View source for .NET Gadgeteer

{{Short description|Open Source rapid prototyping platform}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = .NET Gadgeteer
| logo                   = <!-- [[File: ]] -->
| author                 = [[Microsoft Research Cambridge]]
| developer              = [[Microsoft]]
| released               = {{Start date and age|2010|09|20}}
| discontinued           = yes
| latest release version = Core 2.14.500
| latest release date    = {{Start date and age|2012}}
| repo                   = {{URL|1=https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=gadgeteer}}
| programming language   = [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]], [[Visual Basic .NET]]
| operating system       = 
| platform               = [[.NET Micro Framework]]
| size                   = 
| language               = 
| genre                  = [[Embedded systems]]
| license                = [[Apache License 2.0]],<br />[[Creative Commons 3.0]]
| website                = {{URL|microsoft.com/en-us/research/project/net-gadgeteer/}}
}}
Microsoft '''.NET Gadgeteer''' is an [[Open-source software|open-source]] rapid-prototyping standard for building small electronic devices using the [[Microsoft]] [[.NET Micro Framework]] and [[Microsoft Visual Studio]]/Visual C# Express.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.netmf.com/gadgeteer/ |title=Microsoft Gadgeteer home page |access-date=2012-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323191650/http://www.netmf.com/gadgeteer/ |archive-date=2012-03-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="HodgesScott2013">{{cite book|last1=Hodges|first1=Steve|last2=Scott|first2=James|last3=Sentance|first3=Sue|author-link3=Sue Sentance|last4=Miller|first4=Colin|last5=Villar|first5=Nicolas|last6=Schwiderski-Grosche|first6=Scarlet|last7=Hammil|first7=Kerry|last8=Johnston|first8=Steven |title=Proceeding of the 44th ACM technical symposium on Computer science education |chapter=.NET gadgeteer |year=2013|pages=391–396|doi=10.1145/2445196.2445315|isbn=9781450318686 |s2cid=8921467|url=https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/net-gadgeteer(262f67ed-6cef-4092-9095-c12cc9f71def).html}}</ref>

==The Gadgeteer platform==
The Gadgeteer platform centers around a Gadgeteer [[mainboard]] with a microcontroller running the [[.NET Micro Framework]].  Gadgeteer sets out rules about how [[computer hardware|hardware]] devices packaged as add-on modules may connect to the mainboard, using solderless push-on connectors.  Gadgeteer includes a small [[Library (computing)|class library]] to simplify the implementation details for integrating these add-on modules into a system.  It is a way of assigning the plethora of functions that a microcontroller provides to sockets that have a standardized, small set of interfaces at the hardware level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mountaineer.org/mountaineer-platform/ |title=The .NET Gadgeteer Platform |publisher=Mountaineer |access-date=2014-04-19 |archive-date=2014-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419170424/http://www.mountaineer.org/mountaineer-platform/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History and licensing==
.NET Gadgeteer was created by researchers at [[Microsoft Research Cambridge]], where the Sensors and Devices group created it as a way develop device ideas rapidly and iteratively.  It quickly generated interest from hobbyists, teachers, and developers, who wanted a platform to build gadgets in a short time.<ref name=codeplex>{{cite web|url=http://gadgeteer.codeplex.com |title=Introducing .NET Gadgeteer! |publisher=CodePlex |date=2013-04-19 |access-date=2014-04-19}}</ref>

In response to outside interest, Microsoft then released Gadgeteer as an [[Open-source software|open source]] software project,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/gadgeteer/ |title=.NET Gadgeteer |publisher=Microsoft |date=September 20, 2010 |access-date=2014-04-19}}</ref> describing the project as "an open collaboration between Microsoft, hardware manufacturers, and end users".<ref name=codeplex/>

The core libraries are published under the [[Apache License|Apache 2.0 License]], while the hardware designs are under the [[Creative Commons|Creative Commons 3.0 License]]. The core source code is publicly available from the CodePlex source repository.<ref name=codeplex/>

Microsoft has stated plans to continue supporting and investing in the .NET Gadgeteer ecosystem, including hosting educational materials and working with companies to create compatible kits and modules.<ref name=codeplex/>

==Design and construction==
[[File:SytechMainboardAndGHIButton.png|thumb|alt=Sytech .NET Gadgeteer mainboard and GHI button module.|.NET Gadgeteer mainboard and button module.]]
.NET Gadgeteer projects consist of a mainboard and a series of modules connected via a standard 10 pin connector. The mainboard sockets can support one or more different types of modules, shown by a series of letters next to the socket. Each module has a letter showing its module type. (Connecting modules incorrectly does not harm the hardware – providing only one red power module is used). Any module that supplies power (via USB, DC or battery) is coloured red to help prevent multiple power sources that can potentially harm the devices.

The Gadgeteer library includes a layer of event-driven drivers and code generation, which integrates with [[Visual Studio]].  This enables developers to visually create a diagram in Visual Studio of which hardware modules (for instance, a camera module, button module and screen module) are connected to which sockets on the mainboard, and the Gadgeteer SDK then auto-generates code creating object instances for all the relevant hardware.  In this way the developer can immediately begin writing .NET code targeting the connected hardware.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hodges |first1=Steve |last2=Taylor |first2=Stuart |last3=Villar |first3=Nicolas |last4=Scott |first4=James |last5=Bial |first5=Dominik |last6=Fischer |first6=Patrick |date=February 2013 |title=Prototyping Connected Devices for the Internet of Things |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/06357162.pdf |journal=[[IEEE Computer]] |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=26–34|doi=10.1109/MC.2012.394 |s2cid=12629843 }}</ref>

