Texas Instruments TMS320DM6437, Getting Started Manual, Page: 46 / 64

Rebuilding the Demo Host Software
A-6
A.4 Rebuilding the Demo Host Software
If you want to modify the host-side demo application, you likely only need
to add or remove some buttons and drop-down lists and read and write
different target state parameters used by your target application. This can
be done by changing the GUI script in Main.js.
The demo host-side application runs on a host machine (typically a PC
running Windows or Linux) and connects over the network to a
TMS320DM6437 EVM board that is running the target-side demo
application. The host-side application lets users control the target’s
behavior and stream audio and video files to and from the target.
The host-side program is written in ECMAScript—popularly known as
JavaScript—and requires no development tools other than a text editor.
You run the program by running the .bat file located in the same directory
as the host-side application. (To run the program in a graphical debugger,
edit the .bat file itself and comment out the appropriate line.)
A.4.1 JavaScript Misconceptions
There are some common misconceptions about JavaScript. The core
JavaScript language, which is used for this program, has nothing to do
with Web pages; it is a general-purpose scripting language like Perl or
Python.
Also, JavaScript is not Java. However, it does let developers use existing
Java libraries without requiring the developer to be a Java programmer.
Three such libraries are used by the host-side application script:
† Networking library
† File I/O library
† GUI library
These Java libraries are part of the XDC toolset, which is used primarily
for development of target software, and are included in the DM6437EVM
tools installation.
(Perl, an alternative scripting language, while more widely used, is
considered less coder-friendly and would require a separate installation
of Perl tools. Another alternative, executables developed with Microsoft
Visual C++, is less suitable for rapid development of applications like this
one and would require the installation of licensed Microsoft tools.)