[iDoug]

Update: Actually he has a maximum of 7 hours right now. Are you saying you need a station open for 1 whole day? If so, the interval option is available to re-run the program as often as needed to accomplish the end watering goal.

Then this will not work for me. It is to complicated to use.

[iDoug]

I give up. Do whatever way you want.

I need a minimum of a 1 minute and a maximum of 1 day duration for the next 15 years.

[iDoug]

Every coder is going to understand that “water time” is different from “time” or “datetime”?
Every coder is going to know how to convert “water time” to/from “time” or “datetime”, and be able to do the math?
No user will ever want more than 63 units?
If so, you have a winning solution.

It appears I am way out of my element. In the few open source projects that I have contributed, no one has ever exposed their own data types. This sounds like to much dependence on other people. I am still of the belief, if the function for storing the time accepted a standard time data type, none of this would be an issue.

[iDoug]

I agree with your logic about how the UI should behave. I disagree with the firmware not allowing 65 minutes. What happens when a coder wants to expand the log functions to allow for a display of 90 days or months or years? None of this would be represented in the firmware.

By making your unique variation of time available to the UI you are setting a standard for the project. Are you prepared to constantly justify this standard?

[iDoug]

IMHO: It does make for an unusual UI. Wouldn’t that also mean an odd API for others? Shouldn’t all time values be passed in the same manner? If so, can all time values be limited to 63 units?

Additionally, you will have to explain your logic to every user/coder that wants an odd variation of these units, i.e. 90 minutes. As you have told me, this is not a pleasant task to justify your logic.

[iDoug]

Wouldn’t it be best if the UI sent a time value and ray’s function stores that value into a byte and returns true for success and false for failure. How that time value is stored is all inside the function and should have no bearing on the UI.

[iDoug]

@ray wrote:

@iDoug: here is another version based on your proposal: the first 2 bits represent units (second? minute? hour? day?) and the remaining 6 bits represent value. This will waste some values (like 24 hours and 1 day is the same), but simplifies the conversion.

After thinking about this idea, I am confused. It appears you are saying that the user would select second, minute, hour or day. The the value of that would be a maximum of 63 as 6 bits has 64 values. Which would mean if a user selected 1 hour and 30 minutes the function would throw an error as this exceeds the lowest common denominator of minutes which has a value of 90. In other words the user is limited to 63 seconds OR 63 minutes OR 63 hours OR 63 days. What did I miss?

[iDoug]

Would that limit the user in precision of input?
Don’t forget you have the hard part of actually coding this algorithm, we have the easy part of coming up with the algorithm.
Side note: At the top of Google’s core principles is: “Focus on the user and all else will follow.”

[iDoug]

How about: 0-59 is seconds, 60-119 minutes, 120-143 hours and 144-255 days.

[iDoug]

Assuming this byte only represents the user selected time for a circuit, i.e. It is not the actual running time, as that must consider the user set program percentage and possible other factors.

Here are variations on option 3:
A. With minutes and hours; This would allow the user to set a circuit to run as long as 196 hours and 59 minutes, in 1 minute increments.
B. With 30 seconds and hours; This would allow the user to set a circuit to run as long as 136 hours and 59 minutes and 30 seconds, in 30 second increments.
C. With 15 seconds and hours; This would allow the user to set a circuit to run as long as 16 hours and 59 minutes and 45 seconds, in 15 second increments.

For my uses, the 1 minute increment is the best choice. This is because it would be the easiest to set, while not limiting the running time.

[iDoug]

@salbahra You are not building up my confidence.

… and have started adding automated testing which will get checked after every commit.

Don’t you mean before the commit?

Perhaps you should consider: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test-driven_development

[iDoug]

I think it is safe to assume that 2.0.8 is a FAILURE. Do not be afraid to fail. Failure is good, it is how we learn. It is ok to make mistakes. It is not ok to repeat those same mistakes.

The number of comments tells me 2.0.8 is a failure. I like many others was bit by the NEW AND UNDOCUMENTED no spaces rule. Which in turn probably corrupted the Import/Export. Not only did I lose the names of the stations I lost most of the programs.

I find it best to document changes as you code. This takes longer and is tedious, but you end up with better documentation. Additionally, you can avoid people like me telling you how to do your job. That alone makes it the thing to do.

BUG FIXES & FEATURE REQUESTS:
1. Add more testing.
2. Fix the Import/Export.
3. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, test, test, test and then retest.
4. PLEASE, restore the ability to use SPACES. A space is as good a character as any. Do not discriminate against the SPACE character.
5. Finally, ADD MORE TESTS.

[iDoug]

I saw those messages and a bunch of other errors and warnings. They do not give me a comfortable feeling. Especially, if I cannot read them all. How do I know they were not something I need to deal with? I really need to be able to read them and possibly learn from them.

