Recommend a C compiler please

I'm about 200 pages into my book on learning C. I'd like to start playing around with some simple tasks in C and seeing where I can go with it. I've come to the realization that coding in PIC ASM is a waste of time when C could do most everything much faster.

I use 16F PICs. I need something that supports all of them, including the enhanced midrange PICs. I wouldn't mind something that could be easily migrated over to the 18F or 24F in case I want to walk down that road someday.

I want a compiler that meets the following criteria:
1) Free -- or at least very cheap
2) ANSI Compatible (if this is possible)
3) Support for all 16F PICs
4) A wide enough user base where I can find support and examples online
5) Fairly easy to work with (IE: not a crapload of counter-intuitive odd peculiarities)

Suggest away!

Thanks.

EDIT:

I've noticed that the CCS compiler has a wizard that sets up all sorts of things ---- it looks like a real time saver. What is the deal with that. Is it a pretty good wizard in terms of generating efficient and accurate code? Does the Hi Tech compiler have anything like this?

HiTech light/student compiler.

Look into 18F's too.

IMO, the HiTech lite product produces extremely unoptimized garbage code... Look at the free/lite version of SourceBoost BoostC...

Happy Holidays everyone. Mike

I have used the free version of MikroC Pro for PIC from MikroElektronika, and it has very user friendly libraries. Here are some tutorials that I wrote on PIC programming in MikroC.

Embedded Systems Lab :Embedded Lab

Mike said:

IMO, the HiTech lite product produces extremely unoptimized garbage code... Look at the free/lite version of SourceBoost BoostC...

Happy Holidays everyone. Mike

Click to expand...

I'll second this.

Mike.

I don't like the idea of a free version that only allows me to access 2 banks of RAM as is the case with the Boost C free version. The standard version for 30 bucks allows unlimited RAM and 4k of ROM.

MikroC looks really clean and simple, but the free version only allows 2k of program words. I'm not really sure how restrictive that is. Just looking at some examples shows that it seems easy with some of the configuration tools in the compiler. I just hate the idea of getting into a compiler and then as soon as I really get humming with finding that I'm up against a 250 dollar wall as is the case with the mikroC compiler.

Can someone give me an idea of what kind of things can be done with 2k program words?

I am looking for a good c compiler to switch to. I like ASM but I know eventually my code is going to be to big to manage it in asm so C would come next. What I look for is what kind of documentation is available and if there are tutorials for that compiler because they are all different. there is some for hi-tech but Micro C has a lot more I was looking a couple of basic programs like boscom or swordfish there is some documentation, swordfish is sort of limited. seems like those guys are in a big hurry to sell you something.
I guess this is just my thoughts or raves
good luck gogo

2) ANSI Compatible (if this is possible) I don't think with only a 8 a bit mcu and a 7 layer stack that is possible

The free version of boostC is limited to 2k ROM and 2 banks of RAM. To see what you can do in that space see here (it has LCD routine, Keypad routines and a full menu system in 2k). The cheapest version of BoostC that is unlimited is $70 not $30. The only down side I have found (on 16 series) is the lack of ROM pointers but this can be worked around.

I'm not keen on MikroC as they don't release the source code for the libraries.

Mike.

I have been checking out Great Cow BASIC its freeware kind of fun to look at Great Cow BASIC | Download Great Cow BASIC software for free at SourceForge.net. I only just came it tonight so I got more checking it out to do, but so far it fits my bil its works with pic's plus you can use a pickit-2 to burn your code in right of the IDE cool plus it works with AVR's did I say it was free not sure what devices it supports yet but so far I seen code for the old 84a's and 877a's.check it out and add information to this. its freeware so there is nothing to buy

if I seem a little excited that is because I have been looking for a project to get involved with and this just might be it
have fun gogo

Mike are you saying "garbage code" regarding HiTech due to the lack of optimization only ?

I suggested HiTech because he could use a single compiler vendor for a wide variety of PICs, it is comparatively well documented, and the light version is free. It meets all 5 of his objectives.

The 2 bank limit thing is a great/lousy way to get people to buy compilers. By the time the user needs more memory he is comfortable with the compiler and may buy it rather then switch compilers.

I use a 5 year old copy of CCS for 16F chips, and mostly C18 for 18F.

It has been a few years since I tried boost C.

Thanks for all the input guys!

I think I'm going to go against some of the advice here (while taking some of the other) and go with the Hi Tech compiler. I like the idea that there is one family for several lines of the PIC and that it is really without limitation in the free version. If it does produce "garbage" code, I could just spend another 25 cents to upgrade to a PIC with more ROM and RAM. Perhaps I'm going down the wrong road here, but I have a feeling that porting some of my projects that I have in ASM that combine LCD, RF transcievers, ADC, keypad, etc, could run me over the memory limits placed on some of the other free compilers.

With that said:
Does anyone know where I can get a good tutorial on Hi Tech C? I've looked at the manual that you can download with the compiler and it may as well be written in Chinese. I know microchipC.com has some example code, but I'd love to find a real Barney style "this is why you do this" type tutorial.

Thanks!