So I'm loving Netduino. I'm making a contraption right now, and it's so easy to work with!
My question is, what is the future of Netduino? Is there a roadmap somewhere? I see Secret Labs posting on new software functionality. And I see the Mini, which is cool.
This isn't a doubting question or trying to stir any pots... I just like to know where things are going as I begin this fun endeavor of working with Netduino. I want to be as excited for the future as for the present, and would love to hear anything exciting about said future!
Thanks,
John
Future of Netduino
Started by John West, Jul 23 2011 03:07 PM
15 replies to this topic
#2
Chris Walker
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Posted 23 July 2011 - 07:47 PM
Hi John,
The future of Netduino is pretty exciting. We are currently working on five Netduino-brand products at Secret Labs, both mainboard and accessories.
I don't have anything to share quite yet, but it's safe to say that there's some exciting stuff coming in the next year. 
Chris
Chris
#3
John West
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Posted 23 July 2011 - 08:19 PM
That is ridiculously exciting! Glad to hear it! What is Microsoft's role in things at this point? Do they have any official involvement in the netduino space?
Hi John,
The future of Netduino is pretty exciting. We are currently working on five Netduino-brand products at Secret Labs, both mainboard and accessories.
I don't have anything to share quite yet, but it's safe to say that there's some exciting stuff coming in the next year.
Chris
#4
Chris Walker
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Posted 23 July 2011 - 08:38 PM
Microsoft continues to drive the core .NET MF platform forward, and the community is pitching in with both enhancements and bug fixes.
The Netduino roadmap is driven by the Secret Labs design team and feedback from the Netduino community. As we roll out new boards and accessories over the next 14 months, you'll instantly recognize the Netduino DNA as well as the community feedback that has been incorporated into their designs.
Chris
#5
Inquisitor
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Posted 24 July 2011 - 01:54 PM
I too, being new, am trying to get the lay of the land... Where is it most appropriate to request something added in the .NET area? Last night I was running great guns (with my background of desktop .NET) and ran over a few pot holes and finally hit a wall.Microsoft continues to drive the core .NET MF platform forward, and the community is pitching in with both enhancements and bug fixes.
The Netduino roadmap is driven by the Secret Labs design team and feedback from the Netduino community. As we roll out new boards and accessories over the next 14 months, you'll instantly recognize the Netduino DNA as well as the community feedback that has been incorporated into their designs.
Chris
I've seen some forums have the ability to set up voting... Is it desirable and possible for an Admin to create a "pinned" thread that allows forum members to add topics and let all forum members vote? This way… Microsoft, Secret Lab and developers with the interest and ability to add functionality can see what the level of interest for a given functionality. For instance… from just my last night’s work, I would want to request…
- string.Format()
- StringBuilder (that I see is coming in 4.2)
- Reflection being extended – I was ecstatic to see that it was there at all (I didn’t expect to find it). Using the Type.GetMethods() I was going great until I found no support for ParameterInfo and GetParameters.
Doing my best to keep the smoke in the little black boxes.
If my message helped you... how 'bout giving me a
www.MessingWithReality.com
If my message helped you... how 'bout giving me a
www.MessingWithReality.com
#6
Chris Walker
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Posted 24 July 2011 - 05:36 PM
Hi Inquisitor,
The best place to request features is at netmf.codeplex.com. You can open up a work item and ask for anything...
One thing to remember...each new feature takes up flash that your application could be using. On the desktop, doubling the size of the .NET Framework just requires extra MBs from already-huge hard drives. On Netduino, doubling the size of the .NET Micro Framework would mean zero room left for your application
Microsoft has been fairly conservative in keeping things small...
Chris
Microsoft has been fairly conservative in keeping things small...
Chris
#7
AlfredBr
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Posted 26 July 2011 - 06:02 PM
@ChrisWalker Will you be going to Microsoft's BUILD conference this year?
#8
Chris Walker
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Posted 26 July 2011 - 06:40 PM
I can't make it to BUILD, but I will be at MakerFaire NY.@ChrisWalker Will you be going to Microsoft's BUILD conference this year?
Chris
#9
Dan Morphis
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Posted 26 July 2011 - 08:09 PM
@ChrisWalker Will you be going to Microsoft's BUILD conference this year?
Alfred, I'm going to BUILD. You going?
-dan
#10
Chris Walker
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Posted 27 July 2011 - 03:00 AM
Now I'm _really_ starting to feel like I'm going to be missing out!Alfred, I'm going to BUILD. You going?
I'm at CEDIA from September 7-10 and at MakerFaire from September 17-18. It seems like maybe I should just take a 12-day straight trip and catch two days off work--and BUILD right in the middle
New York -> Indianapolis -> Los Angeles -> New York -> New York. Oh how I wish I could...
Chris
#11
Mario Vernari
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Posted 27 July 2011 - 11:48 AM
Back to the topic of this thread.
