Catalina

Catalina

How to use the free Catalina C compiler with Flashpoint modules to run very large (2 Megabytes!) ANSI C code on your Propeller.

Introduction:

Catalina is a free ANSI C compiler that can compile programs that are much larger that the limit of 32kB imposed by the available RAM on the Propeller (Prop) chip by storing code on external flash and/or SRAM memory, like that of Flashpoint.

Flashpoint support began with Catalina version 3.3.

Adding a SuperQuad module to your Propeller allows you to run programs in "small" mode where up to 2 MB of code can be run from flash (but data and stack have to fit within Propellers 32kB of RAM).

Adding a RamPage module to your Propeller allows you to run programs in "large" mode where code can be up to 2 MB and data can be up to 128kB.

Links:

Catalina 3.3 for Windows direct download link It's easy to install Catalina!

Catalina Sourceforge project page is here. The official home page for Catalina.

Catalina downloads page is here. Look for the latest version and older version here.

Wiki page on Catalina Gives a good overview of Catalina's features.

Parallax Propeller forum page announcing Catalina 3.3. The forum is a great place to look for Q&A about Catalina.

Hardware Requirements:

All you need is a FlashPoint memory module, a Propeller chip, and a serial connection to a PC for many examples. However, some examples may benefit from additional things such as keyboard, mouse, SD card, TV out, VGA out, etc.

SuperQuad will allow you to run in "small" (program stored in flash) mode. SuperQuad requires six Propeller pins to operate and four of them need to be together as they form a 4-bit wide bus (the other two can be on any Prop pins.)

RamPage will allow you to run in either "small" (flash only) or "large" (flash plus SRAM). RamPage requires eight Propeller pins to operate. Again, four of them need to be together as they form a 4-bit wide bus (the other four can be on any Prop pins.)

For ease of use, the Catalina FlashPoint driver allows you to use Propeller pins to provide power (Vdd and Vss) to FlashPoint memory modules. So, you can just plug SuperQuad right into a Propeller Platform board, a Parallax Demo board, breadboard or other setup without wires.

Note: There are very small programs you can run with Catalina without a FlashPoint board (but they're not as much fun).

Software Requirements:

All you really need is the Catalina as it includes the CodeBlocks IDE and all the other tools you need.

However, the guide assumes you have some kind of serial terminal program. You can use the Propeller Serial Terminal that is included when you install the Propeller Tool. But, in some other cases the free terminal program "putty" is more flexible.

Guides for Using Catalina on a PC with Flashpoint:

These guides are to show you how to get started with the simple example programs that come with Catalina and then how to compile and run the cool large ones that require the extra memory that FlashPoint modules provide:

Install Catalina and then build and run a simple test program with this guide.

Configure Catalina to run a "small" program with either SuperQuad or RamPage.

Guide to the running the "LARGE" Super Star Trek example with RamPage