MaccaSoft’s Spin Tools IDE Programs Propeller 1 and 2 Multicore Microcontrollers under Windows, MacOS, and Linux

Marco Maccaferri has been quietly evolving his Spin Tools IDE to become a very useful development environment for the Propeller 1 and 2 Multicore Microcontrollers with Spin 1 / Spin 2 and PASM 1 / PASM 2. Spin Tools IDE reflects the familiar strengths of the Parallax Propeller Tool for Windows [only] but with an upgraded interface and compatibility with Windows, MacOS, and Linux operating systems. 

The Spin Tools IDE byte-code compiler works in real time providing immediate feedback of errors and warnings to the user. When your program is downloaded to a P2, the same interpreter code used by PNut and Propeller Tool is included in that download. This ensures that as Chip updates the Spin2 interpreter, x-platform users will have quick access to those updates

Download Spin Tools IDE here https://www.maccasoft.com/spin-tools-ide/

Recently, Jon McPhalen shared Spin Tools at the Propeller Live Forum. That video is shown above. Jon also provided the Flash File System Demo example shown running in Spin Tools IDE, so new users can install Spin Tools IDE and run a sample code quickly. I asked Jon to explain some of the benefits of Spin Tools IDE over the Propeller Tool and he replied with the following:

Highlights:

• works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
• outline pane makes navigation easy without having to collapse all code
• has flyout help for all Spin2 and PASM2 instructions
• creates flyout help from documentation comments of user methods
• shows flyout help when object name entered, user sees list of methods available
• compiles on-the-fly (with unused code removal) — shows errors and warnings (e.g., unused variable) in real time
• user can set P1 and P2 favorite folders
• user can set custom library path(s)
• supports color themes (system, light, dark)

Marco did a great job making the look and feel very familiar to anyone who has used Propeller Tool. There are a couple of small differences, but the advantages outweigh them.  Spin Tools supports basic P2 debugging with logging on all OSes. The built-in terminal also gives access to TAQOZ and Monitor code on the silicon.

Thank you Marco for this excellent product, freely available to the Parallax community. 

Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.