On Sat, Aug 27, 2005 at 01:34:28PM +0800, Chen Xiao Fan wrote:
> GNUPIC is a valuable resource. I just point out my observation.
> Some people may think Linux support is not Microchip's business
> and I agree it will not be their main focus. However there
> is no harm asking for more support as well, right?
> There are
> people inside Microchip who would like to support open source
> community within their capacities. 

Support in what way? MPLAB is the flagship product. gputils
already has most of its functionality. PicKits are supported
with firmware and interface support. Programming specifications
are available. They built the C30 compiler with GCC and have
honored the GPL.

As a longtime Linux user and developer, I can attest that MChip
has been infinitely more open about their developement tools and
documentation than many others.

So I'm just trying to figure out what you think we need to ask
of them? They've already done pretty much everything that a
Linux community member would want, except for maybe an Open Source
release of their libraries for the C30 dsPIC compiler. But
then I'd ask what is it that's in the C30 libraries that hasn't
in some form been duplicated in the SDCC or other Open Source
C libraries? Do we really need a printf or scanf from Mchip?

I asking in all honesty. I think that Linux folks have gotten
used to being self supporting and in fact understand that it's
unreasonable to ask for the same level of development that
Windows folks enjoy. The key is to have a company that doesn't
inhibit Open Source development by withholding critical 
information about a product or process. I have yet to see one
instance where MChip has done that. Have you?

BAJ
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