On Fri, Nov 12, 2004 at 10:53:55AM -0000, Michael Rigby-Jones wrote:
> 
> 
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] 
> >On Behalf Of Wouter van Ooijen
> >Sent: 12 November 2004 10:22
> >To: 'Microcontroller discussion list - Public.'
> >Subject: RE: [PIC:] Getting started with PIC's
> >
> >
> >> But you will need
> >> some knowledge of assembler (perhaps not necessarily PIC 
> >assembler) to 
> >> understand the datasheets.
> >
> >I disagree. I have seen good programs in HLL made by people 
> >who read only the peripheral parts of the datasheets. And I 
> >have done so myself for other chips. For most peripherals it 
> >is just reading and writing certain addresses. That can be 
> >done any suitable HLL without asm knowledge. Don't get me 
> >wrong, I don't say asm knowledge hurts, I just day that it is 
> >not required.
> >
> >Wouter van Ooijen
> 
> Whilst it's not required to write a non-critical program, IMHO it is
> required for:
> 
> Minimising execution time
> Minimising code space
> Low level debugging, including tracking compiler faults.

For the average user, none of these are critical points. 

1. Most compilers generate code that's good enough from a execution 
perspective. Take a look back at the optimizations that Sergio has done on
XCSB for example.

2. If you overflow code space, simply get a bigger chip. 

3. Compilers are never broken! ;-) But even if they are then debugging that
is usually outside of the scope of a novice anyway.

Assembly has few few fundamental technical advantages. If that were inherently
true, then many systems at all levels would be programmed in them.

For the PIC it's a communications and community issue. PIC assmebly is the 
language everyone speaks, and everyone reads. So if you going to fully
participate, you need to be able to speak and read it. Simple as that.

Wouter is definitly on point about everything else. It's easier, faster, and
more productive to program in an HLL. But virtually all of us will drop down
to PIC assembly to discuss issues.


> 
> Knowledge of assembly allows more effective use of a HHL as well, nudging an
> optimiser in the right direction or inline asm.

Wouter said that in his points.

BAJ
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