C language and Lumousoft graphic language

No matter what kind of computer language is, the computer language is to transfer the language that human easily handle into the machine code that machine can handle. Currently C language is domain language in the microprocessor based embedded field because of its similarity to assembly language and more readability than assembly language. Lumousoft graphic language is a high level graphic programming language for microprocessor embedded system, Lumousoft graphic language enable user to code program in the block diagram environment, easy for catching the bird view of the whole embedded project.

1. The difference between C language and Lumousoft graphic language

• Display form — That makes the biggest difference. C language is text-based line by line programming language following the imaginary flowing path to program, that cause great pain for software management like maintenance, communication, test, validation and verification, and cost time and money.

  Lumousoft graphic language is based on block diagram to program. The whole flow path of project can been clearly visible, as a result, it saves the great efforts of the software developer abstract imagination and brings a tremendous benefit to user, it can manage software just like other engineering (like hardware, plc programming etc).

• Bit operation — Bit is the atomic unit of data. Microprocessor behaviors depend on how the special bit of special register setting up. For instance, the electrical character of IO pin of microprocessor depends on how the special register bit configuration. C language cannot directly operate on the single bit and have to indirectly operate bit by bit wise operation of the whole byte, which will increase code size and less efficiency.

  Lumousoft Graphic language offers directly bit operation, it improving the efficiency and convenient for programming.

• Variable — Not like c language, the variable in Lumousoft graphic language does not need to be declared if the variable is defined later. As soon as the variable is defined, the variable can be seen in the whole scope that variable belong to. For the easy to read in the graphic, the name of variable in the same scope must be unique, but in different scope, the name can be the same. For example, the name of global variable must be different from that of local, while in different modules, the name of local variable of different modules can be the same.

• Loop and conditions — In C language, it uses statement to represent loop and condition like “ do...while(condition);”, “ for( )”, “ while(){..} ” ,“ if().. else if.. ”. Lumousoft graphic language use blocks to represent this branch select function including loop. The block output direction can be defined as conditional output true and false output. The branch selecting condition expression ( same as c language ) is the last statement in the block. The fig.1 illustrates the “ do while ” and “ if ..elseif.. else ” graphic expression.

  

  Fig.1 Loop and condition

• Parallel and bridge — C language cannot use parallel and bridge to construct complicated networks. Lumousoft is able to deal with parallel and bridge.

  Parallel exists in our daily life, like electric circuits. As for single chip microprocessor, the microprocessor execute instructions one by one, in the other words, it handle process in sequence. Actually, Lumousoft graphic can transfer parallel to sequence that microprocessor can handle.

  C language does not allow other program process to interface with because of impairment of c programming construction. Lumousoft graphic is different and can handle different bridge like fig.2 Bridge layout, and even can handle as complicated as fig 3. These bridges are very useful for complex algorithm design and implement.

  

  Fig.3 Network

  

  Fig.2 Bridges

• Lumousoft can directly use Assembly language and the assembly language operand can be any variable defined in this instance. Because the assembly language only use one byte, if the variable with data type has more than one byte than assembly can handle, only the first byte of the variable is gong to be handled. For example, a variable a is short type, having 2 byte, the first byte will be handled.

2. Common between C language and Lumousoft graphic language

• Variable data type — using char, short, int ,long with signed and unsigned.

• Array and point

• Constant

• Operation statement as the below list except bit operation that C language does not allow

  • Arithmetic: +, -, *, /, %
  • Assignment: =
  • Augmented assignment: +=, -=, *=, /=, %=, &=, |=, ^=, <<=, >>=
  • Bitwise logic: ~, &, |, ^
  • Bitwise shifts: <<, >>
  • Boolean logic: !, &&, ||
  • Equality testing: ==, !=
  • Sub module: ( )
  • Increment and decrement: ++, --
  • Order relations: <, <=, >, >=
  • Reference and dereference: &, *, [ ]
  • Conditional evaluation: ? :

• Multiple pages

• Comment: same as C language, lumousoft graphic language use the same comment symbol “ // ” or “ /*... */ ” to comment statement in a block. In addition, lumousoft graphic language allows commenting the whole block, and block can be setup to display either statement code or block comment.

Conclusion

Lumousoft graphic language not only has the same programming capability as c language has, but also offers some more convenient programming methodology than c language.