Echelon Neuron C - Manual (Page 14)

2 Overview
What Is Neuron C?
Neuron C Version 2 is a programming language based on ANSI C that is
designed for Neuron Chips and Smart Transceivers. It includes network
communication, I/O, and event-handling extensions to ANSI C, which make it a
powerful tool for the development of L
ON
W
ORKS
applications. Following are a
few of these new 1 features:
• A new network communication model, based on functional blocks and
network variables , that simplifies and promotes data sharing between
like or disparate devices.
• A new network configuration model, based on functional blocks and
configuration properties , that facilitates interoperable network
configuration tools.
• A new type model based on standard and user resource files that expands
the market for interoperable devices by simplifying integration of devices
from multiple manufacturers.
• An extensive built-in set of I/O models that support the powerful I/O
capabilities of Neuron Chips and Smart Transceivers.
• Powerful event-driven programming extensions, based on new when
statements, provide easy handling of network, I/O, and timer events.
• A high-level programming model that supports application-specific
interrupt handlers and synchronization tools.
Neuron C provides a rich set of language extensions to ANSI C tailored to the
unique requirements of distributed control applications. Experienced C
programmers will find Neuron C a natural extension to the familiar ANSI C
paradigm. Neuron C offers built-in type checking and allows the programmer to
generate highly efficient code for distributed L ON W ORKS applications.
Neuron C omits ANSI C features that are not required by the standard for free-
standing implementations. For example, certain standard C libraries are not
part of Neuron C. Other differences between Neuron C and ANSI C are
described in Differences between Neuron C and ANSI C on page 13.
Comparing Neuron C Version 2 to Version 1
Neuron C version 2 includes major enhancements to the language that greatly
simplify the development of devices that use functional blocks and configuration
properties. Prior to version 2, developers had to manually construct self-
documentation strings for each device, network variable, and configuration
property. This process could be both time-consuming and error-prone. With
Neuron C version 2, the Neuron C compiler can automatically create and manage
these strings.
If any of the following Neuron C keywords appear in an application, the Neuron
C compiler automatically generates and manages the self-documentation strings:
• fblock
1 "New" means relative to the ANSI Standard C language.