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Parallel Programming For the Arduino

Posted by Soulskill on from the head-patting-and-tummy-rubbing-support dept.

blackbearnh writes "As more non-traditional programmers start playing around with embedded platforms like the Arduino, the limitations and complications of interrupt-driven event handling can become an annoying barrier to entry. Now a group of academics have ported the parallel-processing language Occam to the Arduino. In an interview on O'Reilly Answers, Matt Jadud of Allegheny College describes how Occam helps artists using the Arduino in their installations, and how the advent of low-cost computing platforms is changing the educational experience for proto-makers in school. 'Basically, an artist or a tinkerer or a hacker has a goal. They don't really care about learning Occam. They don't care about how this language is different from C. They just want to make a cat door that keeps their cat out when the cat comes back with a mouse. Or they want to make some kind of installation piece. Trying to focus as much on the user and the possible goals they might have is what's motivating our work right now.'"

9 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. That kind of thinking... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    "They don't really care about learning Occam. They don't care about how this language is different from C. They just want to make a cat door that keeps their cat out when the cat comes back with a mouse. Or they want to make some kind of installation piece. Trying to focus as much on the user and the possible goals they might have is what's motivating our work right now."

    Isn't this kind of thinking that lead us to why we have the security holes, shoddy programming, and bloat-ware today? People just want to code and not to learn the ins and outs required to craft a well-heeled, tuned, and functioning program or application?

    1. Re:That kind of thinking... by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've been pushing for that for years! All children should have a proper engineering degree before playing with legos! I mean, have you seen what some kids come up with? Totally unworkable.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    2. Re:That kind of thinking... by bb5ch39t · · Score: 3, Funny

      I agree with you. In the extreme, it might lead to gas pedals sticking in computer controlled cars. Oh, wait, that's already been done.

    3. Re:That kind of thinking... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      If you don't know how the computer works right down to transistor level, how do you expect to understand even a little of what you're doing?

      Sure.

      How do you expect to understand even a little of what you are programming without understanding Electronics?. Solid State Physics? And without Quantum Electrodynamics?

  2. occam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    occam iits sh like all lel lanparalguages.

  3. Parallax Propeller by BasilBrush · · Score: 5, Funny

    The best option for people who want to learn about parallel programming on an embedded processor is the Parallax Propeller. Genuine 8 core system on a chip, programmed to the bare metal. And so much fun.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallax_Propeller

  4. Re:Keep a cat out when it has a mouse?? by ari_j · · Score: 4, Funny

    You embed RFID tags in the mice and then keep the door locked if one is detected.

  5. "Arduino" sounds like Ned Flanders word by walterbyrd · · Score: 2, Funny

    What does the Arduino diddly do?

  6. Re:Why do people struggle with this so much? by Haxamanish · · Score: 2, Funny

    This just a race condition, which was taught when I was a sophomore in college(and I knew about in high school).

    Are you sure you were not a semaphore?