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#apertus IRC Channel Logs

2019/09/24

Timezone: UTC


01:03
jhlink
joined the channel
05:30
BAndiT1983|away
changed nick to: BAndiT1983
09:43
vup2
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TD-Linux
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09:45
Nira|away
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vup
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09:45
TD-Linux
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Nira|away
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09:59
BAndiT1983
changed nick to: BAndiT1983|away
10:58
RexOrCine|away
changed nick to: RexOrCine
11:00
intrac
left the channel
15:38
Bertl_zZ
changed nick to: Bertl
15:38
Bertl
morning folks!
15:40
jhlink
Good morning! :D
15:42
jhlink
Hey @Bertl, I'm new to the project, but I'm an embedded developer though experienced in non-RTOS, interrupt-less, single-purpose applications. Basically, embedded software in home appliances!
15:42
jhlink
I'd like to being supporting the project, but I was wondering what areas most need tender, love, and care with respect to the current development sprint?
15:42
jhlink
Or specifically, what repos.
15:43
Bertl
sounds great! so you are mostly on the software side for embedded systems or some hardware hacking as well?
15:44
RexOrCine
Welcome jhlink. Thanks for coming!
15:44
jhlink
Both! Though if we're getting into specifics, enough hardware hacking to use an oscilliscope, but not enough experience for working out timings.
15:45
Bertl
.o( hmm ... felt like he/she was already there :)
15:45
jhlink
Thanks /RexOrCine !!
15:46
RexOrCine
How did you find out about the project?
15:46
Bertl
okay, so you know your way around a scope and logic analyzer but you prefer to work on the software side, yes?
15:47
jhlink
Honestly, probing around the Google Summer of Code site. I've been looking around for open source hardware projects to contribute towards, but I didn't know where to look beyond filter through Github repos by popularity.
15:47
jhlink
Also, how do you tag users in IRC? I can't seem to get that right.
15:48
Bertl
tag?
15:48
jhlink
I'd like to do both, but seeing as I don't have a lot of supporting electronics equipment beyond an oscilloscope, I think software is what I'm limited to.
15:48
jhlink
Sorry, oscilloscope, logic analyzer, function gen., etc.
15:48
jhlink
Err. User
15:48
jhlink
Like, Hey "Bertl"
15:49
jhlink
Or how RexOrCine tagged my user name?
15:49
jhlink
I may not be using the correct terminology. I'm used to using @ in Slack.
15:49
Bertl
ah, well, that is client specific and the magic word there is 'highlighting'
15:49
jhlink
hahaha, duly noted.
15:50
RexOrCine
I actually typed it... but I suspect it depends on what client you're using. By the way if you're using the IRC window on apertus.org it would be beneficial to source a client.
15:50
Bertl
but most clients support auto highlighting for the nick of the client owner
15:50
Bertl
i.e. when you (or even I) write 'Bertl', it will highlight
15:51
jhlink
Already there, Rex. :) I'm using LimeChat.
15:51
Bertl
actually I lied, my client seems to be smart enough not to highlight my own messages :)
15:51
RexOrCine
I use Pidgin and it doesn't.
15:51
Bertl
RexOrCine: you want the IRC plugin for that on Pidgin
15:52
Bertl
nevertheless you can use some attribute characters for most clients like _this_ for *example*
15:52
Bertl
which usually is interpreted correctly by most clients
15:53
jhlink
Absolutely. Something similar to Markdown, right?
15:53
jhlink
It's a wonderfully simple way of messaging.
15:53
Bertl
yeah, kind of the great, grand parent of markdown ;-)
15:53
jhlink
xD
15:53
jhlink
So, Axiom!! What's the dealio?
15:54
Bertl
well, tons of places you can work on, but it is a little tricky without having at least parts of the hardware availabl
15:54
Bertl
*available
15:54
Bertl
what architectures did you work with yet (hardware wise)?
15:56
Bertl
i.e. for what kind of CPU/MPU did you write software for
15:56
RexOrCine
(... all the deeper reading on various topics is archived on the Wiki - https://wiki.apertus.org/index.php/Main_Page )
15:56
jhlink
Nothing in particular. It's mostly been Arduinos and Raspberri Pis. I've got some STM32 boards, but haven't got into for lack of a project.
15:57
Bertl
Microchip MCUs like the PIC series as well?
15:58
jhlink
Nope! My past job focused more on taking on the shelf devices and delivering products.
15:58
jhlink
That said, I'm completely open to learning them.
15:58
jhlink
I've got a general understanding of computer architecture, so I'm sure I could pick it up.
