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lancaster-university / microbit-dal

http://lancaster-university.github.io/microbit-docs
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Feature request: Ability to include C++ with Javascript wrapper for Javascript Blocks Editor (powered by MakeCode) #310

Closed rharbird closed 7 years ago

rharbird commented 7 years ago

Hello,

We would like to be able to write packages that contain C++ code with a javascript wrapper.

The first things that we would like to do with this functionality are:

  1. To include the SdFat library,
  2. To include a lightweight networking protocol.

We know that we can use the Adafruit data logger for no. 1 ( thanks @DavidWhaleIET ) but in the longer term, we would prefer the lower power option of an sdcard writer.

Regards,

Rae

DavidWhaleMEF commented 7 years ago

It is already possible to bundle C++ libraries with MakeCode.

This particular package on github is written in assembly language: https://github.com/Microsoft/pxt-neopixel

You'll need the CLI tools in order to build the C++ I think...

https://makecode.com/cli

It's not well documented how you do this, but if you ask @pelikhan I am sure he will point you in the right direction.

Users can then just AddPackage and the cpp (and/or asm) comes in with it, and they can use it without building code. It's how many of the standard MakeCode packages already work I think.

DavidWhaleMEF commented 7 years ago

Regarding a lightweight network protocol, Rob May from Cisco was implementing MQTT/SN on micro:bit a while ago. https://twitter.com/TigerRob

Also, we have been working really hard with one of our content partners, who have developed a complete course on networking. This course includes a range of unacknowledged, acknowledged, error prone and error free network mode packages for MakeCode, both wired and wireless. I think the current plans are that these will surface later this year.

rharbird commented 7 years ago

Thanks for the update @DavidWhaleMEF.

We will try the AddPackage feature and are awaiting the new networking functionality!

Rae