Programming Framework for Microcontrollers

Aixt is a programming framework for microcontrollers which uses a modern language syntax based on V and able to be used by low-resource devices. Aixt is composed by 3 main components:

• The Aixt programing language based on the V language syntax.
• The Aixt to C Transpiler, which translate the Aixt source code to C, for the specific C compiler of each microcontroller.
• The Aixt API, which makes the programming easy by standardizing the setup and I/O functions.

stateDiagram-v2

    Aixt: Aixt language
    state Aixt {
        source: Source code
        API
    }

    Aixt2C: Aixt to C Transpiler
    state Aixt2C {
        Transpiler: Transpiler (V)
        setup: setup file (TOML)
    }

    C: C language
    state C {
        Tr_Code: Transpiled code
        API_C: API in C
    }

    state Microcontroller {
        PICs: PIC
        ATM: AT
        ESP
        RP2040
        others2: ...
        NXT: NXT brick
    }

    C_Compiler: C Compiler
    state C_Compiler {
        others: ...
        XC8
        XC16
        ImageCraft
        GCC
        others
        nbc: nbc (NXC)
    }

    machine
    state machine {
        BF: Binary file
    }

    Aixt    --> Aixt2C
    Aixt2C  --> Tr_Code
    C       --> C_Compiler
    C_Compiler  --> machine
    Microcontroller --> API_C

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Aixt is designed as modular as possible, to make it easy to append new devices and boards.

Aixt to C Transpiler

The transpiler is written in V and uses V's native compiler facilities to transpile from V to C. This is implemented in the folders \aixt_build and \aixt_cgen, and the main source code is the aixt.v file. It generates code for 3 different backends:

• c: for the microcontroller native C compiler
• nxc: for the NXC compiler (LEGO Mindstorms NXT)
• arduino: for the Arduino IDE WIP...

Aixt Language

Aixt programing language implements a subset of the V language. The main differences are show as follows:

feature	V	Aixt
variables	immutable by default	mutable by default
strings	dynamic-sized	fixed-sized
arrays	dynamic-sized	fixed-sized
default integers size	32 bits	depends on the device
structs	allow functions (object-oriented)	don't allow functions (only structured)

Example with main function

/* Turning ON the onboard LED 10 for the Explorer16 board
with a PIC24FJ microcontroller (XC16 compiler)*/

fn main() {
    pin_high(led10)    //turn ON the LED 10 (PORTA7)
}

Example without main function (Script mode)

/* Blinking LED on the Explorer16 board with 
a PIC24FJ microcontroller (XC16 compiler)*/

for {   //infinite loop
    pin_high(led10)     // LED 10 blinking
    sleep_ms(500)
    pin_low(led10)
    sleep_ms(500)
}

Aixt API

The Aixt API is inspired by the Micropython, Arduino and Tinygo projects. The API for all the ports includes at least functions for:

• Digital input/output
• Analog inputs (ADC)
• PWM outputs
• Serial port (UART)

Using Aixt

First compile aixt.v:

cd aixt
v aixt.v

run it in a Linux-based system as:

./aixt <command> <device_or_board> <source_file>

or in Windows:

aixt.exe <command> <device_or_board> <source_file>

Running examples:

./aixt -t Emulator test.v

./aixt -b NXT ports/NXT/projects/1_motor_forward.v

Project's name

The project's name is inspired in Veasel, the Weasel pet of V Language, and at the same time is a tribute to Ticuna people who live in the Amazonic forest in the borders of Colombia, Brasil and Perú. Weasels are mustelids just like otters, so the name Aixt comes from Aixtü, which is a way to say otter in Ticuna language.

Have questions?

Nice, you can contact me via mail.

Email: [email protected]

Want to contribute?

Cool, go ahead and make the contributions you want, then submit a new pull request

The microcontroller or board that you use is not listed here and you know how to program it in C?... You can easily add it to Aixt, please check CONTRIBUTING.md.

Take a look at TODO.md to find a task for you.

Please check CONTRIBUTING.md to learn how you can contribute.

License

The Aixt project is licensed under the MIT, which is attached in this repository.