Astrobe

What is Astrobe?

Astrobe is a rapid integrated ARM software development system running on Windows. It has a multi-file, fully featured, syntax-aware programmer's editor, native code ARM compiler and linker. Use it to develop reliable software to run on the powerful NXP / Philips LPC2000 family of ARM-based microcontrollers. 

Astrobe uses the programming language Oberon-07.  You can now develop efficient high- and low-level 32-bit native code ARM software without having to use assembler or C. The power of Oberon is such that the compiler, linker and runtime system were able to be implemented using the language.

Astrobe identifies many common programming errors at compile / link time before you even run your program; most others are automatically trapped at runtime. The system identifies the point of failure by module name and source code line number so valuable time is not wasted chasing spurious side-effects.

The startup files, library modules and linker included with Astrobe support the following families of ARM7 microcontrollers from NXP (Philips):

• LPC2101 / 2102 / 2103
• LPC2104 / 2105 / 2106
• LPC2109 / 2119 / 2129
• LPC2131 / 2132 / 2134 /
• LPC2142 / 2144 / 2146 / 2148
• LPC2212 / 2214
• LPC2364 / 2366 / 2368 / 2378

Source code of the startup files and library modules is available.

There are three different Editions of Astrobe available - Evaluation, Personal and Professional. Check the Features Matrix to see what is available in each edition. Download the free Evaluation Edition to try it out.

Try the ready to compile and run LPC2000-specific source code examples distributed with Astrobe - such as the example code for a simple LED-blinking program.  Download Oberon programming text books for source code examples used to solve general programming tasks. 

Oberon-07 Code in Action

The  software used in these examples is 99% Oberon-07. This includes the microcontroller configuration, runtime error trapping and reporting facilities, LCD drivers and the application itself. The remainder consists of the few lines of assembler startup code that is required for ARM7 microcontrollers.

The file sizes shown are the TOTAL executable sizes.  The full source code is available on request for users of the Professional Edition of Astrobe.

AutoCAD Slide Viewer (17 KB) 

ThaiEasyElec LPC2378 Blue Screen board Watch the video

Olimex LPC2378-STK Development board Watch the video

The application processes AutoCAD Slide-format vector graphics image files. The first two AutoCAD Slide images are processed in real time, the second two have built-in delays to show the drawing as it proceeds. The image data file sizes are 5 KB for the Space Shuttle and 28 KB for St Pauls. The data files are appended to the executable and read from flash ROM by the program using Astrobe's resource management facilities.

Digital Clock (8 KB)

A simple digital clock application running on a mikroElektronika EasyArm LPC2148 development board with no operating system or external RAM.

Technical Support

Quick and accurate technical support is vital to the usefulness of any software development system.  Direct technical support is provided via our website and is even available to Evaluation Edition users.

Astrobe has been tested with a range of LPC2000-based development and educational boards. No special-purpose hardware is needed to program the microcontrollers with these boards. The compiled code is uploaded to the target from a PC via an RS232 or USB connection using FlashMagic or software supplied with the board.

System Requirements

Refer to the ReadMe file for details.