Echelon Neuron Field Compiler - Manual (Page 9)

Neuron Field Compiler User’s Guide 3
dynamically generated Neuron C source code. The Neuron Field Compiler
generates a downloadable application image and interface files for the Neuron
Chip or Smart Transceiver.
Thus, your application presents its own programming interface for L
ON W ORKS
device functionality and generates an internal representation of that
functionality in the Neuron C language. However, your application users do not
need to know the Neuron C language, or even that Neuron C code is generated.
In addition, your application does not need to be able to construct downloadable
application image files for Neuron Chips or Smart Transceivers, but instead can
rely on the Neuron Field Compiler to generate them from the Neuron C code.
Getting Started with the Neuron Field Compiler
The following sections describe the requirements for using the Neuron Field
Compiler software, downloading it, and installing it.
You use the NodeBuilder FX Development Tool or the Mini FX Evaluation Kit to
develop the Neuron C constructs that your field programming tool will use, and
you can use the NodeBuilder FX Development Tool or the Mini FX Evaluation
Kit to test the generated Neuron C code. In addition, you use the NodeBuilder
FX Development Tool or the Mini FX Evaluation Kit to create additional data
files, such as descriptions of the target hardware configurations (hardware
template files) and definitions of user-defined device resource types.
You use the Neuron Field Compiler with your Neuron C generation tool to
compile the generated Neuron C code and produce the application image files.
Hardware and Software Requirements
To install and use the Neuron Field Compiler software, your computer must meet
the following minimum requirements, in addition to those imposed by your
operating system:
• 512 MB RAM (or the operating system minimum requirement)
• Microsoft Windows ® 7 (32-bit or 64-bit), Windows Vista ® (32-bit), or
Windows XP SP3
• 50 MB of available hard-disk space
• 1024x768 screen resolution
To develop applications that use the Neuron Field Compiler, you must also have
the NodeBuilder FX Development Tool or the Mini FX Evaluation Kit installed.
These products provide documentation and tools to help you create required
additional data files. The NodeBuilder FX Development Tool also allows you to
debug your generated Neuron C code.
Your end users do not need either the NodeBuilder FX Development Tool or the
Mini FX Evaluation Kit installed to run the Neuron Field Compiler.
Recommendation: Test your application with the Neuron Field Compiler
runtime on a clean machine that does not have either the NodeBuilder FX
Development Tool or the Mini FX Evaluation Kit installed.