> > the Motorola 68000.  I wonder why it's so hard for compilers to produce
> > *CORRECT* code on the PIC?
>
> Well, I can't speak for other compiler vendors, but I can tell you that
> from our perspective, the single most bug-inducing feature of the PIC is
> the RAM banking. Getting the bank bits right, while still keeping the
code
> size down, is downright tricky. This is compounded by the fact that some
> chips have common RAM while some don't. The number of variations of
> RAM bank configurations also contributes. About 75% of bugs we have
> fixed have been RAM bank related.

I have almost finished re-targeting my JAL compiler from the 16x84
to the Scenix SX and I can confirm that the RAM banking is a
major nightmare. There are some minor nightmares in the code paging,
the limits of the call instruction/PC manimpulation, the missing addlw etc.
And I don't even try to generate effecient code (yet).
Is it still possible to strangle the designer of the PIC architecture or
has he/she already left for Intel?

Wouter.