15:59
Bertl
sounds good, well, we have a bunch of FPGAs (not sure you want to dabble into that yet :) and otherwise mostly PIC16 and PIC32 parts
15:59
Bertl
the SoC variety of FPGA (we use a Xilinx ZYNQ) has two hardened arm cores (similar to RPi) so that might be an option too
16:00
RexOrCine
Remote access for a camera is available - https://wiki.apertus.org/index.php/AXIOM_Beta_Remote_Access
16:00
jhlink
Hahaha, someday soon, I'll hope to buy an FPGA!
16:00
jhlink
Yeah! That remote access link was amazing.
16:00
jhlink
Part of the reason why I wanted to join this project.
16:00
RexOrCine
Brilliant.
16:01
Bertl
jhlink: actually they are quite cheap nowadays ... so the entry price level is not a problem anymore
16:01
RexOrCine
jhlink: Where are you based?
16:01
jhlink
Wait. Price for the FPGAs that Axiom is using?
16:01
jhlink
Kentucky, USA
16:02
jhlink
While we're on the topic of architecture, one of the questions I had while lurking around the site previously was how all the software pieces were connected.
16:02
Bertl
boards featuring a Xilinx ZYNQ can be bought for less than 100 bucks nowadays
16:02
jhlink
Maybe it's my inexperience with FPGA that's preventing me from making the mental connections, but I'm not sure how everything is communicating.
16:02
Bertl
the development board we use for the AXIOM Beta is around 200 bucks
16:02
jhlink
Awesome.
16:03
Bertl
so, how does it all connect? ... loosely :)
16:04
Bertl
you might want to check the wiki for a general idea how the AXIOM Beta stack is designed
16:05
Bertl
https://wiki.apertus.org/index.php/AXIOM_Beta/Manual
16:05
Bertl
on the software side, the image pipeline is done in the FPGA
16:05
RexOrCine
Specifically 11.2.1.
16:06
RexOrCine
(section of the linked manual)
16:06
RexOrCine
Sorry, 11.1
16:07
Bertl
the various control registers are realized as memory mapped regions
16:07
jhlink
Cool, cool.
16:07
Bertl
and the arm cores basically do all the orchestration required to make it work
16:08
jhlink
Where does the axiom-control-daemon exist in the stack?
16:08
Bertl
that is work in progress done by BAndiT1983 when he has some spare time
16:08
Bertl
for now, basically all the control and adjustments happen with bash or python scripts
16:09
Bertl
which has some issues when you do uncoordinated changes
16:09
jhlink
Cool. So, in terms of development, the axiom-beta-firmware is the main repo for development?
16:09
jhlink
Bertl: lol. uncoordinated changes???
16:09
Bertl
so the 'control deamon' is supposed to step in and address this
16:10
Bertl
i.e. make sure that requests and changes are properly serialized
16:11
Bertl
handle the various bus interfaces and register accesses and present an easy to use interface to 'the outside'
16:12
Bertl
for the current firmware, you want to talk with anuejn and vup as well as se6ast1an_ ...
16:14
jhlink
Okay. If I'm understanding this correctly, the Xilinx FPGA is the main board that communicates with all the device peripherals and manages the appropriate device settings.
16:14
jhlink
Where's the PIC16 and PIC32?
16:15
jhlink
Or I guess, what are their roles in the camera hardware stack?
16:15
Bertl
the ZYNQ is on the MicroZed, the development board we use for the AXIOM Beta
16:15
se6ast1an_
I am in the bus on the way home currently so don't expect me to participate much currently
16:15
Bertl
the PICs are on the MainBoard and the PowerBoard
16:15
Bertl
(and also on the AXIOM Remote)
16:16
Bertl
they basically do hardware and bus management as well as help with debugging and bringup
16:16
Bertl
(on the Remote, the PIC32 is the main processor)
16:17
RexOrCine
jhlink: Would it be possible to get an email address for you please? I've DM'd you.
16:17
BAndiT1983|away
changed nick to: BAndiT1983
16:17
jhlink
Absolutley.
16:21
jhlink
Alright, so. I can understand what the pic may be doing on the PowerBoard, but on the MainBoard is it all of the above? HW, bus management, debug interfaces.
16:21
jhlink
I'm looking at the AES-Z7MB-7Z010-G block diagram, and I can't seem to find where the PIC is blocked.
16:21
jhlink
On this link. https://www.avnet.com/shop/us/products/avnet-engineering-services/aes-z7mb-7z010-g-3074457345635221604/
16:22
jhlink
(I'm setting aside the AXIOM Remote stuff for now. :) )
16:23
jhlink
Oh wait. Please ignore those last few messages. I just found the PCB files for the Beta stack.
