> -----Original Message----- > From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu > [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of Bob Blick > Sent: 06 July 2009 17:37 > To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. > Subject: RE:[PIC] Is Hitech C deliberately slugging code in > the free version..? > > On Mon, 6 Jul 2009 12:30:18 +0100, "Michael Rigby-Jones" > said: > > > > Sly marketing? Frankly, if their free version went from > doing these > > > optimizations to not doing them (honestly, a compiler > that doesn't > > > take > > > i++ and output INCF is BROKEN in my mind), and yet > nothing was said > > > i++ to > > > that effect, I would call it at best sleezy, at worst > something much > > > worse. > > > > > > The description of Lite mode on the HiTech website clearly states > > optimisations are disabled. > > > > I think people are missing the point, if you wish to evaluate the > > compiler for a commercial project, you can do so, with full > > optimisations enabled for (I think) 45 days. The Lite mode > is really > > for simple hobbyist projects where the ability to use any > device often > > outweighs the bloated code it produces. > > But what he was saying is that the free version was pretty > good, and now it isn't. > > Why they would take away quality strikes me as bizarre. > Because they have added the ability to use any supported PIC, rather than a tiny subset with memory limits. You still have the choice of using the PICCLite compiler if you are using one of the supported devices. > It's even stranger if you look at the number of compilers > available now as opposed to when HiTech started out. There > are a lot of good compilers for cheap or free now. And if you > are a beginner or a hobbyist, why choose HiTech? It was > always the compiler with the fewest features(no I/O or other > neat functions) If you mean clumsy and buggy peripheral library code as supplied with some other compilers then no, they don't include that, and I for one have never missed it. None of the PIC's peripherals are particularly complex to use, so writing/porting your own library code is not an arduous task, and you end up with something that you understand completely. > but now it also produces the worst code. I > certainly wouldn't try it or buy it, and I was actually a > customer of theirs. I would not recommend it to anyone unless > they had to do maintenance on an existing project. > And yet you judge this purely from their free compiler, rather than the demo compiler that is for potential purchasers to evalutae the compiler with? > There's no longer a code size limit to the free version, but > by generating code several times bigger than necessary, isn't > that almost the same thing? Almost, but not quite. Are you suggesting they should give away a compiler that has no restrictions whatsoever? > > I'm not sure the ability to use any chip is that appealing to > a hobbyist or beginner. The old free compiler supported a few > popular chips properly. > And they still have the choice to use that. > I remember looking at the code generated by earlier versions > and admiring how clever it was. The new stuff looks like junk. > > How can this be good for them? Because as I explained, the ability to use any PIC is of a higher priority than tight code for many hobbiests. It was never designed to provide a platform for evaluation of the generated code, the 45 day demo is available for this. For those who prefered the limitations/advantages of the original compiler, it's still available. Regards Mike ======================================================================= This e-mail is intended for the person it is addressed to only. The information contained in it may be confidential and/or protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you must not make any use of this information, or copy or show it to any person. Please contact us immediately to tell us that you have received this e-mail, and return the original to us. Any use, forwarding, printing or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. No part of this message can be considered a request for goods or services. ======================================================================= -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist