Optional: USB connection for BASICtools
While the ARMweb can be programmed through the webpage, during the development cycle BASICtools can be used via a USB connection. BASICtools have a much faster response than a browser.
The attachment of the USB and power supply is shown below. While an Ethernet connection is not required, if it exists and there is a DHCP server, the ARMweb will boot faster (otherwise each reset the 10 second timeout waiting for DHCP service will occur).
Why use BASICtools?
Browsers are very slow when refreshing a webpage, so the interaction with the programmer is better with BASICtools.
#include can not be used from a webpage, as the ARMweb does not have direct access to the #include'd file
Tools such as variable dump and Logic Scope are available in BASICtools.
The BASIC compiler on the PC has more memory for the symbol table and can handle larger programs than when compiling on the builtin ARMweb compiler.
For an introduction to BASICtools refer to the ARMmite sections .
BASICtools extensions for the ARMweb
When a file is compiled with BASICtools and the target device is an ARMweb, 2 intermediate files are saved in the user directory of the BASIC source. For example if the BASIC source is in test3.bas, the 2 files generated are test3.bpp and test3.out. The .bpp file is the result of the pre-processor and can be used to download over the ethernet interface. The .out file is the compiled hex plus symbol table information. In a future release of firmware the .out file will also be downloadable through the ethernet interface.
BASIC and Webpage interaction
BASIC can be embedded in the webpage served by the ARMweb. That BASIC code can access global variables of the user program running on the ARMweb. At present, BASIC embedded in the webpage can not call a FUNCTION or SUB (this will be a future enhancement).
The user (client) can also interact with an ARMweb BASIC program via the CGI mechanism.