16:23
BAndiT1983
jhlink, which PIC do you mean?
16:24
jhlink
I was looking at the AES-Z7MB-7Z010-G evaluation board, and not the Axiom camera PCBs, sooooo.... I'd like to retroactively pull those weird questions. xD
16:25
RexOrCine
jhlink: Well done. I'm in the process of reorganising things so files are easier to find... which Bertl will be pleased to hear.
16:26
jhlink
RexOrCine: Please!! xd Frankly, it's a bit of a treasure hunt to find information!
16:26
jhlink
xD*
16:26
RexOrCine
It's easier said than done of course. Because it's a deep place. But things do improve gradually.
16:28
jhlink
Incremental progress is the best strategy for monolithic projects. ;)
16:29
jhlink
What PCB software was used to design the boards?
16:29
Bertl
Eagle
16:29
jhlink
Coool.
16:30
jhlink
Out of curiosity, are the board designs version controlled in Github?
16:30
jhlink
or wherever, xD
16:31
Bertl
whatever yes :)
16:31
Bertl
boards have a version and a revision
16:32
Bertl
the version changes when something functional or placement specific has changed
16:32
Bertl
the revision is upped when we move labels around or do other changes like covering or uncovering vias, adding test points, etc
16:33
jhlink
Very cool. Are they centrally managed in a repository?
16:34
Bertl
http://files.apertus.org/HARDWARE/AXIOM/BETA/
16:34
Bertl
probably not 100% up-to-date, but if you are missing something, just let me know
16:38
jhlink
For sure! Thanks Bertl!
17:07
jhlink
Okay. I have an idea of how everything is connected now. You've got two pic16 and a couple of MachXO2 FPUs on the main board while stacking it with the Zylinx development board.
17:07
jhlink
I didn't realize the dev board was being used for this.
17:07
jhlink
Now that I've signed off more or less on that rabbit hole... xD
17:25
jhlink
I think it'd be an understatement to say that Axiom is predominately an FPGA/embedded linux project, right?
17:25
RexOrCine
Definitely embedded Linux.
17:26
jhlink
Rockin'.
17:26
jhlink
How are builds currently created?
17:26
RexOrCine
Note: I don't program.
17:26
jhlink
I noticed there was a task for something like this in the Project board.
17:26
jhlink
Hahaha, noted.
17:27
RexOrCine
So that question takes me a bit our of my area.
17:27
RexOrCine
out*
17:27
RexOrCine
(I don't type properly either)
17:28
jhlink
No worries.
17:29
jhlink
So, given that I don't have a dev. board, I think I'd like to try my hand at the build system.
17:29
jhlink
Are there any continuous integration servers that are being run?
17:29
jhlink
or used*
17:30
RexOrCine
I think so. That's one for Bertl really.
17:30
jhlink
Got it. I'll leave questions here and check back later.
17:31
jhlink
What's the last known working build that works with qemu? The github release page doesn't list a "Stable" build, hahaha
17:32
jhlink
Per T738, could I just pick a stable (LTS) OS that works and roll with it?
17:33
jhlink
I think those are all the questions I have for now.
17:33
jhlink
I'll check back later for updates. :)
17:36
Bertl
check with anuejn and vup for building the firmware
17:37
Bertl
should be fairly automated by now
17:37
Bertl
for the QEMU part, check with alexML, he has done some work there IIRC
17:40
intrac
joined the channel
18:04
vup
jhlink: yeah no stable releases yet :)
18:04
vup
Best to clone the git repo and follow the readme
18:05
vup
https://github.com/apertus-open-source-cinema/axiom-beta-firmware/blob/master/makefiles/README.md
18:06
vup
./makefiles/docker-make.sh qemu-shell should get you started
18:06
RexOrCine
Bertl: Have you any Triple PMODs that can be photographed?
18:26
Bertl
will check
18:56
kiwi_65
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kiwi_65
left the channel
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AlisaHot
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19:09
AlisaHot
left the channel
20:58
RexOrCine
changed nick to: RexOrCine|away
22:30
se6ast1an_
off to bed, good night
22:44
BAndiT1983
changed nick to: BAndiT1983|away
23:53
jhlink
Alright. Thanks for the assist Bertl!! I'll follow up with alexML about that.
23:53
jhlink
vup: Cool, cool, cool!
00:16
Bertl
you're welcome!
00:27
Bertl
off for now ... bbl
00:27
Bertl
changed nick to: Bertl_oO