BASIC Engine at FOSDEM

uli

If nothing goes wrong there will be a talk on the BASIC Engine at FOSDEM 2019:

https://fosdem.org/2019/schedule/event/basic_engine/

See you there.

uli

Here's the recording:

https://video.fosdem.org/2019/K.4.601/basic_engine.mp4
https://video.fosdem.org/2019/K.4.601/basic_engine.webm

rnentjes

Nice talk, well done!

I am looking forward to the Lua option.

uli

rnentjes I am looking forward to the Lua option.

If you want to try that right away, you can get a nightly build. The command to enter Lua mode is LUA. File access is implemented, but not tested (except in the hosted build), so you may or may not be able to do things like dofile("program.lua"). You can do print("Hello"), though. ?
Return to BASIC using basic().

paulgreg

Thanks for the talk.
It get me motivated to build one of these (+ the fact that you give me away one PCB, thanks ) :-)
I’ve ordered an hot gun + all components from China (the VS23S010D-L is quite expensive to get) and, in 2~3 months, I may begin the soldering.

stevaras

Hi uli ,

Nice talk at FOSDEM for your cool project!

I also got a PCB (thanx!) and you inspired me with the opportunity to do the soldering myself so, I ordered the BoM as you kindly provided (including all the optional except the PSX connector) and I have an ETA of ~50d ...

I always wanted to have a base soldering station and a hotgun and this project was a nice opportunity so, I ordered both ? . I have soldered smd components before, like a few 1206 res/caps and some esps8266 with my old antex but after watching the soldering video I feel more confident on how to "handle" the VS with a hotgun!

just fyi paulgreg , especially for the VS, I got it already from TME at 4.45€ (chip) + 7.9€ (shipp.)! + VAT = 14.94€ in total and got it delivered in a very good package and there are a few still in stock in case you are inquiring...

anti-stastic bag
VS23S010D-L

I 'll try to keep you posted when everything (BoM and tools) arrives and start building the board!

paulgreg

I tried to solder the VS chip a few times back in march of 2019 but failed...
I destroyed PCB lines and decided to shelf the project as tweeted here : https://twitter.com/paulgreg/status/1126920892410474498?s=20
At FOSDEM 20, there was a CMS soldering workshop, which used a stencil to apply solder paste.
I was able to make the Olimex binary watch composed of a few CMS components.
So I may retry to solder the kit by using a stencil to help apply the solder paste (don't know how much it will cost however, I may revise that strategy if it's too expensive).
I know you do not recommend it @uli but I wasn't able to do it your way... :/
I have components to build 5 basic engine. I'll keep you informed if I'm more successfull.
I may sell a few if they are all working.

paulgreg

paulgreg I received my stencil and so, tried again to solder 5 basicengine : https://twitter.com/paulgreg/status/1239215040529608705. Not sure if VS chips are correctly soldered but still better than last time I tried. It isn’t finished yet, I’ll continue next week-end and hope at least 2 or 3 of them will work.

uli

Just in case it helps: I have recently seen somebody using the same basic method I'm using, but instead of coating the pads with an iron, he used solder paste and a heat gun. That should avoid your issue with damaging pads since nothing hard ever comes in contact with the board. Unfortunately I don't remember the video, it was some repair channel on YouTube...