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Pyxis OS Gets An Upgrade
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
A few months ago I received an email asking about Pyxis OS being ported to the FEZ Domino, an ARM based board running the .NET Micro Framework. At the time there were just too many things going on to consider doing any sort of port. Today, things are a little different and Capsule MF is underway!
So what exactly is Capsule MF and what does it mean to you? Capsule MF is a re-invention of Pyxis OS. Not only will this new system support programs written in Pyxis Studio but it will support an exciting new feature; namely support of .NET Micro Framework applications! You'll be able to develop applications for this free operating system using a free compiler from Microsoft using C#!
Currently no one supports running of external applications on this framework, though the good people at GHI who make the FEZ are working on a solution that won't be supported on the smaller Domino. Capsule MF will address this in a creative manner. Rather than attempting to create a new Virtual CPU like Pyxis runs or pulling out hairs trying to execute .EXE or .PE files Capsule MF will work on a plug-in style system. Applications will be built around DLL interface known to Capsule MF and the assembly will be loaded dynamically at run-time using the system.reflection.assembly.load method.
Due to the still relatively small available RAM on the Domino, 60K, Capsule MF will (at least initially) only support one "application" to be running at a time. This solution gives you the flexibility of coding closed-source applications, running them from a uSD card instead of having to re-flash, and switching between applications while still conserving the resources of the board.
And that's not even the icing on the cake. The first iteration of Capsule MF will use the TouchShield Slide from Liquidware just like Pyxis OS, so for those of you wanting to upgrade from Pyxis you'll only have to invest in a FEZ Domino and not a new screen as well. And since the Domino already has a built-in uSD card reader you won't need an Adapter Board either!
We expect our Domino to arrive soon (it was actually due 3 days ago), so keep an eye out for new videos on our YouTube page!
UPDATE: Our Domino finally arrived today and we already have it running compiled .PE files!