What compiler to use?

[Kryten]

Im looking for a easy to use free compiler that handles many code lines.

Im used to coding i C but anything will do.

 

[tresca]

hm..this may or may not be an important question...

what is the compiler for ? pc ? uC ? if so, which one ?

 

[Kryten]

Sorry i though that the category would be a telltale sing.

Pic uC

 

[tresca]

sometimes ppl post in wrong areas...

I'm not sure of any free compilers...I know that microchip has the student version (basically the full version w/o optimization)

 

[Pommie]

I suggest having a look at BoostC for the 16 and 18 series chips and C18 for the 18 series. Both are free but BoostC is limited to 2K program space which is really more than most people ever use.

edit, if 2k is too small, to purchase BoostC is around $80.

Mike.

 

[Kryten]

I will look in to BoostC, and C18 since im currently working most with 18 series chips..

If there are other suggestion im open to ideas

 

[nickelflippr]

If there are other suggestion im open to ideas

There is Great Cow Basic under the GPL license. It will program 10/12/16/18 devices. Does not have all the library's you might expect (mostly math) from a commercial compiler, but since the source code is available, anything is possible.

 

[Arkham00]

Even Swordfish Basic is a very nice compiler for the PIC18 family:

Swordfish - Modular BASIC for PIC® Microcontrollers

 

[Kryten]

Yes but i think that my software will be quite big.
Im going to control two steppers both with buttons and automatic. Drive a LCD. Calculate the number of stops for the steppers. And have voltage reference for the two steppes

 

[blueroomelectronics]

C18 should be fine.

 

[Pommie]

Yes but i think that my software will be quite big.
Im going to control two steppers both with buttons and automatic. Drive a LCD. Calculate the number of stops for the steppers. And have voltage reference for the two steppes

I'm pretty sure that I could write that within the confines of the (free) BoostC compiler (2K) and the (also free) Swordfish basic compiler (18 series). However, if you go over the limits then they are both relatively cheap to purchase. C18 will be more than adequate if you go the 18 series route.

Mike.

 

[blinky465]

If you can face BASIC

I code in C too and thought that going back to BASIC would be a step backwards, but the PIC simulator IDE at oshonsoft.com is very good and only costs about £25. Complete simulator and compiler in one, includes serial/USART emulation. After playing with the 30-day trial, I stopped looking for freeware and opened my dusty wallet and have been really pleased.

 

[Kryten]

Does MC c18 have LCD lib?? I cant say i have found it

 

[tresca]

It does. Its not part of the default libraries though.

Download the application Maestro Software, and you can use it to customize the code it will generate for your routine.

Application Maestro ^™ Software

 

[Kryten]

where can i download the libs ?

 

[tresca]

download "Applications Maestro"
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/mpam100r.zip

and then download the modules to load into the maestro software
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/mpammodulesv103.zip

Then when you run the program, it will ask you what modules do you want to load. Load up xlcd, and it will ask you a bunch of questions, and will generate a header file that correspond to the answers you put for the questions.

Some of the questions is like
what pin do you want for Enable?
8bit or 4bit mode ?
What port for data ?

Stuff like that.

 

[Kryten]

That sounds like the kind of software i really need

Thanks

 

[Kryten]

Does it matter what driver that is on the LCD? I mean like if its a KS0086 or something else?

 

[tresca]

It is for the HD44780 driven LCD displays

 

[Kryten]

Ok I got the L2432 LCD panel (parts of some scrap @ work) it has the KS0063/KS0066 or equivalent driver and i dont know whether it will work or if i need to "make" my own driver/library for it. Or if it will work with the library for HD44780 driver