LCD: draw points/lines/ and other geometrical forms

[radut]

Hi,
What about improving the pi4j lcd library with the posibility to draw points, lines and base geometric forms ?

[SrMouraSilva]

Lcd library uses WiringPi Lcd Library (http://wiringpi.com/dev-lib/lcd-library/).
I dont know if are possible changes at points level

[SrMouraSilva]

Yes, it's possible

https://github.com/noxo/SnakePI4J
https://github.com/noxo/SnakePI4J/blob/master/src/org/noxo/devices/driver/JPCD8544.java

[natdan]

LOL - you got me with 'awt' part of your post! but seriously, I don't think it would be too hard to have Swing draw on any framebuffer. It is not 'implementation' (of current OS) specific and theoretically easy to be used anywhere...

[SrMouraSilva]

"LOL - you got me with 'awt' part of your post!" I'm sorry!

But...

"THE EMBEDDED WINDOW TOOLKIT
Porting Java’s AWT to an Embedded System"

http://alumni.soe.ucsc.edu/~wholt/thesis.pdf

[SrMouraSilva]

I do not know, but I think Pi4j do not support Displays graphics

João Sombra has ported a python port of a C implementation of PCD8544 (of a arduino implementation...)

(Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLt9q1CAxRs)

The C implementation has a comment in your github project

"This driver uses 5 GPIOs on target board with a bit-bang SPI implementation (hence, may not be as fast but seems fast enough)."

João Sombra answered my question in your demo video
"Funcionou mas o desempenho ficou bem a desejar."
(Google translated: It worked but the performance was much to be desired.)

I need work with PCD8544, then I will test. If has a success, I will pull request then

[SrMouraSilva]

Exists a cool c++ lib with PCD8544 support: Rpi-hw

I'm putting some links in here for future reference

• Code to port: https://github.com/Wicker25/Rpi-hw/blob/master/src/display/pcd8544.cpp
• Display in Raspberry 2 support: Raspberry pi 2 Wicker25/Rpi-hw#15 Raspberry pi 2 Wicker25/Rpi-hw#15

[SrMouraSilva]

@natdan, I added a support for Java Graphics for display

If AWT uses Graphics2D, maybe it's possible portable it for display

I added a initial support for PCD8544 (Nokia 5110) (not based in I2C data communication

Test example, it's possible:

• Write text
• Set the font
• Draw image
• Draw lines
• Draw rects
• Fill rects
• Draw circle
• (Maybe) all of graphics features (i'm not tested all)

In future, port Display2D also is a good idea, I think

[natdan]

Yes! That is the way to do it! Graphics (Graphics2D) is class to implement and everything else should use it! Now - do you want to contribute your impl. to pi4j project, maybe? Looking at your code I think we should have whole section for displays over here.

[SrMouraSilva]

@natdan , it's my clain 😄

A rapid test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olnMZMNEJqk

I will implement the Graphics2D and forked the... What's the branch?

(I'm sorry by my bad english 😶)

[natdan]

Let me know when you fork it. I've just procured i2c 128x64 bw display and I am happy to help - give you a hand. So if/when you fork it send me a pm or write here if you want some help.

[SrMouraSilva]

@natdan I'm preparing the code for fork and pull request 😃
PedalController/JavaPedalMIDI@21b58e2

[natdan]

Thanks. BTW Forgot to say - it looks great! :)

[SrMouraSilva]

:)

[SrMouraSilva]

@savageautomate, please add RELEASE 2.0 to this because my pull request #84 use Java 8