Flint – A GUI prototyping tool
Flint IDE is primarily a prototyping tool that can be used as a graphics design software to develop applications for products running on Sparklet. As Flint is based on Eclipse, it can be made to run across Windows and Linux systems. It has an automatic code generation feature that aids in creating applications with awesome screen and flow. Based on UML methodology, modules like State Machines, Guards etc can be created. A whole range of widgets, fonts, and external resources such as: BMP images, PNG images, Fonts etc., can be added to the Flint project. Attractive graphics can be imported directly from Adobe Photos shop PSD file and animations can be created in a matter of minutes.
The visual and functional information thus designed can be converted into a set of binary files that can be included or compiled together with the final firmware that runs in the target. When running in the target, the firmware reads this part and instantiates various widgets and create graphics as designed originally. This enables UI modules to be separated, simulated, tested and integrated using the Sparklet Simulator.
Flint, with its agile workflow and modular architecture, accelerates UI / UX design and allows designers/ engineers to work independently and in parallel without disruptions, thereby significantly reducing the development time.
