167
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$8,195
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on June 6, 2011.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
Thanks, every bit helps! Get your name listed as a backer on Minibloq's website (http://minibloq.org).
Pledge $9 or more Pledge $9 or more
Hey, thanks! You will be mentioned as a backer on the website. In addition, your name will be listed in Minibloq's About.
Pledge $39 or more Pledge $39 or more
Many thanks! You will be mentioned as a backer on the website, and in Minibloq's About. In addition we will do the following: Minibloq v1.0 Beta release will take some time to be ready from the moment the project gets funded. But upon funding success, we will send to you a pre-release Alpha version. This way, you can start playing sooner!
Pledge $69 or more Pledge $69 or more
Great! Many many thanks! Includes everything from above, plus upon funding success we will send you the pre-release Alpha version and its full source code. This way, you will get the sources sooner, (because the sources will become public some time after the release of Minibloq v1.0 Beta).
Pledge $259 or more Pledge $259 or more
Wow! Includes everything from above. In addition, we will send you a limited edition new RobotGroup's DuinoBot.Kids controller ready to work with Minibloq. This not-yet-released piece of hardware has an AVR core (32KB Flash), two DC (small) motor control outputs (with MOSFET H-Bridges), USB 2.0, laser cutted case, a step-up power supply, buzzer, 8x8 LED matrix display and five 3-pin sensor connectors. You can see it in action in the project's video. NOTE: The hardware will be sent about 20-30 days after funding success (aprox.)
Pledge $770 or more Pledge $770 or more
If you are an Arduino-compatible hardware maker (both soft and hard compatible), and want to see your board or shield in Minibloq's official distribution, this is for you. We will work with you to integrate it. NOTE: The hardware integration could take some time after funding success. Any question or idea regarding this, please message us.
Project By
Connected as Julián Da Silva Gillig (695 friends)
Julián da Silva has been working in educational robotics since 1994. He is a teacher, software dev. and currently works at a startup called Robotgroup (http://robotgroup.com.ar), where he designs robots.
German Picasso is currently pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Hi Shane, thanks for the feedback!
Although that bug was not reported before in XP (and I tested the software in XP as well), it's an existent bug in Linux with Wine. I can say 2 things:
1. Most probably, the problem is that the Actions picker is not "always on top" so the main Minibloq window may be hiding it. Please try to reduce manually the size of the main window, form the right margin (because there is where the actions picker may be). Probably the actions picker is there, behind the window.
2. In the next version I want to make the actions picker a docable window, so this bug will be corrected.
Sorry for this bug! I'm working as much as possible in the project and will do my best about this.
Regarding the forum, I'm working on it. It will still take some time but it's one of my short-term goals for the project. Meantime, you can post here or send me an email (did you received my personal email? if not please tell me by message and I will send it to you).
Cheers!
Julián
Hi Julián,
Thanks for all the hard work, its looking good!
I downloaded the v0.8 Beta today and upon running it I get no "Actions picker" box..
I have tried both the install exe and the standalone, no dice...
- I'm on a Win XP, lenovo laptop, i5 Intel, 4gig ram
Any ideas of why no "Actions picker" box?
P.S... Is there a forum setup where I could ask this ???
Thanks
Shane
I'm testing the ATTinys (25, 45 and 85) with ArduinoISP, and made a post today at Minibloq's site: http://blog.minibloq.org/2011/10/attiny-arduino-isp-example-meet-tomibot.html
Cheers!
Julián
Hi, we have designed 3 activity pads at RGLabs, and RobotGroup has released them. I want to share the link here because they may be useful to Minibloqers who also may want to teach robotics with open source resources. Here is the post on Minibloq's blog:
http://blog.minibloq.org/2011/09/open-source-robotics-activity-pads.html
Julián
Great news Julián. I really like the program.
Bill
Hi Bill, many thanks! Nice post and nice videos too!
I think there will be more news about the project this week.
Cheers!
Julián
I just made another video and blog post about my experiences with the features of Minibloq v0.8 Alpha. What a great improvement. Great job Julián. http://www.makermasters.com/minibloq-v0-8-alphas-new-features-kickstart-your-arduino-without-programming
Hi EvErywhErE, thanks! Well, the integrated debugger will depend on the hardware too. Not all MCUs let the user debug them wihout more expensive hardware (like a JTAG ICE in AVRs, for example). But for those MCUs which can be debugged, I would like to integrate GDB in the future. Sadly, this may not happend in the near future. There is an alternative to this way of debbuing anyway, and I will work on that after the v1.0 becomes released.
Cheers!
Julián
This is looking amazing so far!! I was wondering if Minibloq has (or will have) an integrated debugger? For simple things it doesn't matter too much, but as projects get more complex (or you use new types of syntax) it's really useful to be able to to step through code and debug line by line.
Can't wait to start playing with this!!
Thanks Julian. I had fun making it and I am enjoying using Minibloq.
Hi Bill, great, thanks! I made a post in Minibloq's blog about your post. Please tell me if it's ok for you.
