SIMULATOR Platform

This platform is for the TiOS Simulator software that installs on your Windows PC. The TiOS Simulator executes as a regular Windows application. With TiOS Simulator, you can explore TIDE and the world of Tibbo BASIC/C-programmable devices without having to commit to purchasing any actual Tibbo hardware.

The TiOS Simulator supports only a subset of objects available on Tibbo hardware platforms. Moreover, some properties and methods of the objects the TiOS Simulator supports are implemented differently. Finally, some aspects of the TiOS Simulator's operation are "virtual" in nature.

As the name implies, the TiOS Simulator only simulates the real hardware. For example, the kp. object works with buttons in the TiOS Simulator window and not with physical buttons. The lcd. object draws inside the TiOS Simulator's window and not on a real LCD screen. The fd. object stores data in a file that "pretends" to be a flash memory IC, and so on. All these differences and deviations from the "standard" are documented in the Simulator Objects section.

Perhaps the most important set of differences between the TiOS Simulator and "real" hardware is related to networking features. These differences are explained in Network Communications in the TiOS Simulator.

Memory Space and Key Info

1. The sock.allowedinterfaces property refers to the Ethernet interface as "NET."The sock.targetinterface and sock.currentinterface properties rely on the pl_sock_interfaces enum, whose members differ depending on the platform.
2. The MAC address from the special configuration section is not actually used by the net. object. The net. object on the TiOS Simulator always uses the MAC address of the host PC.

Supported Objects, Variable Types, and Functions

• beep — generates audible patterns, played back through the default audio channel of your PC
• button — monitors the virtual MD button found in the TiOS Simulator window
• fd — manages simulated flash memory file system
• kp — facilitates input from 16 buttons found in the TiOS Simulator's window
• lcd — implements a virtual LCD screen in the TiOS Simulator's window
• net — controls a virtual Ethernet interface (which works through the WinPcap driver, more on this in Network Communications in the TiOS Simulator)
• pat — "plays" patterns on green and red "LEDs" found in the TiOS Simulator window
• romfile — facilitates access to resource files (fixed data)
• rtc — keeps track of date and time
• sock — socket communications (up to 16 UDP, TCP, and HTTP sessions)
• stor — provides access to the simulated EEPROM
• sys — in charge of general TiOS Simulator functionality

This platform supports the standard set of variable types and functions (a.k.a. "syscalls").

Platform-Specific Constants

• Enum pl_redir — The list of constants that define buffer redirection (shorting) for this platform
• Enum pl_io_num — Tthe list of constants that define available I/O lines
• Enum pl_sock_interfaces — The list of available network interfaces