Many different modules are currently available for a series of hardware vendors, including wireless transmission, environment sensors, actuators and custom community modules resulting in a large ecosystem of projects.<ref>{{cite web |editor-first=Steve |editor-last=Clayton |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/next/archive/2012/02/15/what-we-didn-t-show-you-at-ces-microsoft-s-net-gadgeteer.aspx |title=What we didn't show you at CES: Microsoft's .NET Gadgeteer |publisher=Blogs.technet.com |date=2012-02-15 |access-date=2012-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414034022/http://blogs.technet.com/b/next/archive/2012/02/15/what-we-didn-t-show-you-at-ces-microsoft-s-net-gadgeteer.aspx |archive-date=2012-04-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/microsoft-researchs-net-gadgeteer-steps-out-into-the-light-sh/ |title=Microsoft Research's .NET Gadgeteer steps out into the light, shoots daggers at Arduino |date=4 August 2011 |publisher=Engadget.com |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slashgear.com/net-gadgeteer-looks-to-draw-tinkering-geeks-away-from-arduino-04169531/ |title=NET Gadgeteer looks to draw tinkering geeks away from Arduino |date=4 August 2011 |publisher=Slashgear.com |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Pawel Piejko |url=http://www.gizmag.com/net-gadgeteer-microsoft-toolkit/19437/ |title=NET Gadgeteer - Microsoft's open-source toolkit for building gadgets |publisher=Gizmag.com |date=2011-08-07 |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://devhammer.net/blog/what-can-you-do-with-.net-gadgeteer |title=What Can You Do with .NET Gadgeteer? |publisher=Devhammer.net |date=2012-02-18 |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.extremetech.com/computing/91990-gadgeteer-microsofts-open-source-net-alternative-to-arduino |title=Gadgeteer: Microsoft's open-source .NET alternative to Arduino |publisher=Extremetech.com |date=2011-08-04 |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Dodaro |url=http://mikedodaro.net/2012/04/10/net-gadgeteer-bluetooth-control-of-motor-driver/ |title=NET Gadgeteer Bluetooth Control of Motor Driver |publisher=Mikedodaro.net |date=2012-04-10 |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref>

==Hardware==
Any hardware manufacturer, builder or hobbyist can create .NET Gadgeteer-compatible hardware; currently multiple manufacturers participate.
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
<!-- NAMEs in ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->
* GHI Electronics <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghielectronics.com/ |title=GHI Electronics homepage |publisher=Ghielectronics.com |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref>
* Love Electronics <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.loveelectronics.co.uk|title=Love Electronics homepage|publisher=loveelectronics.co.uk|access-date=2012-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502025335/http://www.loveelectronics.co.uk/|archive-date=2013-05-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Micromint <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.micromint.com/ |title=Micromint USA homepage|publisher=micromint.com |access-date=2013-05-08}}</ref>
* Mountaineer Group  <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mountaineer.org |title=Mountaineer Group homepage|publisher=mountaineer.co.uk |access-date=2012-08-22}}</ref>
* Seeed Studio <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seeedstudio.com |title=Seeed Studio homepage |publisher=Seeedstudio.com |date=2011-04-29 |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref>
* Sytech design <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sytechdesigns.com/ |title=Sytech Design homepage |publisher=Sytechdesigns.com |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Mainboard!! Clock speed (MHz) !! Processor!! Cores !! Number of sockets || Width (mm) || Length (mm) !! Manufacturer 
|-
| Argon R1  || 120 || LPC1788 Cortex-M3|| 1 || 14 || 57 || 92|| Love Electronics
|-
| Eth Mainboard 1.0 || 168 || STM32F407 Cortex-M4 || 1 || 8 || 42 || 57|| Mountaineer Group
|-
| USB Mainboard 1.0|| 168 || STM32F407 Cortex-M4 || 1 || 9 || 32 || 57|| Mountaineer Group
|-
| Nano || 200|| Freescale ARM920T || 1 || 10 || 42 || 57 || Sytech Design
|-
| FEZ Spider || 73 || ARM7 LPC2478 || 1 || 14 || 52 || 57|| GHI Electronics 
|-
| FEZ Hydra || 200 || ARM9 AT91SAMRL || 1 ||  14 || 62 || 87||GHI Electronics
|-
| FEZ Cerberus || 168|| STM32F405 Cortex-M4|| 1 ||  8 || 47|| 57 || GHI Electronics
|-
| FEZ Cebuino Bee || 168 || STM32F405 Cortex-M4|| 1 ||  3 || 55|| 80 || GHI Electronics
|-
| Bambino 200 || 204 || LPC4330 Cortex-M4 & M0 || 2 ||  5 || 58|| 102 || Micromint
|-
| Bambino 200E || 204 || LPC4330 Cortex-M4 & M0 || 2 ||  10 || 58|| 102 || Micromint
|}
 
<!-- MODULE ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->

==See also==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Electronics}}

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Arduino]]
* [[BASIC Stamp]]
* [[Fritzing]]
* [[Gumstix]]
* [[ioBridge]]
* [[Make Controller Kit]]
* [[Maximite]]
* [[mbed microcontroller]]
* [[Minibloq]]
* [[Netduino]]
* [[OOPic]]
* [[Parallax Propeller]]
* [[PICAXE]]
* [[Raspberry Pi]]
* [[Simplecortex]]
* [[Tinkerforge]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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{{Microcontrollers}}
{{Ambient intelligence}}
{{Microsoft FOSS}}

[[Category:Open hardware electronic devices|NET Gadgeteer]]
[[Category:Microcontroller software|NET Gadgeteer]]
[[Category:Robotics hardware|NET Gadgeteer]]
[[Category:Microsoft free software]]
[[Category:Software using the Apache license]]