Code Hacking

[Guest]

Hello,

If I wanted to add support to my S4 for a currently unsupported chip by hacking library code, do you provide any support information for this sort of thing? Or would I have to reverse engineer? (which would be more fun :>)

How do you (Dataman) feel about this sort of thing? Is it something you would encourage or discourage? Have you every thought about allowing users to develop and/or distribute library mods?

-Kev

[Dataman (Neil Parker)]

Hi Kev,

Our official view on this is as follows:

Our current S4 libraries support most of the current chips on the market. Due to technical limits S4 cannot support 3.3V devices and some strange devices with awkward programming algorithms.
Which specific devices are you missing on the S4 device list, please? We can add the support for any 5V device whose programming specs are "copmliant" with S4 hardware.

We cannot prevent you from reverse-engineering S4, however, we will NOT support you in any way. We would rather that you make a list of missing devices and we either add them or explain the technical reason (S4 limits) why they cannot be added.

Hope this answers your question.

Neil Parker

[Guest]

Thanks Neil,

There is no 5V chip that I need support for. The S4's device support is excellent. I have never come across a chip it didn't recognise. Hey, that's why I got one

I have a 32 pin 3.3V ROM that I wish to dump the contents of (just dump, not program). I don't fancy building a board to do it. I wanted to build an adapter to convert the logic levels of the S4 to the levels of the 3.3V chip (which is 5V I/O intolerant) and vica versa. I no longer need to hack any S4 code because I discovered the 3.3V chip is pin compatible with the NEC 27C1001 (already supported by the S4), besides I could just swap the lines around on the adaptor.

I see no reason why with such an adapter the S4 couldn't dump 3.3V ROMS. Except maybe increased ROM access times due to the logic level translation (but I seriously doubt it would present any problem and would be fairly easy to overcome).

I would never expect Dataman to waste time assisting me with my warped project. I just wanted to to know your position on the subject. I wouldn't want to make any code/hardware/information available to anybody that would damage Dataman sales. Microsoft didn't get such a luxury with my X-box projects

Anyway what do you think about my adapter idea? Do you know something that I've missed (S4 limitations) that will make it impossible to get working?

Any other forum posters got any thoughts? Let me know?

Thanks again.

-Kev

[Guest]

I guess not.

Looks like I'm just going to have to try it. I'll let you all know if it works, or if I ruin my S4, either way.

-Kev

[Guest]

Hi,

I wanted to program the Ateml and Philips Rx2 range of 8051's any chance of doing those?

If not a kti to permit the programing of new 8051 derivatives might be a nice idea. I might even pay money for it!

Chris Hills

[Dataman (Neil Parker)]

Hi Chris,

Philips P89C51RB2, P89C51RC2, P89C51RD2 chips are already supported on S4. Atmel T89C51RB2, T89C51RC2, T89C51RD2, T89C51IB2, T89C51IC2, chips are supported as well.

Regards,

Neil