[Tinycc-devel] Joining Tiny C Compiler with ItsyBitsy M0 Express

[Ulrich Althöfer]

Dear Developers,
is it possible to implement the TCC on an awsome microcontroller board?

I am fascinated by the very compact microcontroller board 'ItsyBitsy M0 
Express'. It is equipped with the ARM Cortex M0+ processor (with 256KB 
Flash and 32 KB RAM builtin) running at 48 MHz and 2 MB SPI FLASH on 
board - hence called 'Express'. The USB board is developed by Adafruit 
Industries (Owner 'Ladyada'). Look at the website:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3727

The particular feature of the ItsyBitsy is in my opinion the builtin 
Python interpreter in combination with the external accessible FAT file 
system. The USB interface is implemented native - without a separate 
processor. The Python interpreter is condensed to 'MicroPython'. The 
'CircuitPython' is Adafruit's open source derivative of MicroPython 
especially prepared for Atmels ARM M0 type 'SAMD21'. Although the 
CircuitPython interpreter runs in this little ARM chip it shows 19696 
bytes of free memory.

The intended benefits of joining the TCC with the ItsyBitsy:
- Faster execution time than with the Python interpreter.
- Better energy efficiency because of direct command execution.
- Better deterministic characteristic.
- C as an additional educational language to Python.
- The self-contained C source (equivalent to the interpreter version).

The last point (the self-contained C source) on such a compact embedded 
board is very fun, because you get independent from the usual Operating 
Systems, proprietary chains and local situations: just pull the USB 
board off and you have the whole development information with you.

Let's do IT:
- Information Technology
- Interdisciplinary Thinking

P.S.
Actually the ItsyBitsy M4 Express is advertised.
The ARM CORTEX M4 with 192k of RAM and 512k flash @ 120 MHz is builtin.

Greetings from Germany
Ulrich