Pinmux 4.0 additional features needed

Victor Wheeler61

Hello!

I'm not exactly sure where to put this (I couldn't find a forum for the Pinmux application), but I want to make a formal feature request.

Currently I am using the desktop Pinmux application v4.0.1159 for AM335x SoC's, on a Win7 64-bit platform, which app models the Pinmux Cloud application (or perhaps even uses it as a background service) -- the behavior is virtually identical with the cloud-based application.

The feature that is needed is the ability to enter an unlimited-sized comment with each and every pin that is selected in a pinmux configuration. Reason: this is the place that the hardware designer (and or anyone otherwise using the Pinmux application) can enter comments that contain the DESIGN INTENTION behind the use of a given pin. Otherwise, this design intention has to either be:

a. guessed at (unproductive and wastes of time when the hardware designer [or whoever is making the pin assignment decisions] has this information in his head), or

b. documented elsewhere,

when in fact that documentation should be DIRECTLY IN THE CODE GENERATED BY THE PINMUX APPLICATION, WITH POTENTIALLY DETAILED <<DESIGN INTENTION>> COMMENTS NEXT TO THE CODE GENERATED FOR EACH PIN. Alternately, these comments could be in a separate-but-also-generated document that covers hardware pin assignments, but I would much prefer it in the ...pinmux_data.c file.

I am guessing some firmware programmers and/or TI engineers may not agree with this opinion, but please take it to heart, because I have 24 years of exemplary documentation to back it up (including depth-study of documentation and its use to make software development more efficient and make the result more maintainable).

If there is indeed a Pinmux application forum, please direct me to it. Otherwise, I'd much like it if this request could be placed formally on their plate as being -- not just "nice to have" but NEEDED.

Thanks in advance,
Vic

over 9 years ago

0 Victor Wheeler61 over 9 years ago

Expert 2215 points

...and sorry to have to be the one to bring this up, but while they're at it, they should fix it so that the output .C file actually compiles. In my particular application (the pins I am working with), in the generated code is the symbol:

CHIPDB_MOD_ID_ADC

whereas there is no such symbol in PDK_INSTALL_DIR/packages/ti/starterware/include/am335x/chipdb_defs.h

but there are similar symbols:
CHIPDB_MOD_ID_ADC0 ('0' at the end, which appears to be a module instance suffix),
CHIPDB_MOD_ID_ADC1,
CHIPDB_MOD_ID_ADC0_FW, and
CHIPDB_MOD_ID_ADC1_FW.

I have not AT ALL made an exhaustive test or pin list in output that is actually being compiled, but if it isn't already being done, it certainly seems like it should be.

Kind regards,
Vic

0 Victor Wheeler61 over 9 years ago in reply to Victor Wheeler61

Expert 2215 points

...and it's possible (I'm new to the AM335x world, so take this as a "newbie" observation) -- the error could be in the CHIPDB_DEFS.H file as well.

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 9 years ago in reply to Victor Wheeler61

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

Hi,

I will forward this to the Pinmux team, but I cannot guarantee if/when these requests will be implemented.

0 Alex Bashkov over 9 years ago

TI__Genius 13550 points

Vic,

Regarding your suggested enhancement, user feedback is always greatly appreciated, so thank you much for providing such! We will discuss and evaluate your suggestion internally.

Regarding your code bug report, could you please attach the chipdb_defs.h? Not able to locate it in the general starterware folder that I have?

Thanks,
Alex

0 Victor Wheeler61 over 9 years ago in reply to Alex Bashkov

Expert 2215 points

Thank you Biser, and hello, Alex!

Thank you for your reply. As requested, attached is the chipdb_defs.h file. It is from the AM335x Processor Development Kit (PDK). It's full path when installed in C:\ti is

C:\ti\pdk_am335x_1_0_2\packages\ti\starterware\include\am335x\chipdb_defs.h

Have a fun and productive weekend!

Kind regards,
Vic

chipdb_defs.h

0 Victor Wheeler61 over 9 years ago in reply to Victor Wheeler61

Expert 2215 points

While I am at it, Alex:

1. It would be very helpful if the "download" buttons on the right (to get the generated files) would remember the last directory used and use it as the default on subsequent downloads. (I never use the C:\Users\my_id\AppData\Local\TI PinMux\Downloads\ directory since my development is elsewhere. But it is probably a good idea to keep this directory in view for use in case I need it later. Perhaps a configuration option to use the last-used download directory as default?)

2. In the generated am335x_pinmux.h file, it also doesn't compile without some editing, because the code generator forgot to close a comment on line 74.

Kind regards,
Vic

0 Alex Bashkov over 9 years ago in reply to Victor Wheeler61

TI__Genius 13550 points

Vic,

I have filed your additional comments to be looked at as well. Thanks again for notifying.

Alex

0 Victor Wheeler61 over 9 years ago in reply to Alex Bashkov

Expert 2215 points

Thanks, Alex!!

0 Matt Davis0 over 8 years ago in reply to Alex Bashkov

Prodigy 10 points

Hi Alex,

Do you have any idea if this feature will be added to a future release? Would be really nice to have a pin comment.

Thanks!

0 Alex Bashkov over 8 years ago in reply to Matt Davis0

TI__Genius 13550 points

Hi Matt Davis0 ,

That enhancement is still in the queue so hasn't been rejected. I have pinged the team responsible to summarize what we can or cannot do about it.

Thanks,
Alex

Processors

Processors forum

Pinmux 4.0 additional features needed