Issue
145 August 2002
The
Open-Source HCS Project
by
Neil Cherry
LESSONS
LEARNED
I knew
this project would not be a simple one. First, we had
to get an open-source license that everyone could agree
on. We agreed on the GPL. Then, we needed to get the
source code for everything. Now, we have most of the
C source and all of the assembly source. Next, we needed
to get not just the executables for the host and compile
programs, but their source code as well. After that,
we had to make sure we could compile and assemble everything
into a project that works (we’re still working on the
old COMM-Link modules).
It was
at this stage when we discovered that the host program
has dependencies on proprietary libraries that work
only under DOS and with the Borland C compiler. A few
of us have the libraries but cannot share them. We are,
however, able to share the executables. This has been
a troublesome issue because we have no replacement other
than WinHCS. So, we need a portable host program; my
hope is that someone can create something that will
fit the bill.
Finally,
there’s the documentation, which is not up to date yet.
And then we need to introduce everything and get the
word out that HCS II is not dead. I’m doing my part
to spread the news with this article.
NEW
ARTICLES
I posed
the question to the HCS newsgroup regulars to see if
a few of them were interested in writing articles about
some of the work they’re doing or have done. A few have
said they will try. One of the first things I’m hoping
to see is the COMM-Links module based on C or BASIC
libraries. I also want to see a readily available prototype
board and an introduction on how to get a module to
communicate with the SC.
In addition,
I’m hoping to either provide links to or new articles
on some of the basic electronics needed to interface
the HCS to the real world. Many of these articles have
already been written. A few may need to be revisited
so they can be explained in a different way.
