.Net Micro Framework

[dilettante]

First I've heard of this one:

http://www.microsoft.com/netmf/default.mspx

Anybody looking at it yet?

[Garrcomm]

Currently VB.NETMF 4.2 is in beta. I toyed a bit with it already and works nice. The Netduino board already has support for it.

[moti barski]

1 does .net micro framework work with visual basic express or only with visual studio ?
2 do you have beginer tutorial links for using .net micro framework ? (for robotic stuff)

[dilettante]

Only C# as far as I know. Works with C# Express.

Some "get started" links here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/netmf...ngstarted.aspx

[dilettante]

Maybe look at:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/netmfteam/ar...available.aspx

[moti barski]

also :
what does windows ce actually looks like ? is it a chip, a chip + printed circuitboard ?

[dilettante]

??

There are basically 3 flavors of Windows: old DOS-based Win9x, NT, and CE. They are all operating systems.

Why would software look like a chip?

[moti barski]

what does windows ce OS sit on ?
windows ce is embedded correct ? embedded on what, does the programmer buy a microcontroller with win ce pre-installed or is win ce to be installed on an AMD or intel computer than connect via cable or bluetooth ?

[Garrcomm]

1 does .net micro framework work with visual basic express or only with visual studio ?
2 do you have beginer tutorial links for using .net micro framework ? (for robotic stuff)

The .NETMF 4.2 beta works with Visual Basic 2010 Express.
Code samples and more details for the netduino microprocessor board are available at http://forums.netduino.com/index.php...f-now-in-beta/

[dilettante]

I don't think CE is ever sold retail. Usually it has to be "built" from the kit that OEMs get from Microsoft, then tailored to specific hardware.

So yes, you would normally buy a device with CE pre-built and either installed in ROM or loaded from CD/DVD for that specific device. CE is used in many PDAs and Phones, so that might be the most common place a consumer would notice it. I know CE supports x86 and ARM processors, not sure about any others. I'm sure it is found in many other consumer devices but you would never see the "desktop" on those.

But you can't just "buy CE" and install it like NT. NT (such as Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7) is sold retail because it is built for the "PC" platform which already defines a lot of the hardware requirements (CPU, BIOS, etc.) and is made by a lot of manufacturers.

[moti barski]

The .NETMF 4.2 beta works with Visual Basic 2010 Express.
Code samples and more details for the netduino microprocessor board are available at http://forums.netduino.com/index.php...f-now-in-beta/

as for the link : in the led blink (hello world) example is the source code uploaded and run on the microcontroller if so how and with what cable OR
does the source code commands get sent at real time from the computer ?

is there a limit to the lines of code ?

[Garrcomm]

as for the link : in the led blink (hello world) example is the source code uploaded and run on the microcontroller if so how and with what cable OR
does the source code commands get sent at real time from the computer ?

is there a limit to the lines of code ?

Code will be compiled, uploaded to the microcontroller's flash memory, and executed there. There's 128 KB code storage according to it's specs.

Uploading goes through a micro USB-cable and the microcontroller can run standalone on a 7.5-12V power supply. I myself use a 9V battery.

[Nightwalker83]

The .NET Micro Framework is .NET for small and resource constrained devices.

I'm guessing that means phones, tables, etc?

[ChrisWalker]

Hi Nightwalker83,

I'm guessing that means phones, tables, etc?

Just to clarify, .NET Micro Framework and .NET Compact Framework are two different runtimes. The latter runs underneath Windows CE (on phones, tablets, etc.). For example, Silverlight for Windows Phone runs on top of .NET Compact Framework 3.7.

The .NET Micro Framework runs on tiny microchips. Ones with at least 512KB of storage and 128KB of RAM. It's meant for building electronics projects--whether that be a DIY TRON Identity Disc, a Pinewood Derby track timer, a robot, or a motorized industrial control system.

As of last week...you can now use Visual Basic with .NET MF. Including the Express editions. We're working on porting a bunch of C# samples over to Visual Basic. I've been personally using Microsoft BASIC for years (since the Apple and CP/M days) so I'm pretty excited to see VB support.

Chris

[ChrisWalker]

P.S.

.NET Micro Framework is open source (Apache 2.0 license). No charge (even for commercial applications).

.NET Micro Framework runs "on a bare microcontroller" and has all the OS fundamentals like timers and threading built in.

.NET Micro Framework was first used in the SPOT watches a half decade or so ago...and is now deployed on millions of devices around the world.

Visual Basic support just barely came to .NET MF. Along with support for XNA, VB is starting to get a lot of new capabilities!

If you are a Visual Basic programmer, you are now a microcontroller programmer (i.e. targeting the same types of electronics products that embedded C/ASM programms target today).

Chris