Hi Rob, > I have not much experience with bootloaders, only with the > TinyBootlader. I have never overwritten it (except when I used a normal > programmer), probably because its PC support program prevents it. >
It happens when you develop for many Operating Systems or when you test various bootloaders, or various uploaders (PC host application). By example, on Linux, the Alberts python uploader sometimes can destroy the bootloader. The program it works, is starting after 10 seconds but the board is not recognized until the program starts. Another example: Pinguino IDE of J.P. Mandon can upload programs on board without problems in Linux but in windows is a kind of lottery. >From your point of view (you are a developer, working with a large variety of pics) you have right, but when you try to make a board like Arduino, to help beginners to start with JAL, you must have everything working perfectly, without glitches. Why so many children (see Arduino projects on youtube) prefer to buy an Arduino board? Because they need only to program and upload. That's all. No programmers, no awful configuration and fuses, no datasheet pains. Of course, in time they will want more. But the beginning is very important. For some will be just an adventure, but for others will be a hobby. This is why your board must hide ALL complexity and avoid all complications. About serial port. How much time the PC producers will continue to support it? Think about little laptops made for children for school: one or two, maybe three USB ports. How they will connect the Jaluino board (be careful, if the board is complicated, will not be an option - they will choose Pinguino) on that PC? As another parenthesis, I have seen on Internet many teachers wanting to make 5 - 8 pinguino boards for their classes. So, I like the USB bootloader of Albert, written entirely for JAL. Regards, Vasi P.S. I know this have little or nothing to do with professional area but you also must take care about the future (promoting and teaching). -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "jallib" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jallib?hl=en.
