(12 Dec 02003) - First version is done and it's ugly as sin. Implemented are basic Channukah routines, Kwanzaa routines, and morse code. However, I haven't yet built the device, so it may not work You've got to install the Framework/Drivers I used large portions of code from hebcal-3.2 (GPL), and portion of a morse-code program (BSD) that I found online. Download my code (v. 0.1) (GPL, even though I haven't put in all the license files, sorry RMS).

(13 Dec 02003) - I tried running in morse mode with the little USB board I got working today, but I get bus errors. I'll try working on this tomorrow.

(15 Dec 02003) - Code now sends negated UInt8 values to the LEDS. Problem with morse code was that I was sending null strings (guess I forgot to uncomment out a line from debugging). Now morse code mode works properly, but I'm getting memory errors with either candleString or shamasString being double free()-ed or modified after being freed. OK, I found the problem--I put the malloc() for the candle and shamas strings outside of the proper loop when I added the Kwanzaa+Chanukkah+Morse code loop routine.

Hardware works, test mode & morse code blink are OK, but the candle-lighting routines need some help.I think the problem is that both shift registers need to advance at the same rate for the animation to work.

Kwanzaa mode is now correctly implemented. Interactive mode works correctly. Two bugs for the Channukah code: (1) It doesn't display the right number of candles, and (2) it keeps reloading way too often.

Found the cause of (2):: again a debugging issue. Looks like I fixed (1) also (I thinkt here was some compiler weirdness going on as a result of my changing the system date all over the place and not getting objects compiled.) Now everything works more or less to my satisfaction.

Latest version of the software: (v 0.2)

Here's what the test-mode looks like, and here's a simulated Channukah event, with the random colors and the shamas blinking out a morse-code message

(17 Dec 02003) - Implemented a simple animation of the candles. Removed a bunch of debugging statements.

Latest version of the code:v 0.3