Echelon Neuron C - Manual (Page 3)

Neuron C Programmer’s Guide iii
Welcome
This guide describes how to write programs using the Neuron ® C Version 2.2
language. Neuron C is a programming language based on ANSI C that is
designed for Neuron Chips and Smart Transceivers. It includes network
communication, I/O, and event-handling extensions to ANSI C, which make it a
powerful tool for the development of L ON W ORKS ® applications. Key concepts in
programming with Neuron C are explained through the use of specific code
examples and diagrams. A general methodology for designing and implementing
a L ON W ORKS application is also presented.
A subset of the Neuron C language is also used to describe the interoperable
interface of host-based applications that are designed with the ShortStack ®
Developer’s Kit, FTXL™ Developer’s Kit, or the i .LON ® SmartServer. This
interoperable interface is contained within a file called a model file , which
contains Neuron C declarations and definitions for the device interface. In
addition to describing the Neuron C Version 2.2 language, this guide also
provides a brief introduction to model file compilation, and points out syntactical
differences between compilation for Neuron-hosted devices and compilation for
host-based devices that use a model file.
The Neuron C Programmer’s Guide :
• Outlines a recommended general approach to developing a L
ON
W
ORKS
application, and
• Explains key concepts of programming in Neuron C through the use of
code fragments and examples.
Audience
The Neuron C Programmer’s Guide is intended for application programmers who
are developing L ON W ORKS applications. Readers of this guide are assumed to be
familiar with the ANSI C programming language, and have some C programming
experience.
For a complete description of ANSI C, consult the following references:
• —. 1989. American National Standard for Information Systems
Programming Language C . Standard number X3.159-1989. New York,
NY: American National Standards Institute.
• —. 2007. International Standard ISO/IEC 9899:1999. Programming
languages – C . Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for
Standardization.
• Harbison, Samuel P. and Guy L. Steele, Jr. 2002. C: A Reference
Manual , 5th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc.
• Kernighan, Brian W. and Dennis M. Ritchie. 1988. The C Programming
Language , 2nd edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc.
• Plauger, P.J. and Jim Brodie. 1989. Standard C: Programmer’s Quick
Reference Series . Buffalo, NY: Microsoft Press.
• Plauger, P.J. and Jim Brodie. 1992. ANSI and ISO Standard C
Programmer's Reference . Buffalo, NY: Microsoft Press.