LCDInfo version 0.01
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What does it do?
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This is a small program to control a Hitachi HD44780 based LCD display with the parallel port.
At the moment all it does is printing kernel and version (Only GNU/Linux supported!) and the computer's uptime.
If you have a LCD display you probably want to get LCDProc (http://lcdproc.omnipotent.net) since that package is better than this. I do this for my own use only and to learn C.

How do i use it?
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If you still want to use it this is the deal:
compile the package with the command:

gcc -O2 lcdinfo.c lcdinfo

You will then need to be root to start it. Also, if you use some other printer port you need to change the value of BASE in the source file, default is 0x378.
Then connect the lcd to the parallel port in the following manner:

LCD			LPT
1 (VSS)			25 (GND)
2 (VDD)			1 (You might need some more juice to power it, then use a modified floppy connector or something, the red cable should be +5V)
3 (VLC)			25 (GND) (The correct procedure would be to connect a potentiometer (is that the correct word in english?) to VLC and then between VSS ans VDD, this way you can change contrast, ive found that connecting it to GND works well though)
4 (RS)			14
5 (RW)			17
6 (E)			16
7 (D0)			2
|			|
|			|
14 (D7)			9

After that is done, just start the lcdinfo program and you will have a LCD display which shows something like this:

** Linux - 2.0.7 **
Up:01y 082d 16:03:31

and counting...

What will the next version do?
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Who knows? I will develop this as i learn more C and i really have to wait until i get a real 4x20 character display, now i have a 2x40. Since im now to C i will probably hardcode size and other things for the time being, im not sure when i will make it configurable and with a real Makefile etc.
I will however clean up the code a bit until next release so you can edit it more easily for your own display, but you might use LCDProc instead, its more flexible.

Copyright, Dont blame me(tm) etc.
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LCDInfo is copyrighted by Jan Svenungson (jan.svenungson<at>linux.nu) and is released under the GNU GPL (see the file COPYING for more info).
If you use this and your computer crashes or catches fire or whatever, Dont blame me. This software comes without any warranty.

I've found a nasty bug, you want a patch?
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Sure! I would love getting any positive or negative feedback. Patches with detailed comments (so i can understand the changes, as i said, i'm new to C) are really appreciated! You can reach me at the above e-mail adress or at UIN 6581164.


