• Locked Locked
  • Replies 4 replies
  • Subscribers 98 subscribers
  • Views 352 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Support feedback
Options
Options
Related

This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

Spinning up on CE and AM37x - slightly offtopic

Steve Garcia
Intellectual 420 points

Hi,

First, I apologize for a non specific question, and especially for a topic which relates more to CE than TI.  I hesitated long before posting, but really could not find a better forum.  The e2e forums are in my experience the best place to get answers to real world problems from real world people.  (If you want replies from people who only talk about embedded as opposed to doing embedded daily, there are plenty of other forums.)

The situation: My partner and I have been presented with an opportunity to redo past work of my partner's.  Some years ago, he developed some hardware testing code in VB.  Thehardware at the time was 80x86 based and he could simply load Windows and run his VB developed test code.  The client has upgraded the hardware and is running a board with multiple AM37x CPUs.  Neither of us are linux developers, so WinCE is our best bet.

WinCE is new to us and we're concerned about the likelihood of two CE neophytes being successful with the task at hand.  I've no doubt we can manage the test code per se as we have plenty of experience in embedded development.  The challenge will be coming up to speed on CE.

My research tells me that starting a CE project involves building an SDK by : 1) creating a BSP for the target; 2) use the BSP to create an OS design for download to the hardware platform; 3) create device drivers for the target; 4) customize the OS design with catalog pieces; 5) build, download, and debug the runtime image; and 6) export a SDK to be used for app development.  In our case, the app would be a hardware test package.

I see that TI offers an SKD for the AM37x.  My guess is such an SDK encompasses the majority of the above listed steps, but customization must be done for my specific hardware platform.  It seems that once that customization is complete, then development proceeds in a fairly straightforward manner.

Finally, my question -- how difficult is it for an experienced embedded engineer with no Win CE background to accomplish what is needed here.  We'll turn down the project if we can't do it in in a timely enough manner to please the client and to not lose money ourselves.   Based upon what I've offered, which I well realize is rather general, can folks please offer comments on the task before us?  How much work is there before we have a skeleton program running on our own hardware?

I appreciate any serious replies.

Steve

 

  • TI__Expert 3710 points

    If you have embedded experience, you should not have trouble picking up WinCE; even if you don't understand everything, you will find enough example code either in public folder or in supplied BSP(s) to tailor drivers for your hardware. Unlike Linux, in WinCE  two main things are lacking in my opinion: (a) Lack of (good) documentation and books - it is shocking that there is not a single decent book on the OS (b) community support is not as active as on other products. Regarding effort, you have to evaluate differences between your hardware and reference EVM for which TI supplies free BSP - pay particular attention to various devices/peripherals that are on the board and how they connect to the SOC. Also, when picking devices go through Microsoft site to see if WinCE driver exists or not -if not, then you will have to write the driver from scratch. For example, if you pick an Ethernet chip that is not on EVM and its vendor/Microsoft does not supply WinCE driver then you will have to spend time writing your own driver.

    Good luck with your project

    Atul

  • in reply to Atul Verma
    Intellectual 420 points

    Thank you, Atul.  That is all wonderful information.

    Not to imply that Atul's answer was insufficient (!), but if others have their own thoughts to add I'd really appreciate it.  A book you like would be a great recommendation, especially considering the lack of CE books.  (I have just ordered "Professional Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0" from Wrox's P to P series.) 

    Thank you again, Atul.

    Steve

     

  • in reply to Steve Garcia
    Intellectual 895 points

    The Windows Embedded CE 6.0 MCTS 70-571 Preparation kit is quite useful when you start developping Windows CE BSP.
    Since Microsoft has redesigned it's embedded CE website, it's hard to find the link to the full PDF.

    Go to this site:
    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/develop/windows-embedded-ce-6-certification.aspx

    Then click the link "Microsoft and Windows Embedded Partner Adeneo have collaborated to create a free, downloadable Preparation Kit for Exam 70-751" and register, then you'll be able to download the full preparation kit as PDF

  • in reply to MGun
    Intellectual 420 points

    Great.  Thanks.