Finally, some time!
I was able to get the webserver code compiling by signing up for the IAR time-limited license. I have much better uses for the $300/month they wanted to charge me for a regular license.
And then I didn't have time to work on this for a while... so that license is probably close to expiring!
Oh well, I ran the samples and that's really all I wanted to do. For anything I (hopefully) end up building I would like to do it in a way that anyone can copy without too much extra expense - and an IAR license falls into that category for the average hobbyist.
Tonight I ran the standalone Httpserver sample, and the standalone tcp_echo_server sample.
Here are some pictures...
I really like that the developers use the display to show status information in their samples!
And this is what the sample website looks like:
I was very impressed with how quickly the website loads - seriously fast!
I followed their instructions in the DM-STF4BB User Manual to hook up a 10k variable resistor (pot).
To hook up the board to be able to use the webserver I simply plugged the board into my router - much easier than trying to find a x-over tcp patch cord, plus the router way will eventually allow me to open it up to the public internet.
I then changed the code for both samples to uncomment the USE_DHCP define, as I was unsure of what IP addresses were still available. And the router takes care of assigning all the required information to the webserver samples.
I tried the LED control and the ADC status bar options - quite neat to see it in action. The LED control let me turn the green LED on and off by using a checkbox on this webpage. The ADC displayed the voltage of the variable resistor mid pin. Very cool.
Then I thought I'd try the tcp_echo_server sample, as it is much simpler and I thought that might make a better starting point for me trying to serve up images.
The instructions point to using some kind of echo tool that is included with the samples, but I was not able to get that to run in my Windows XP environment. After going through a lot of pain trying to get it working, I figured out that a MUCH easier way was to simply use Hyperterminal to connect via TCP/IP to port 3 on the dev board's address. The tcp_echo_server then just sends you back what you type in hyperterminal.
Here is a summary of how I'm feeling about this dev kit so far:
The Awesome bits:
1. The samples all work, and it's VERY easy to get them to work - big plus!
2. The samples use the display to show status information, which saves having to use a separate debug or serial connection to figure things out.
3. This thing is FAST!
4. Lots of pins, lots of options.
5. oh yes, almost forgot the colourful flashy LEDs.
6. easy to use USB connections for power/development
7. That's a very nice touch display.
The bits that I'm not sure about yet:
1. I would prefer if STM had some kind of dev environment available themselves, as it wasn't fun running into evaluation license limits while trying the samples. That's one thing I like about Arduino. TI also has their own "CCS" environment for their launchpad boards (though I don't recall if it has code size limits on it).
2. Is that big serial port really still being used in the land of firmware? I think most computers don't even have serial ports anymore, and USB is all the rage these days - I would have preferred a USB connection with serial-over-usb. Maybe the serial-over-usb chips add too much to the cost?
3. The samples are nice, but it would have been great if they had included more explanation of how the samples are built, and which files I need to look at to change things. For example, I'd like to know where the code is that turns the LED on and off, and the part that sends the pot values.
That's all for tonight!
Hopefully I'll get some time soonish to see about building my own sample next.
Cheers,
-Nico
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