component

This is the ADDER component INSIDE the ADD component:

And those are the individual AND, OR and XOR gates made's entirely with NOR gates! I was not joking about.

For the moment it's all, but just because the post is becoming too long! (I already thanks you for coming this far and reading all of it! :D)

But I promise in less than a week a video of a complete product, from the developing of a project to the code running on a WORKING Focus board!

See you later, and thanks again for your time! 

Unfortunately Visual Languages are too limited for a open board like Focus.

Need to withdraw to a normal scripting language... Uhmm... Anyone says BASIC?

Yes, the board will use an optimized version of BASIC, with a Client Application developed in Java (available on MacOS, Windows and Linux).

But I wanted to keep the 'No Reset Needed' mind on this Board.

So FOCUS will become a BASIC Programmable Board, with the capability to make Changes at Runtime.

In the meantime, I will be very thankful if you can check my other project:

Game65 - https://hackaday.io/project/26198-game65

(A Micro Game Device programmable in old school 6502 Assembly)

Today I've finally tested some code running on the Focus board from the IDE.

Still hard working on it.

Just a fast update.

This is how the main Compiler will be!

With different colors are indicated the 'Alias', identical blocks where the user can change the arguments of all the blocks just by changing in one place. Time saving and frustration saving! :)

Spent the last hour writing down the main concept of the Visual Programming Language for the Focus!

It's just a simple sketch, but I wanted to share it with you the main raison why I'm building it.

Writing down line and lines of code, continually Search online for examples or tutorial for just a simple Input Read and, maybe the worst thing, have multiple things to Remember (like the 'Servo::refresh()' at the end of the Arduino example that I keep forgetting or the 'pinMode' when working with different prototyping boards).

All this stuff summarise in loosing the main 'Focus' of the prototype or idea in that specific moment.

Finally stencils from OSHStencils show up in the mail box. Yes, another sleepless night

I know, not really a good job right?

Well toasted, 'I love the smell of burned leds in the morning', and not fully complete.

But it's good enough for some basics tests.

Well, it's better to say 'Solder Mess'!

The board 'face' in the middle is worth a thousand words.

First ever try using solder paste and hot dryer gun.

Fresh boards from OshPark!
And this time also with a sweet surprice ;-)