Just a note. Angstrom does not get the tender loving care that debian
gets on the BBB

you may want to update your BBB to the most recent debian version


On 1/12/2015 11:39 AM, Mehreen Qayas wrote:
> TJF, I am going to stick with a Linux desktop computer to connect with
> my BBB. You're right. The Windows interfacing with the Linux device it
> a bit complicated right now. Once I get the hang of it, I guess I
> experiment with other OS. I searched alot on the internet - maybe not
> enough - but when I look for BBB tutorials, most of them assume that
> the PC that the BBB is interfacing with is a Linux machine. How come?
> I mean, is it a general recommendation?
>
> So it's alright to go forward with a Angstrom BBB interfacing with a
> Ubuntu desktop computer. I'm thinking, not pursuing Virtual Machine
> but installing only one OS on the desktop. Does VM perform the job as
> well, though?
>
> :D The lengthy calculations refer to feature extraction of the signals
> obtained through EEG data. And after feature extraction, applying a
> classifier on them. There needs to be alot of reading and studying on
> that. But thanks for giving me the heads up! i think I know somewhat
> where I am headed.
>
> On Mon, Jan 12, 2015 at 11:32 PM, Mehreen Qayas <[email protected]
> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>
>     Willam Hermans, thanks for very thorough response. I have to dig
>     in deep for the terms and study about gcc tool chains,
>     cross-compiling kernels and natively compiling on the BBB before I
>     can ask any more specific questions. Your answers have been a
>     great help. Much appreciated.
>
>     I have one last question about the example you gave of compiling
>     the code on BBB after transferring it from the Windows computer in
>     a text file. How do you transfer this file - say through LAN or
>     serial connection, once it is transferred, how are you compiling
>     it? I'm confused about who is controlling the compilation of the
>     code on the BBB - your desktop, correct?
>
>     On Sat, Jan 10, 2015 at 1:29 AM, William Hermans
>     <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>
>             /Some would argue this is bad practice as Windows versus
>             Linux line breaks can be different. But if you know how to
>             deal with this, there is no problem ( UTF-8 files )/
>
>
>         Oh, and a good editor will ask you when you first set it up.
>         What style line breaks you want to use. Unix, Windows, and I
>         believe a third options I do not recall. Ofcourse, In this
>         case, you'd wantto select UNIX style line breaks.
>
>         In case you're unfamiliar with what line breaks are . . . it's
>         the "code sequence" editors / OSes use when you start a
>         newline by using the enter key. Windows for instance uses ctrl
>         + lf, where as I believe Linux just uses lf.
>
>         On Fri, Jan 9, 2015 at 1:15 PM, William Hermans
>         <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>
>                 /And thank you for your response William Hermans.
>
>                 /
>
>                 /I have some questions. /
>                 /-When I am using a windows machine and I need to
>                 write a code for a Linux machine, I require
>                 cross-compiling?/
>
>
>             No. I recommend cross compiling the kernel on a PC
>             however. The reason is simple. It would take days to
>             compile the kernel natively. Also, the person( Robert C
>             Nelson ) who "maintains" the current shipped images for
>             the beaglebone blacks ( among many other devices / boards
>             ) has excellent instructions on how to set this up.
>             https://eewiki.net/display/linuxonarm/BeagleBone+Black
>
>             So for instance Most of the applications a single
>             developer will write, will take mere seconds to compile
>             natively on the Beaglebone black. Then some larger project
>             such as say Nodejs, will take 30-60 minutes to compile
>             natively. In the above Nodejs case you need to weight your
>             options while considering cross compiling. Are you very
>             familiar with gcc toolchains, and setting up a cross
>             compile toolchain, or would you have to spend days, weeks,
>             or possibly months to figure this out ? In my own case, I
>             know how to setup gcc to a point, but figured my time
>             would best be served just doing native compiling, and
>             moving on to my next hurdle - if any.
>
>             Anyway, I could go on for days about the various aspects
>             of how, when, or why ( or even why not ) to cross compile.
>             So, I'll just leave it at this for now and wait for
>             specific questions.
