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Thread: Need to start somewhere with Hardware programming

  1. 01-09-2002, 01:16 AM #1
    168db
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    Post Need to start somewhere with Hardware programming

    Hi im looking into starting with hardware programming, even though I know C programming im not sure how to go about when it comes to hardware...
    What i want to start with is simple things like how does the sound card work... What are the irq and dma addresses for, basicaly stuff like that.
    Does anyone know of any sites that can help me to kick start?

    Please help me out here.

    Thanks alot.

    [ 01-09-2002: Message edited by: 168db ]
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  2. 01-09-2002, 06:28 AM #2
    magnetik
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    are you programming for windows or DOS? if windows there is little need to get into the real "nitty gritty" of hardware coding, thats the great thing about drivers!

    just jump in google a do a search for "sound blaster programming" etc, you should get a heap of info. Its nice to know the theroy, but for coding nowadays you can skip alot of this stuff..... espically if your starting out with hardware.

    maybe try hardware projects like LCD displays/IRman devices on the parallel/serial ports to begin with...
    Project - GAME OVER :(
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  3. 01-09-2002, 08:33 AM #3
    Aaron Cake
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    Cool

    Years back I made a program in GWBASIC that could play a raw WAV file through a Soundblaster card...It wasen't that hard. If you want, I can dig it up and send it to you. May be helpful.
    Player: Pentium 166MMX, Amptron 598LMR MB w/onboard Sound, Video, LAN, 10.2 Gig Fujitsu Laptop HD, Arise 865 DC-DC Converter, Lexan Case, Custom Software w/Voice Interface, MS Access Based Playlists
    Car: 1986 Mazda RX-7 Turbo (highly modded), 1978 RX-7 Beater (Dead, parting out), 2001 Honda Insight
    "If one more body-kitted, cut-spring-lowered, farty-exhausted Civic revs on me at an intersection, I swear I'm going to get out of my car and cram their ridiculous double-decker aluminium wing firmly up their rump."
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  4. 01-09-2002, 05:09 PM #4
    168db
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    Thanks guys for your replys.

    Was thinking of doing some DOS/Linux stuff but before starting with the code i just want to understand how everything works and stuff.
    Im comming in to programming world from hardware background, been doing electronics and stuff for past ten years. So i should have much trouble understand it all as long s i can get started from somewhere.
    Yeah I'll try searching on google.com see that comes up with something.
    And Aaron if you could send me a copy of that basic code that would be great. I got some samples in C for playing WAV file it does make sense to me but takes some to figering out what each line of code does as im not sure what really happens in the backround.
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  5. 01-09-2002, 07:18 PM #5
    laxrox
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    Linux Device Drivers by Rubini and Corbet (published by O'Reilly)
    http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/linuxdrive2/

    Online book:
    http://www.xml.com/ldd/chapter/book/index.html

    The 2nd edition covers the 2.4 (current) kernel AND you can download the whole thing in PDF format (THANKS O'Rielly)!!! There are so many good things about this book I don't know where to start. Even if you are not "into linux", the ideas presented will help you out on any modern OS since they are all built on the same fundemental ideas. It does provide a fairly good overview of the kernel including process management, memory management, file systems, device control and networking as well as the basic device types: char, block and special/network. The chapters on hardware management, interrupt handling, and mmap and dma (8, 9, and 13 respectively) sound like they would be of particular interest to you. There are also more linux specific chapters on kernel modules and thier loaders (insmod and kmod). I would definatly encourage you to check it out. I ended up purchasing the book after downloading it and printing it out (all 520+ pages).
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  6. 01-10-2002, 08:27 AM #6
    Aaron Cake
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    Cool

    OK. I'll see about finding that code. It's on 5.25" disk, so I first need to find a machine with the proper drive...Give me a few days...
    Player: Pentium 166MMX, Amptron 598LMR MB w/onboard Sound, Video, LAN, 10.2 Gig Fujitsu Laptop HD, Arise 865 DC-DC Converter, Lexan Case, Custom Software w/Voice Interface, MS Access Based Playlists
    Car: 1986 Mazda RX-7 Turbo (highly modded), 1978 RX-7 Beater (Dead, parting out), 2001 Honda Insight
    "If one more body-kitted, cut-spring-lowered, farty-exhausted Civic revs on me at an intersection, I swear I'm going to get out of my car and cram their ridiculous double-decker aluminium wing firmly up their rump."
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  7. 01-10-2002, 03:26 PM #7
    magnetik
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    Originally posted by Aaron Cake:
    <STRONG>OK. I'll see about finding that code. It's on 5.25" disk, so I first need to find a machine with the proper drive...Give me a few days...</STRONG>
    ugh 5.25" discs! stop using dirty words around here Aaron!! brings back to many nightmares 4 me...
    Project - GAME OVER :(
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  8. 01-11-2002, 08:35 AM #8
    Aaron Cake
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    Cool

    Like I said, I did this years ago and have not yet transferred them to real media...
    Player: Pentium 166MMX, Amptron 598LMR MB w/onboard Sound, Video, LAN, 10.2 Gig Fujitsu Laptop HD, Arise 865 DC-DC Converter, Lexan Case, Custom Software w/Voice Interface, MS Access Based Playlists
    Car: 1986 Mazda RX-7 Turbo (highly modded), 1978 RX-7 Beater (Dead, parting out), 2001 Honda Insight
    "If one more body-kitted, cut-spring-lowered, farty-exhausted Civic revs on me at an intersection, I swear I'm going to get out of my car and cram their ridiculous double-decker aluminium wing firmly up their rump."
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
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