User talk:Grich

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Good luck! -- Herby talk thyme 10:03, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

Serial Programming:USB Technical Manual
This is an interesting subject, and it appears as though you are interested in getting something started along the lines of writing a Wikibook about this topic. I would like to let you know that I'm interested in helping out here as well.

What I'd like to do here is perhaps restart something that would go int a full independent Wikibook rather than just something tied to the Serial Programming book. I know I threw in the USB link, but my intention when adding this to the outline was to show how you could put in a "virtual" RS-232 data link via USB connectors to extend and expand upon the earlier discussions. Certainly there is some considerable content that could be written about USB programming that is not widely available.

One of the problems I see that would face a would be independent software developer is the ability to set up a "test bench" for doing the software development. For RS-232 programming, you can have a null modem that even loops back to the same computer (particularly in multi-tasking operating systems like Linux or Windows). I've done this on a professional basis for quite a bit of code testing. Unfortunately doing this with USB connectors is difficult or even dangerous. Do you have any suggestions on how to set up some sort of test bench for would be USB experimentors to try different techniques?

I have thought about perhaps some simple low-cost USB development kits that we could set up, and even give schematics to make or even offer for sale (or show links to several vendors) that would allow this sort of development.

More to the point, I would like to cover this topic, but it needs to be written (from my viewpoint) as something which would allow "hands on" with actual hardware. The range of possibilities is huge, as I've seen some very ingenious applications (like a fish tank and coffee mug heater) that go way beyond even just serial programming. Writing USB drivers would be another interesting task to work with, and to cover some of the issues in regards to obtaining a "device ID" from a bureaucratic legal standpoint as well.

If you are interested in working on something like this, please drop me a line on my talk page. I am quite interested in getting something like this going. --Rob Horning 17:21, 22 March 2007 (UTC)