Thanks again!
Julián
I posted a blog and video about my first try with Minibloq at
http://www.makermasters.com/
Hi Jim, I did send it about a week ago (8th June). I sent a personal message to every backer who selected that reward. I can send also an e-mail if you prefer, with the instructions to download it.
Regards!
Julián
Am I supposed to have received my alpha version by now? Just wondering.
Thanks again Bill!
Cheers!
Julián
Here is a quick blog post. More to follow. http://www.makermasters.com/minibloq-alpha-released
Hi Bill, there are some examples in the \Minibloq.v0.7.Alpha\Components\_Workspaces\_Examples folder. I will be making updates in some time, because this (very) preliminary version is just the beginning.
Thanks again!
Julián
Julian, Thanks for the Alpha program. I was able to get the Uno to blink the internal LED. Next I need to add a few motors and speakers. I will email you a few comments.
Thanks Ariel!
Congratulations Julian! This is now a game start for a great project with a shiny future.
Hi Bill, thanks! I really like it. I also saw other interesting articles in your blog.
Thanks!
Julián
Julian, I plan a longer post but wanted to get this out while your project is underway. http://www.makermasters.com/minibloq-making-arduino-easier-to-program
Hi Scott-G, thanks for your comment. I see three important points here:
1. Given the growing quantity of existent Arduino and Arduino-compatible boards, can a user add a new board? The answer is YES. If a board is not present in the Minibloq official distribution, anyone may add it. Some boards will be very easy to add, specially those based on the same MCU as Arduino (AVR). I'm working to make this expansion capability as easy as possible to use, but please take into account that this is a work in progress. I want to make possible even to support boards with complete different MCUs (like the Maple, with it's ARM Cortex M3).
2. Which boards will be present in the first versions? Well, I would like (this is my hope, and I'm working on that) to have for the Alpha, at least the following:
Arduino UNO.
Arduino Mega2560.
Arduino Duemilanove.
Arduino Mega.
Seeeduino v2.2 ATMega328P
Seeeduino Mega
DuinoBot.v1.x
DuinoBot.Kids.v1.x
And for the Beta and finally for the v1.0 version I want to add more boards (probably first the remaining official Arduinos -Pro, LiyPad, etc.-). I think that once the whole software and it's sources becomes published, users will contribute adding more supported hardware.
3. Libraries: Yes, Minibloq uses the standard Arduino core, and standard Arduino libraries. But it's not limited to them. If an advanced user want to add a new API or a new core, it will be possible to make a new target (a target in Minibloq is the combination of a software core and a hardware board). It will be even possible to add support for other languages, because Minibloq's code-generator is fully configurable.
As always, feedback, ideas and questions are welcome.
Thanks!
Julián
Hey Julian, your project is sooo fantastic and kids of all ages will love it, include this kid me. Any chance you can describe if Minibloq is usable on all arduino platforms? Your recent update added the Seeeduino, so are you just having to test other boards to ensure compatibility? For example I have the Arduino Mega 2560 Micro controller. Do you have a list of Compatible boards? If u have a list I missed it sorry. Does Minibloq use the existing libraries from the Arduino web site thus compatible with (Insert random part here) example a 8 Segment LED etc.
Keep up the great work, I think the community of Arduino beginners and experts will benefit greatly with all the hard work your doing.
Scott-G
Hi Justing, thanks to you! The article is great! Really!
And thanks to all again for your help with this project.
Julián
A little article I wrote on Minibloq, feel free to give it a read! :) - http://thejustinmurphy.com/blog/2011/5/17/minibloq-graphical-programming-for-arduino.html
Thanks for all your hard work Julian!
Thanks Ariel!
Julian, great job!
Thanks Bill, I'm really happy, and working right now as hard as possible.
Thanks Graham! I will really like to add as much hardware as possible. And that is a really interesting board. Once the tracker becomes on line, I want to add a "New hardware" or the like in the features requests. Thanks!
Congratulations Julian. I wish you the best of luck my friend.
And you're over. I politely demand ioio/mbed/lpcxpresso1769 support as a feature request when you put up your issue tracker. :D
Thanks againTroy!
I'm very glad that this project is getting so much support.
Thanks to all for the support! Today was a great day here!
Thanks Sparkfun! http://www.sparkfun.com/news/609
Thanks Bill!
A graphical developement system for Arduino is a game changer.
Hi Bob!
Many many thanks for your support, and for your comments!
I'm working hard on this, to finish a working Alpha (and then the Beta) as soon as possible.
We keep in touch.
With kind regards,
Julián
I know a winner when I see it. I'm looking forward to seeing this.
Hi Lidsay, thanks again!
It would be a pleasure to do something with Sparkfun! I sent you my e-mail by message.
Regards!
Julián
This is really exciting - we can't wait to see this thing in action! Good luck achieving (if not surpassing) your goal! Perhaps we can be in touch, the Department of Education here at SparkFun is very interested!!