https://github.com/missinglink/twiddler
hardware bit twiddling binary math toy
https://github.com/missinglink/twiddler
Last synced: 12 months ago
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hardware bit twiddling binary math toy
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/missinglink/twiddler
- Owner: missinglink
- Created: 2018-08-20T13:34:37.000Z (almost 8 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2018-09-11T10:26:28.000Z (almost 8 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-06-29T18:02:31.538Z (12 months ago)
- Language: C++
- Size: 360 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
# Twiddler
A bit-twiddler binary math toy :)
Twiddler is a fun toy for learning `binary` (base 2) and `hexidecimal` (base 16) math.
It's intended as a learning tool for young & old, beginner through to pro.
It's particularly useful for computer programmers who often use different numerical bases in their code and would like a way to visualize them.
## Motivation
I really just wanted a tactile and visual tool for better understaning non-decimal number systems.
## Twiddler overview
The device allows you to edit up to 4x 8-bit bytes. These bytes represent a single 32-bit unsigned integer.
The input buttons allow the you to interact with each byte, and to modify each individual bit within the currently selected byte.
Twiddler has 4 display modes. These modes change which numerical base is used to display the state (`decimal`, `hexadecimal`, `binary` & the special `font` mode).
## Paging
The rightmost byte is shown by default, a user can switch which byte is currently being viewed and edited.
## Device overview
### LEDs
Along the top edge there are eight LEDs which display a binary representation of the currently selected byte.
For example, the binary number `101010101` would result in every second LED lighting up. For each `1` the light is on and for each `0` it is off.
### Display
The display consists of 8x [seven-segment displays](https://en.wikipedia.org/Seven-segment_display), with a decimal indicator dot at the bottom right corner of each.
These displays can be used to represent numbers and letters, although representing English characters is fairly limited (eg. the letter `w`).
In the default `decimal` mode, the display will show a `decimal` (base 10) representation of your twiddle.
The dots at the bottom right corner of each display are used to indicate application state, such as the currently deleted mode and byte.
### Buttons
Along the bottom edge of the device are 8x buttons. These buttons are used to interact with the device.
When a single button is pressed and released, the corresponding bit will be toggled.
Fo example: pushing button `S2` will toggle corresponding bit, which will cause `LED2` to light up.
### Multi-button combinations
You can hold a trigger button with one finger and then press a second button with another finger to trigger advanced actions on the device.
For example: holding button `S8` and then pushing button `S2` will change Twiddler in to `hexadecimal` mode.
Here's a list of all the button combinations, `T` indicates the 'trigger button', you need to hold this button down first, then press and release the second button.
| S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | S8 | Action |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| o | | | | | | | T | Foo |
## Hardware
### Introduction to the TM1638
Check out this excellent intro to the TM1638 chip:
http://tronixstuff.com/2012/03/11/arduino-and-tm1638-led-display-modules/
### Wiring Diagrams
You can find wiring diagrams for both common models, along with info about wiring multiple in parallel here:
https://github.com/zegreatclan/AssettoCorsaTools/wiki/Arduino-Tm1638-Display-Wiring
When wiring your own twiddler you may need to change the pin assignments, at the top of the `src/twiddler.ino` file you'll find a configuration for which pins are attached to data, clock & strope.
```ardunio
// connect to TM1638 with data pin, clock pin, strobe pin
TM1638 module(5, 6, 7);
```
## Software
## TM1638 device driver
Twiddler uses the device driver written by `rjbatista`, which can be found here:
https://github.com/rjbatista/tm1638-library
Twiddler was originally developed on a `Particle Core v1` chip, so I published the same library on the Particle registry:
```bash
particle library search TM1638
> Found 1 library matching TM1638
TM1638 1.0.0 [mine] 0 A library for interacting an arduino with a TM1638/TM1640
```
## Application code
You can find the source code for the Twiddler application in the `src` directory.