I often wonder what will be the future of Netduino and, more in general, of the Micro Framework.
No doubt that both are amazing and very nice to work with, but since my joining here I've seen rarely projects/circuits that could fit in the commercial/professional segment. Most of the people are using Netduino as for hobby or for scholastic purposes.
Chris Walker stated that there will be some new hardware from his labs, but what's the target?
It seems to me that a board like Netduino is weak in several sections, so many real-life apps would be reliable and easier to develop using Arduino or, better, a normal microcontroller. I'd prefer to improve its weaknesses before creating something new (maybe even with the same weaknesses).
I must confess that I am a bit scared about the future of Netduino and the MF. I don't see any people looking for commercial apps, nor industrial features (i.e. "moving bunch of money and making business"). So, in which way the future of a "gadget" would be shine?
I am *really* curious to hear from all of you. Maybe the truth in the US is totally different from Italy. Maybe yet in Europe would be different?
All that *NOT* to criticize anyone or anything, but just to "shock" the people around this project. I hope someone else will understand my viewpoint.
Thank you all.
Cheers
Biggest fault of Netduino? It runs by electricity.
#12
ColinR
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Posted 27 July 2011 - 01:37 PM
Commercial projects are not discussed as openly as hobby projects. Perhaps there is the disjoint. I've seen a few people not posting/releasing source due to the source being of a closed, commercial nature.
#13
Mario Vernari
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Posted 27 July 2011 - 01:46 PM
Any licensing/right/secret is not involved in the context, thus respected at all.Commercial projects are not discussed as openly as hobby projects. Perhaps there is the disjoint. I've seen a few people not posting/releasing source due to the source being of a closed, commercial nature.
I mean about real showcases, or witnesses about the usage of Netduino (or even GHI's stuffs) and the Micro Framework.
Cheers
Biggest fault of Netduino? It runs by electricity.
#14
Chris Walker
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Posted 27 July 2011 - 04:25 PM
Hi Mario,
We are seeing a lot of commercial products being developed which are based off of Netduino and NETMF. Including some that will be shipping early next year from Secret Labs (on the other side of the business).
I'll see if I can get permission to talk more about those. The conversations in the Netduino community are usually about educational/hobby applications...but there's no reason we shouldn't celebrate the commercial accomplishments which are generating millions (or tens/hundred of millions) of dollars in sales outside the hobby space.
Also, I agree that there are some things that AVRs ("Arduino") do better, and some things that NETMF on ARM does better. There has been a lot of work put into NETMF 4.2, and I'm confident that you're going to see more and more features and efficiencies coming to NETMF and Netduino for several years to come.
Chris
#15
Mario Vernari
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Posted 27 July 2011 - 05:12 PM
Just be clear (because English is not my language).
I *really love* Netduino and the MF: I don't love them fewer, because they cannot solve some problem.
Instead, that would be a good reason to work on the weaknesses of the platform.
I *really love* C# and the desktop framework, so I won't stop playing, working and supporting Netduino and the MF. That's sure.
For you Chris, the main (I'd say the "only one") real weakness of the Netduino (Plus) is the impossibility to create custom drivers. I mean native drivers, that probably would solve most of the limitations of the actual model.
I understand this is not easy to solve, and I'd love the whole MF will have a review in modularity. At the moment, a hobbist who owns a Netduino Plus cannot modify the firmware in any way, thus no native driver capability.
For the business around this platform, I believe your words, but also I make some effort to understand that the business is so big. I have almost no info on any kind of commercial or professional circuit: even on internet there's no trace about this kind of business.
I hope this would be a rising trend in the near future.
C'mon people!...anyone else want to drop his own experience?
I *really love* Netduino and the MF: I don't love them fewer, because they cannot solve some problem.
Instead, that would be a good reason to work on the weaknesses of the platform.
I *really love* C# and the desktop framework, so I won't stop playing, working and supporting Netduino and the MF. That's sure.
For you Chris, the main (I'd say the "only one") real weakness of the Netduino (Plus) is the impossibility to create custom drivers. I mean native drivers, that probably would solve most of the limitations of the actual model.
I understand this is not easy to solve, and I'd love the whole MF will have a review in modularity. At the moment, a hobbist who owns a Netduino Plus cannot modify the firmware in any way, thus no native driver capability.
For the business around this platform, I believe your words, but also I make some effort to understand that the business is so big. I have almost no info on any kind of commercial or professional circuit: even on internet there's no trace about this kind of business.
I hope this would be a rising trend in the near future.
C'mon people!...anyone else want to drop his own experience?
Biggest fault of Netduino? It runs by electricity.
#16
matthewp
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Posted 04 August 2011 - 04:45 AM
Mario, I think Netduino and Arduino are great for prototyping. Netduino especially, because of the language choice. You can quickly create a prototype on this platform and then if you think you have something worth investing in, drop down to the raw components and build the final product for much cheaper.
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