Astrobe for Cortex-M4

ARM Oberon Development System for Windows
Version 9.3.0 Copyright © 2006-2024 CFB Software
Email: support@astrobe.com
Website: www.astrobe.com

Last Updated 14 Jul 2024

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. System Requirements
  3. List of Files
  4. Installation
  5. Technical Support
  6. Licence Agreement
  7. Ordering Information
  8. Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

Astrobe for Cortex-M4 is a fast and responsive integrated development environment for Windows. It is designed to be used to write software to run on the powerful ARM Cortex-M4 family of microcontrollers.  The programming language supported by Astrobe is Oberon. 

Oberon is a general-purpose, procedural programming language. Its type-safety, module consistency-checking and predictable code-generation features allow you to develop efficient, reliable, high- and low-level 32-bit native code embedded software without the arbitrary quirks and complexities associated with using C or assembler.

See the Astrobe for Cortex-M0, M3, M4, M7 Feature Matrix on the Astrobe website for a full summary of features.

Back to Contents

2. System Requirements

Astrobe is supported on Microsoft Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Back to Contents
 

3. List of Files

After running the Astrobe setup installation setup program the following files are created in the program folder that you are asked to specify:

AstrobeM4.exe Main program
AstrobeM4.chm Help file
Oberon.xml Syntax-highlighting schema
Syntax.chm Oberon Syntax Quick Reference
OberonReport.pdf Oberon Language Report
OberonGuide.pdf Oberon Programming Guide
OberonCortex-M.pdf Oberon for Cortex-M Microcontrollers
ReadMe.htm This file
UninstallAstrobeM4.exe Uninstall program
UninstallAstrobeM4.log Uninstall support file
AstrobeCompile.exe Command-line compiler
AstrobeLink.exe Command-line linker
AstrobeBuild.exe Command-line builder

The subfolders Configs, Examples and Lib which contain the configuration files, examples and library modules are created in the data folder that you are asked to specify. This defaults to DriveLetter:AstrobeM4-v9.3 where DriveLetter: is the name of the drive from which the installation executable is being run.

The examples are described in the Examples ReadMe file on the Astrobe website.

The library modules are described in the Library Modules chapter in the Astrobe for Cortex-M Microcontrollers document on the Windows Start > Astrobe menu and the Astrobe Help menu.

Back to Contents

4. Installation

Astrobe for Cortex-M4 is distributed as a self-installing file:

Install Astrobe as follows:

  1. Login to your system using an account with Administrator privileges that you will use when running Astrobe.
  2. Exit all Windows programs.
  3. Run the Astrobe setup file e.g. AstrobeM4ProfSetup.exe
  4. Press the Next button, and follow the prompts.
  5. When the installation program has completed, run Astrobe by selecting it from the Windows Start menu.

Back to Contents

5. Technical Support

If you have any technical questions related to Astrobe, the Oberon language, or programming Cortex-M microcontrollers using Astrobe go to the Astrobe Technical Support webpage for details of how to get support.

Back to Contents

6. License Agreement

You should carefully read the following terms and conditions before using this software. Your use of this software indicates your acceptance of this license agreement and disclaimer.

Professional Edition

A Professional Edition of Astrobe for Cortex-M4 may be installed on one or more computers but may only be used by the single person in whose name it is registered. It is licensed for commercial use.

DISCLAIMER

Astrobe for Cortex-M4 is used entirely at the risk of the user. Although great care has been taken to eliminate defects during the development of Astrobe for Cortex-M4, it is not claimed to be fault-free. No claims are made regarding its correctness, reliability or fitness for any particular purpose. The Author shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages, loss of data or personal injury in connection with furnishing, performance, or use of this material.

Back to Contents

7. Ordering Information

For details of prices and payment options and to place an order click on Order Astrobe on-line or go to the Astrobe website at:

www.astrobe.com

and then select Order from the menu. Follow the instructions there.

Back to Contents

8. Acknowledgements

We greatly appreciate the valuable support and encouragement that Niklaus Wirth gave to us during the initial development of Astrobe. He provided us with the original Oberon source code of the Arm compiler, linker, MAU and FPU libraries that formed the basis of the corresponding components of Astrobe and allowed us to include the Oberon Language Report with distributions of Astrobe.

Chris Burrows
Development Manager
CFB Software

Back to Contents