[iDoug]

Hi Ray,

I think you are getting closer. I ran the application if attempted to load the firmware and when I check the web page it does say 2.0.6. All of my settings have been erased.

However, there appears to be several error messages. I would love to provide them. But, that is not possible with the existing update application. The scroll does not flow smooth enough to read all the messages, let alone, be able to hand type each character (I tried). There is no ability to copy the text in that field. I cannot find where these messages might have been written to a log file.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, help me to help you. Provide some means that I can share the error messages. Also, as important: Provide a means to backup and restore of the settings.

Now, I am unsure if this will work.

[iDoug]

Yes, that is the only message I see.

Upon starting the application, the Console shows this message:
6/26/14 9:42:39.255 AM JavaApplicationStub[1679]: Unrecognized Java VM option ignored:
There are no other messages displayed in the Console. Either after pressing the Upload button or upon quitting the application.

I have the application located here:
/Applications/Utilities Extras/OpenSprinklerUpdater/application.macosx/osFirmwareUpdater.app

Also, have the Arduino application version 1.5.5 and Java for OS X 2013-005.

[iDoug]

Any news on this message: “avrdude: no programmer has been specified on the command line or the config file Specify a programmer using the -c option and try again”?

[iDoug]

What am I missing?

1. Downloaded the uploader and the new firmware.
2. Overwrote the firmware folder with the firmware folder that has 2.0.6.
3. Unplugged all connections to the OpenSprinkler.
4. While plugging in a USB cable, I held down the B2 button. OpenSprinkler does not appear to be on as the display does not light up. The display does light up when not pressing the B2 button.
5. Double clicked on osFirmwareUpdater.app. GUI is displayed with Hardware: OpenSprinkler_v2.1 and Firmware: 2.0.6.
6. Click the UPLOAD button. Bottom text field displays this message: “avrdude: no programmer has been specified on the command line or the config file Specify a programmer using the -c option and try again”

REF:
Mac OSX 10.9.3
OpenSprinkler v2.1u with firmware 2.0.5 (purchased 5/27/2014)

[iDoug]

I know that the expansion board was plugged in correctly, because rim of the base is in the way of the tab on the expansion plug. That said, the Beagle Hospital has said “According to our diagnosis, the power rail VDD_3V3A has been found shorted to ground.”

I do have an Arduino board, but I don’t know what would be involved in testing the OSBo. If you don’t mind I would like to send the OSBo back to you for testing. (Am afraid to plug the BBB into it, again.)

Should I send it to:
Rayshobby
5 Valley Lane
Amherst, MA 01002

PS, I am using the OpenSprinkler v2.1u DIY and expansion board. They are working perfectly. Will keep the OSBo and BBB for experimenting and a possible future project.

[iDoug]

The BeagleBone Black is not working and is on it’s way to the Beagle Hospital. What I don’t know is why?

The OpenSprinkler OSBo was working with valves on stations 1 and 2. The solenoid on station 3 was bad.

At the time the OpenSprinkler OSBo stopped, it was connected to the sprinkler values on stations 4 though 9 (I have the Extension Board v1.1). This was the first time the OpenSprinkler OSBo had been connected to these valves (4 through 9). Stations 1 though 3 where not connected because a solenoid on that water line was not working.

I have checked for shorted connections and not found any.

How do I check the OpenSprinkler board (not the BeagleBone) to see if it is working correctly?
How do I check the Extension board to see if it is working correctly?

Because I need sprinklers now I have gone ahead and ordered the OpenSprinkler v2.1u (semi-assembled DIY).

[iDoug]

It looks like it was supposed to be available in 1.0.13 and I now have 1.0.15. Have not seen the day of the week in the program preview for either of these versions. Did I miss something?

[iDoug]

Um… It says it is a BeagleBone Black. Can’t imagine it makes much of a difference, as long as it works.

[iDoug]

Have noticed that the day of the week appears in almost all dates now. The Preview Programs view of the mobile app “Sprinklers” does not show the day of the week. Do we have to wait for Apple to approve this change?

[iDoug]

Part of my issues are me. Forgot there are 2 passwords. One for ubuntu and the operating system and the other for OSBo.

[iDoug]

Tried sudo su and received an error message of Invalid Argument. So with my new found access, I tried changing the command to:
echo ds1307 0x68 > /sys/class/i2c-adapter/i2c-0/new_device

Changing the i2c-1 to i2c-0 and that worked.

[iDoug]

Yes, you are correct I can search for what all the commands do and have done just that for many of them. However, none of my searches have told me what the effect of the command “sudo passwd -d root” does to the web page or the mobile app.

I would like to think it would have no effect, however that does not seem to be the case. It appears to be stopping access to http://x.x.x.x and allows only read access to the mobile app. Something else has allowed only read access to http://x.x.x.x:8080.

My only work-around is to reinstall everything and test every option I want to use before any command. Then a command, try every option again. Repeat this process until I figure out what works and what does not work.

[Author]

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