Public Announcement - First Release available

Post date: 26-Mar-2019 14:20:27

Author: Robin Baker (Electroguard)

Launch of "Annex WIFI RDS"

Annex WIfI RDS (Rapid Development Suite) is an amazing new Basic Interpreter for ESP8266 devices which is free to everyone for their own personal use.

It is one mans gift to the world, offered to the global community for the free benefit of all hobbyists everywhere.

The creator CiccioCB has developed a sophisticated masterpiece which is easy to use and yet also extremely powerful.

Complete beginners can achieve impressive project results very quickly with relatively few lines of user-friendly code:

while more experienced enthusiasts can indulge themselves making magic:

https://sites.google.com/site/annexwifi/electroguard-lessons/chapter-1---html/project-13---skin-clock

(an html example project which demonstrates usage of embedded web fonts)

Simplicity and quick convenience are key - a new user can flash the Annex firmware and be running programs (scripts) literally within just a few minutes, and scripts can then be subsequently edited and re-ran to test changes within seconds.

To emphasise how quick and simple Annex is to use, it only needs a single line of code to intialise an i2c DS3231 RTC module:

I2C.SETUP 4, 5 ' set I2C port on pins 4 and 5

One line of code can set the RTC date and time:

RTC.SETTIME Year, Month, Day, Hours, Minutes, Seconds

The RTC date and time can be displayed using:

Print "The date is " + RTC.DATE$

Print "The time is " + RTC.TIME$

So the term "Rapid Development Suite" is very apt, and will be especially appreciated by those who prefer not to waste their precious time re-compiling every small edit, or grappling with non-intuitive programming languages and tools.

The following is a feature summary taken from the first page of the Annex WiFi RDS website:

Annex WI-FI RDS is a powerful scripts interpreter for the popular ESP8266 WI-FI module.

The module can be managed with a dedicated WEB IDE and its associated AnnexToolKit utility suite.

It provides the following main functionalities :

• Asynchronous web server based on Websockets with

• Very fast Web Server / File Server

• Only one TCP port required for both HTTP and Websockets

• Integrated IDE

• Can be programmed using your web browser (even with a phone/tablet)

• Breakpoints, immediate execution of commands, display of variables, single step.

• Context-sensitive help available by pressing F2 key from within the script Editor

• OTA update (Over the Air)

• Powerful associated swiss-knife utility AnnexToolKit

• Simplified flash programming of any ESP8266 module

• Backup / restore (to/from files, to/from zip)

Basic Interpreter functionalities:

• Floating point double precision variables

• String variables with unlimited size

• Multidimensional Arrays (floating points or string)

• Asynchronous event handling

• Error Handling

• I/O on all available pins including PWM / SERVO

• Analog ADC input

• Support for SPI and I2C

• Support TCP and UDP protocols for communications

• Support for sending Emails using SMTP SSL servers

• Support for AJAX communications

• Support for ESP-NOW communications

• Support IMU Fusion algorithms 6 DOF and 9 DOF (Madgwick and Mahony)

• Strong integration with the javascript permitting exchanges between Basic script and the web browser

• A full palette of functions / commands

• More than 300 Commands / Functions available

• Support for the following modules / components

  • DHT11, DHT21 or DHT22 Temperature / Humidity Sensors

  • DS18B20 Temperature sensor

  • LCD HD44780 with I2C interface module (1, 2 or 4 lines with 16 or 20 chars per line)

  • LCD Display based on chipset ST7920 with 128x64 pixels monochrome

  • OLED Display based on chipset SSD1306 with 128x64 pixels monochrome

  • TFT Display based on Chipset ILI9341 with 320x240 pixels and 16 bits colors

  • TM1637 4 digits 7-segments display

  • TM1638 8 digits 7-segments display including 8 leds and 8 buttons

  • MAX7219 8 digits 7-segments display

  • MAX7219 8x8 dot matrix display modules

  • Neopixel WS2812 led strips

  • Neopixel WS2812 8x8 dot matrix display

  • PCA9685 PWM/SERVO module

  • Infrared interface with many RC protocols (transmission and reception)

  • RTC module (DS1307 or DS3231)

  • HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor for distance measurement

  • BNO055 Absolute Orientation Sensor

  • BME280 Combined humidity and pressure sensor

  • APDS9960 Digital Proximity, Ambient Light, RGB and Gesture Sensor

That impressive list is understated and does not mention an awesome facility for users to create their own User Subroutines, or ability for scripts to read/write files in non-volatile memory, or facility for scripts to launch other scripts (effectively allowing program modules), or File Manager 'Repair Disk' feature similar to 'CHKDSK' for test and repair of SPIFFS file problems, and, and...

There is online context-sensitive help available simply by pressing F2 while the cursor is positioned over an Annex command or function in the Editor page - and although it only takes a few minutes to get started with Annex and actually try it for yourself, here is a direct link to the release version of the Annex Online Help which shows a complete list of all that versions commands and functions: http://annex.droppages.com/V1.36/?topic=

This public launch is for the ESP8266 family of devices, and yes, there is a much more powerful ESP32 version in advanced stage of development which won't be unleashed until the world is ready for it... so this launch is all about the ESP8266 version of Annex.

The Website contains links to everything relevant, plus many examples, and areas for users to publish their own contributions.

A Forum has beta testers with many months of Annex experience ready to offer help and assistance if needed. Be aware that the developer CiccioCB is the master professional, the rest of us are mere mortals who have fallen under the magical spell of Annex.