Side4linux is a simple IDE (Integrated Development Environment) intended for source code programming in C, Pascal, G-code and Assembler with an emphasis on developing manufacturing applications and mechanically machined products. It consists of a multi tabbed editor which has syntax highlighting and additional mechanical engineering tools such as a G-code Arc calculator and a bolt center circle calculator. It provides a project based source code editing and build environment for the above languages based around GNU/Linux and the ATMEL AVR microprocessor. The intention is to integrate the full development of a CAD (Computer Aided Design)/CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture)/CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacture) system over time for the areas of machine control and robotics. Side4linux is designed to serve mechanical engineering and is not generic in nature. Developers are trying to combine all the important open source tools that are used in this area into a single build environment so that users may not only make mechanical parts but may also use the IDE to alter the build environment software using the same IDE. Side4linux is designed to allow each Product to be stored in a single location containing all of the Projects needed to complete that single Product; it divides Products into three main Product Groups; DEMOS, PRODUCTS and TOOLS where;

Each Side4linux Product contains a group of Projects which have the same directory structure of;

Terms of license are GNU GPL 3. For more informations click here.

           

USBPicProg is an USB in circuit programmer for Microchip PIC processors: the PICs that have been implemented can be found in the supported devices section. The hardware is as simple as possible: the current version only contains one PIC18F2550, some mosfets, and besides the connectors a hand full of passive components. The design of the hardware is open and free of charge for the people who have their own PCB production facilities. USBPicProg uses its own communication protocol as well as its own programming software. It consists of three main components which can be found on the download page:

For more information about USBPicProg click here.

Waspmote, presented as "The sensor device for developers" by Libelium a Spanish company specialized in sensors and wireless modules, is an electronics platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. An Waspmote board consists of an Atmel Microcontroller ATmega1281 with complementary components to facilitate programming; it is a ZigBee-enabled wireless mote-sensor platform with open source code and a GNU/Linux-compatible IDE; Waspmote-IDE with a GUI like Arduino IDE. The entire development environment is opensource software and the Waspmote development kit includes demo boards for lot of sensors, including GAS, position and others generic hardware that can be customized to fit any need with lots of communication options (GPRS, 802.15.4, ZigBee and long-range radio). In addition, Libelium offers three add-on sensor boards:

• Gases: to detects CO, CO2, CH4, SH2, NH3, and more, designed for pollution, farm/hatchery emissions, chemical process control, and forest fire control applications;
• Events: to detects weight, luminosity, tilt, vibration, PIR, liquid level, and more, designed for security, emergency response, and logistics control;
• Protoyping: for general purpose board for testing out new sensors, includes ADC, pad area, and amplification stage.

Libelium web site shows how to use the Gas Sensor Board to measure in real time small variations of Oxygen and CO2 in order to detect a fire, how to use the Events Sensor Board to detect water flooding or which sensors use to detect presence of people for security applications. with Sensor Board. An open source API for C programmers is available for GNU/Linux; it's possible to see the API (click here to browse API libraries). For more information, click here.