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Proposed idea for eCos debug/development user interface.


For various eCos platfroms, the development platform differs a lot depends on 
hardware used.  Some with keyboard, LCD (b/w or color), touch screen, etc.

However, seems almost every target has at least one serial port for the 
diagnostic outputs.  Currently eCos's output uses hyper-terminal or minicom 
types of TEXT based interface for debugging & development before the hardware 
for LCD or KEYBOARD is ready (Please correct me if I'm wrong).   

My suggestion is : shall we place some effort in making a GRAPHICAL DISPLAY
/INPUT interface using the serial ports (like some predefined protocols /packet 
commands), that will show the output graphically on you developing/compiling 
computer (such as you PC or MAC).  

If we have this interface, then as long as you buy a EVA board, you can directly 
connect its UART interface to the host computer (e.g. your desktop PC).  Write 
your own code with eCos, then display to the PC's graphical window AS IF you are 
writing to the LCD, typing from the PC's keyboard to get input for your EVA board.  
The software team no longer require the completion of your target hardware 
before user interface (UI) programming can be done.  Since once you have the 
hardware ready, just write your own eCos hardware interface driver as the
original graphical one.  UI needs NO programming change at all.

First of all, anyone know if any such kind of software/potting has already been
done?  Or and other similar software available in other open/non-open source 
projects?

As I just think of it, there are some protocol/ software need to be written.
1. The image writing protocol with UART, this defines how colored dots can be 
written, bitmap images can be transfered, the target screen resolution & bits per 
pixel, etc.

2. The actual code in eCos that converts routines like "set_pixel(x,y,c)" to write to 
UART ports like "/dev/ser0".  Of course some initialization routines need to be added.

3. The PC side software that accepts input from UART and map to the graphical
window after initialized from remote target.  X-Window / MS Windoz side program
that acts as a terminal but displays graphically will be required.

Any comment about this interface for eCos?  Or any effort already been done in 
this direction?  Suggestions are welcome.

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