>
>
>
>                 /-What is your recommended choice for a text editor on
>                 a windows machine?/
>
>
>             I recommend whatever you feel most comfortable with.
>             Personally I prefer sublime text 3, as I also prefer dark
>             themes while writing code( easier on the eyes ). Also you
>             can use it as a simple editor, or use some of the more
>             advanced features such as multi line editing ( at once ),
>             or even use vim inside the editor. It's called classic
>             mode or something like. Anyway, this is more than just
>             about the editor in this case as it has binaries for
>             Linux, and I think OSX too. for Windows It is kind of hard
>             to explain, but its part esthetics, part feeling
>             "polished", and generally my ability to get things done
>             faster while working in Windows in this capacity. This
>             would probably more of a subjective type thing. But having
>             years ( well over 15 ) experience with Linux, and Windows,
>             I prefer my desktops to be Windows, while most / all my
>             server, and some of my workstation stuff to be done under
>             Linux.
>
>
>                 /-You said you compile your code natively on the BBB,
>                 what does that mean? You mean uploading/burning the code?/
>
>
>             > This means you use the compiler(s), provided by the OS
>             you're using, on the hardware your using it on. In this
>             case, you'd use the armhf versions of the gcc toolchain as
>             provided through the Debian package manager APT. So as a
>             simple example. You write the code in text format on a
>             Windows machine, potentially. Then you move these files
>             over to the Beaglebone black, where you then compile the
>             code with whatever compiler you need to use. Some would
>             argue this is bad practice as Windows versus Linux line
>             breaks can be different. But if you know how to deal with
>             this, there is no problem ( UTF-8 files )
>
>                 /-Finally you mentioned, "you wish to cross compile
>                 the kernel", can you please elaborate that?/
>
>
>             I'm not sure what you're asking here. DO you not know what
>             a kernel *is* ?
>
>                 /(Sorry about lack of knowledge of Linux & its
>                 code-compilation procedures. I have been studying them
>                 but it helps a great deal to ask people who have used
>                 it.)/
>
>
>             Let me just say that it would probably behoove you to pick
>             up a good book on gcc toolchains. Which is something I've
>             yet to do, but I've been lucky enough to know people who
>             do, and having the chance to pick their brains once in a
>             while. I pretty much cut my teeth on the gcc toolchain for
>             the MSP430 launchpad as provided by the Energia project.
>             Essentially, I did not like the Energia ( wiring ) IDE but
>             the gcc 4.6 toolchain binaries provided with it worked
>             very well. Also, when the beglebone black first came out,
>             we got two, and I knew nearly nothing about embedded
>             Linux. It just took some time, reading, and trial + error
>             to figure out many of the things I understand today.
>
>             One of the most memorable for me was reading through tons,
>             and tons of uboot information. Trying to get NFS root
>             working on our beaglebones. Until I finally understood
>             enough to ask a decent question of Robert Nelson. Which he
>             pointed me to a C header file that filled in all the
>             blanks for me.
>
>             Anyway, the over all point is - If you're willing /
>             wanting to learn. Then you're pretty much in the right
>             place with the beagelbone black.
>
>             On Fri, Jan 9, 2015 at 10:54 AM, Mehreen Qayas
>             <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>
>                 And thank you for your response William Hermans.
>
>                 I have some questions.
>                 -When I am using a windows machine and I need to write
>                 a code for a Linux machine, I require cross-compiling?
>                 -What is your recommended choice for a text editor on
>                 a windows machine?
>                 -You said you compile your code natively on the BBB,
>                 what does that mean? You mean uploading/burning the code?
>                 -Finally you mentioned, "you wish to cross compile the
>                 kernel", can you please elaborate that?
>
>                 (Sorry about lack of knowledge of Linux & its
>                 code-compilation procedures. I have been studying them
>                 but it helps a great deal to ask people who have used it.)
