DorkbotPDX people doing strange things with electricity

An interpreter need not be more than a case statement with a loop around it. I've written just such an interpreter for Teensy starting with a variation of Paul's USB Serial example. I'm finding it very handy. If I need a 1.5 millisecond pulse I would type:

echo 1o1500u0o >/dev/cu.usbmodem

This example uses three single letter commands, each proceeded by a sequence of digits that loads data that any command can use or modify. Here is what the commands above mean:

1o -- output high on the selected pin (LED pin by default)

1500u -- delay for 1500 microseconds

0o -- output low to finish the pulse

Other commands include:

200m -- delay 200 milliseconds

4a -- select pin 4 of port A

i -- input from the selected pin

p -- print data that the host can read

100{} -- repeat commands within braces 100 times

Putting these all together we get a program that samples pin A4 at 5 Hz and writes what it finds to standard out:

echo 4a100{ip200m} >/dev/cu.usbmodem

cat /dev/cu.usbmodem

I've put the project up on GitHub. Look for Txtzyme which means "text that catalyzes action". My fork there will be accumulating operations I find handy in my sensor network and, of course, as a utility device on my workbench.

Followup Posts

• Plotting Signals with Txtzyme
• Txtzyme Javascope Feeds Java's 2D Graphics
• Visual Perception Study with Txtzyme
• Remote Control with Txtzyme
• Txtzyme Remote Signals
• These Lights Were Made for Blinkin'
• Pre-Built Txtzyme Hex Files and More
• Atmospheric Tides Wiggle My Barometer
• Yow Revisited (in Txtzyme)
• Pulse Measurement with Txtzyme
• Beer Sensor Shows Value of Flow Control
• SensorServer Transitions to Txtzyme
• Averaging Hum Away
• Martin Fowler Explains Txtzyme
• Txtzyme Sparkles on LED matrix
• Txtzyme Accepted for Open Source Bridge
• Photobot Takes and Shares Photos