Script interpreter

[Waschk,Kolja]

Hi

I'm currently working on a measurement device where data from sensors is
processed in a FPGA with "hardwired" logic and with code in a softcore CPU
(NIOS2). The CPU is responsible for communication as well, and it seems
there will be some spare time, during which it could perform yet unknown
tasks. It could, for example, utilize the measurement results to control a
motor or special display or ...

Ideally it would be up to the user to decide what the CPU shall do with its
spare time. There could be a robust environment that allows the user to
upload code have it executed by the device. Results from the user code could
be sent out via RS232 or other interfaces.

Assuming that software on the device is generally based on RTEMS, are there
any known methods to achieve this kind of functionality? I have read posts
about using Java KVM with RTEMS... Others embed Python interpreters, even
mobile phones run Python... hm.. there are some goals to aim for, and
I don't know whether using any of those "cool" approaches is appropriate.

- A clean separation of base software (RTEMS, with data processing and
communication) and user code should allow to make the device robust and
avoid things like "freezes" due to errors in user code. For example, the
device, when connected to a host PC, should never become unresponsive to
host commands just because the user code entered a tight endless loop.

- Ideally, the user should be able to debug her or his code from a connected
PC, single-stepping the code (and ideally, this development environment for
the PC side already exists, or debug feature can be provided online,
text-based, to be accessed using telnet or serial console).

Anyone here who already embedded a Python interpreter in a RTEMS
environment? Is it resource-intensive? Even a BASIC interpreter would be a
reasonable idea if it only allowed some kind of online debugging.

Kolja

-- 
Mr. Kolja Waschk, http://www.ixo.de/info/rtems_nios2 & http://www.telos.info