So, I want to get into microcontrollers, which one...
# kotlin-nativen
Nikky
10/30/2018, 11:17 PMSo, I want to get into microcontrollers, which ones can I use with kotlin?
j
jkbbwr
10/30/2018, 11:26 PMhttps://github.com/JetBrains/kotlin-native/tree/master/samples/zephyr Is as close as you can get atm
👍 1
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napperley
10/30/2018, 11:31 PMCurrently Kotlin Native requires a OS (Real Time OS's included) as part of the porting process to other platforms, which restricts the number of uCs it can run on bar performance requirements.
napperley
10/30/2018, 11:36 PMCurrently the main uCs supported by Kotlin Native are determined by what uCs are supported by Zephyr ( https://docs.zephyrproject.org/latest/boards/boards.html ).
napperley
10/30/2018, 11:38 PMWould highly recommend going with a STM32 based uC (one based on a ARM 32 CPU) that is supported by Zephyr. The main reasons to go with a STM32 are the high value for money (good performance/hw features per buck), low cost, high availability, and comprehensive documentation/C libs.
napperley
10/30/2018, 11:45 PMUnfortunately the standard STM32 C libs are only accessible via bare metal on a STM32 uC 🙁. Kotlin Native doesn't have bare metal hardware support in its porting system 😢.
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Nikky
10/30/2018, 11:57 PMso that means i have no direct access or does that mean i need libraries to access the baremetal APIs ?
whats the workaround or is there none ?
j
jkbbwr
10/31/2018, 12:01 AMNative needs a runtime, most microcontrollers don't have the space for a runtime. Its not currently supported.
n
Nikky
10/31/2018, 12:21 AMso if i want the full featureset maybe i would be better off with a raspberry pi or something ?
n
napperley
10/31/2018, 12:34 AMFor low level hw access you are limited to what the Zephyr APIs provide ( https://docs.zephyrproject.org/latest/api/api.html ).
napperley
10/31/2018, 12:42 AMKeep in mind that the Raspberry Pi is a SBC (Single Board Computer) which runs a OS, and isn't a uC (Microcontroller - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcontroller ). This post outlines the differences between a uC and a SBC: https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-differences-between-single-board-computer-and-microcontroller
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Nikky
10/31/2018, 5:57 AMwhat i need is pretty much just network access and control over the pins
Nikky
10/31/2018, 5:57 AMpins are the GPIO api right ?
n
napperley
10/31/2018, 8:04 AMYes (in most cases). Although it depends on the library that is used.
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