Datalog 3.0.0.0 release

Demo of Datalog 3.0.0.0 went well, with no last minute hitches. Only need to include a license file and it's done. I can already think of improvements to make, such as encapsulating more code into classes, and also more improvements that need to be made, such as better comms control, and reduction of the processor overhead. But for now, it has the green light to ship!

Relegation

Defeat tonight for LTFC, 1-0 away at Derby, confirms our relegation to League 1 for next season. Bugger.

Eureka!

Solved the 'Failed to send Command - Write pending' error. Caused by running the Disconnect sub directly from the disconnect menu option instead of setting the 'disconnect request' flag.

Also solved the problem of getting invalid start characters when a connection is attempted after the comms lead has been removed in mid-sequence. Solved this by setting a timeout value in the PLC comms card when transmitting data. If a timeout occurs (i.e. when the lead has become disconnected and transmition is not possible) then the communications sequence is aborted and the buffers are flushed.

Test, test, test

Datalog comms test for 8+ hours without problem. Showed no sign of memory increase in Private Bytes, or in # of Bytes in All Heaps, although the latter consistantly jumped by some 300k or so, but always dropped again, as well as the regular GC cycle. The 300k jumps (increase and decrease) coincided with a GC Gen 2 collection. Error on disconnect: "Failed to send command - Write pending". This was repeated a couple of times, but not consistantly. Possibly the PLC control loop thread is being allowed to exit before a command cycle has completed?

Concerns...

Datalog 3.0.0.0 application nearing completion, hope to present it at work very soon.

Concerns:

• Memory use seems to rise on the IBM laptop, but not on the desktops. Can't track down why that should be.
• Nothing to stop the app being freely copied and used on compatible equipment.
• Limited testing has been done on different platforms.

Doom and gloom

Well, not a very inspiring start to the first post of my Blog but there you go. The cause of the doom and gloom? Events at my beloved Luton Town Football Club.

This season has been an unmitigated disaster, with Hatters needing to win all three remaining games to stay up. Pfft, no chance. We're ****ed.

Staggering incompetance in the boardroom has caused resentment, distrust and anger everywhere you look.