JSDL - Jens' Simple SDL

JSDL is a complete integrated development environment for applications in an approach like SDL (Specification and Design Language).

It is not SDL! SDL is first intend to describe state machines which communicate with each other via signals. In this way the graphical representation shows state machines, states, signal in- and outputs.

But you may also imagine a state machine as process (or task) in an OS and the signals as messages between processes. Actually it's just your view onto the problem how you interpret it, as communicating state machines or processes with messages.

There are some differences betwwen SDL and JSDL which will be explained below. JSDL incorporates a lot of useful features from known SDL-IDEs but don't try to implement SDL compliant to the SDL-standard neither in its textual language nor in its graphical representation.

SDL is a development language which incorporate a graphical representation of the program flow and as a textual syntax which is similar to BASIC.

The advantage of SDL is the two dimensional view onto the flow of your program. The graphical representation is easy to understand and to learn. The textual grammar and syntax of SDL is more complex and from my point of view not easy suitable for development of fast and efficient embedded applications.

If you has requirements in this direction you will feel soon the need to include parts of your project written in a language like C or C++ which is more capable to create fast code. The interface beetween real SDL and C is fairly complicately and cryptic.

The intention for JSDL was primarily to create an easy to use IDE for development of embedded applications which tries to join the advantages of the graphical SDL-development with the opportunity to use C/C++ as programming language.

JSDL - Jens' Simple SDL is also pretty small, simple, easy-to-use and does not require any installation.

Here are some key features of "JSDL Jens Simple SDL":

· You don't need to learn the SDL-grammar and syntax ! · You have always the opportunity to use plain C/C++ or to use it together with the graphical representation. · Separated modules or libraries can be incorporated in the same way as you know it from the common C/C++ -development. · The graphical design of the program flow make it easy to explain and review your code. The code is just self documented. · The integrated debugger and trace capability via MSC (Message Sequence Chart) allows a simulation of your code on PC or workstation. · The generated code is still human readable. So you can still adapt the generated C-code to your needs. · It's free for private use! · You can use any (free) C-Compiler /linker for your development. · The included JSDL-kernel and -debugger are delivered as source code and can be extended in any way to match your needs.