On Wed, 5 Dec 2001, Andrew E. Kalman wrote:

> Re:
> >  > Unless the rules have changed, I believe that the program must not
> >>  only be written in C, but specifically in HiTech C.
> >
> >...thus disqualifying the vast majority of PIC developers, especially
> >those who don't do it for a living with employer money.  I could very well
> >be wrong, but isn't HT PICC by far the most expensive compiler you can
> >find for the PIC?
>
> Yes, PICC is expensive, but good tools are expensive (e.g. Salvo,
> PICC, PICC-18, IAR compilers, etc.), or they're free (gcc, etc.).

I'm not trying to start a holy war about whose compiler is better
(honest), I was merely making the point that this particular requirement
is a restriction that eliminates the vast majority of PIC developers from
participation in this particular project.  I'm not saying it's right,
wrong, good or bad, just that's the way it is.

I do take issue with your statement, though.  If your claim is correct,
then there is no room to admit that a low priced tool can be a good tool.
I think this is incorrect, and many years of tool use (tools of all kinds)
proves this incorrect.  I have seen many lousy expensive tools, many lousy
free tools, some good expensive tools, a few good free tools and plenty of
good inexpensive tools.  I don't see a direct correlation between price
and quality or utility, mostly a correlation between price and
manufacturer support.

> I don't mean to demean other low-cost compilers, it's just that with
> the price comes performance, flexibility, support, etc. I won't
> disagree that employer money helps when purchasing these products.
> That's why we offer Salvo Lite, a fully-functional freeware version of
> our RTOS. You do still need a compatible compiler, though.

Which in the case of this particular project, would be an $850 full
version of PICC -- unless of course you can complete the whole thing in
less than 21 days.  As for performance, flexibility and support, I can
only speak to my own experiences with the product I use or those I have
tried.  I can say that I am completely satisfied with my choice.  In fact,
I think I got quite a bit better flexibility and performance for quite a
bit less money.  Of course, that's my opinion.  If I felt differently I
wouldn't have bought the product.

Having never had a need to use an RTOS like Salvo, I don't really know
much about it.  Again, though, I wasn't trying to make a point about
whether PICC is a good product for the money or aything else.  Simply
pointing out that the "entry fee", if you will, is probably the primary
reason that particular project has not come to completion in a year.

Dale

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different
ways.  See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.