>
>
>
>
>                 On Fri, Jan 9, 2015 at 10:46 PM, Mehreen Qayas
>                 <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>
>                     TJF,
>
>                     Thank you for your input. I do realize that my
>                     goals seem a bit ambiguous right now in reference
>                     to BBB, it is because I have a little difficulty
>                     understanding how it works. Having used the
>                     Arduino, I forget it is not as easy as to write
>                     the code in an Arduino software and simply burn it
>                     to the board that is connected to my PC using the
>                     USB cable.
>
>                     My project is based on *Brain Computer Interface*:
>                     a headset will extract brain signals from a user,
>                     those signals shall be amplified, filtered,
>                     extracted and finally classified. These signals
>                     will then determine one out of the two movements
>                     to be performed on a robotic gripper having (at
>                     the moment) two fingers and a thumb.
>                     /
>                     Previously, this project was done using offline
>                     data. Ours require processing those signals in
>                     real time./
>
>                     My senior who pursued this project using Arduino
>                     Uno told me when I asked about:
>                     *- what is the microcontroller used for
>                     *The arduino was connected to a SD card shield
>                     that used SPI communication to transfer data from
>                     the card to the controller. The card had a file
>                     with the EEG  raw data on it in form of a text file.
>                     *- what was the input to your Arduino?*
>                     A text file with eeg raw data.
>                     *- what was the output?*
>                     A signal on a port that ran h-bridges. (h-bridge
>                     logic)
>                     (Yes, controlling a DC motor)
>
>                     --
>
>                     *->
>                     *In reference to _using LINUX_, in the long run, I
>                     would like to shift to having Linux on my Windows
>                     PC but in VM. So my question is
>                     - I can have any distro provided that I need to
>                     connect to my Debian based BBB?
>                     - Say I want to install Ubuntu, but *which
>                     version* is compatible with my BBB?
>                     - When my BBB arrives, do I need to upgrade it?
>                     (You mentioned the newly shipped BBB come with
>                     Debian and not Angstrom anymore; it is going to
>                     mention that, on the manual, yes?)
>
>                     *->*
>                     In reference to understanding some terms using a
>                     Linux machine to connect with a BBB
>                     - What is the substitute of an Arduino software
>                     where one writes code in c++ when using BBB?
>                     - How the code is burnt on the board? (i mean in
>                     the Arduino software, you would write the code and
>                     hit the button UPLOAD)
>                     - The connection you use is SSH?
>                     - You use your PC to write the code, and then
>                     transfer it to your BBB using SSH?
>
>                     (I read your answer about hosting the source files
>                     on the BBB. But I can't fully understand it so I
>                     asked the above questions. It means you are using
>                     your BBB as  stand alone machine. Writing your
>                     source code on it. Then transferring it to you PC
>                     using the LAN connection? How does SSH come in?)
>
>                     Thank you for your time and detailed response.
>                     They are a huge huge help.
>
>
>                     On Fri, Jan 9, 2015 at 1:47 PM, TJF
>                     <[email protected]
>                     <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>
>                         I neither use a cross-compiling tool chain nor
>                         Eclipse IDE (too bloated).
>
>                         My PC runs Xubuntu (LINUX). The BBB runs
>                         Debian (LINUX kernel 3.8.13-bone37) and is
>                         connected over LAN. I host the source files on
>                         the BBB (SD card) and load them over the LAN
>                         in to Geany IDE (on PC), writing back over LAN
>                         as well. Then I compile on the BBB with a
>                         native compiler, controlled by an SSH
>                         connection. Testing over SSH as well.
>
>                         Blacklib is a wrapper around the sysfs
>                         features (for easier access) and therefor much
>                         slower than libpruio, which operates the
>                         hardware directly (and in realtime for ADC
>                         samples).
>
>                             Should I shift to a a linux computer for
>                             this project? We are looking
>                             • to control a motor
>                             • generate PWM
>                             • access GIOP
>                             • perform lengthy calculations etc.
>
>
>                         Shifting to LINUX is always a good idea.
>
>                         What do you mean by 'control a motor'? AC, DC,
>                         stepper, ...?
>                         What do you mean by 'perform lengthy
>                         calculations'? Which input (digital QEP or
>                         analog sensor)? (libpruio will have QEP
>                         support in next version.)
>                         -- 
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