In my copious free time <G> I'll think on this.  I have an application which,
for now, is using an Atmel serial DataFlash chip.  Getting data in and out is
painfully slow at 115200 bps.  But if I could just drop it into my laptop...

Andy










"M. Adam Davis" <adavis@UBASICS.COM> on 04/07/2000 12:23:54 PM

Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>








 To:      PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU

 cc:      (bcc: Andrew Kunz/TDI_NOTES)



 Subject: Re: ide interface offer








Andrew Kunz wrote:
>
> I went and checked your site again:
>
> >Code must be fully commented (1 comment for every two lines in assembly, 1
> comment of every line in a higher level language).
>
> I don't know about the rest of the list, but I think these are WAY out of
line.
>   This sounds like somebody who knows nothing about coding making policies for
> programmers (ie, the pointy haired boss).

Well, I would say use your judgment (as I believe many of us have good
judgment), but I've run across so many badly commented pieces of code that I
thought this was reasonable.

Do you have a suggestion as to how I can word that so we don't end up at either
of the two extremes?  (too much commenting, too little commenting)

> >If you choose a language other than assembly then one of the following must
be
> true:
> >    1) The compiler is free, or your code example must completely compile
under
>  the free version of the compiler you choose.
> >    2) You also completely comment the assembly listing (1 comment for every
> two lines)
>
> Well, Clyde just made the compiler of my choice available free in a limited
> subset today.  Problem is, it doesn't support your mandated chip.  Now what?
>
> Since C is so portable (<G>) how about just making it in "C" is good enough.
>
> I htink you might get more takers if you made it so any commonly available
> compiler (ByteCraft, HiTech, CCS) or assembler (HiTech, Tech-Tools, MPASM) can
> be used.

I don't care what you use or how much it may have cost.  I just want to be able
to assemble it in MPLAB for free.  I just want to require that the code be
submitted in assembly, and that someone who may not understand C or whatever
language you use can still use your code (in assembly) in their program, or they
can obtain, for free, a version of the compiler you use which will compile your
code.

I don't feel this is an onerous burden.  I'll remove the requirement that the
assembly code must be commented separately as long as you can generate an
assembly file which includes your higher level code as comments (I have not yet
seen a compiler which won't do this):

                   ; TRISA = 0b.1100.0000; /* 7:6 Input(1), 5:0 Output(0) */
        MOVLW .192
        BSF   0x03,RP0
        MOVWF TRISA
                   ; TRISB = 0b.1111.1111; /* 7:0 Input, no output        */
        MOVLW .255
        MOVWF TRISB
                   ; TRISC = 0b.1100.0000; /* 7:0 Output                  */
        MOVLW .192
        MOVWF TRISC

I'll also remove the requirement for a specific chip to be used.  You can use
any chip in the picmicro line.  While I would like to keep the requirement that
no external chips be used, that pretty much goes out the window if you plan on
using an f'84 (excepting the serial sandisk).  At this point it would be nicer
to have the code than the restrictions.

Please send your comments, I'll update the webpage today or monday with the
sandisk contest, and any changes to the HD contest.

-Adam