retagging this since it seems worthy enough for [EE]. Almost [PIC] but
it leads away(astray?).

On Wed, Jul 2, 2014, at 03:24 PM, Richard R. Pope wrote:
> What do you use to do your compiling, linking, and debugging with?=20
> What are using in place of PICs?
> On 7/2/2014 5:18 PM, Bob Blick wrote:
> > I haven't used MPLAB in years and never used MPLAB X. I write code in a=
n
> > editor and compile and link it with batch files. I am moving away from
> > PICs and don't do any new designs with them.

I edit in Windows using UltraEdit and I link and compile with HiTech C.
For debugging I wiggle pins or talk out a serial port. Usually the stuff
I do either won't work in a simulator, since it's all controlling stuff,
or it really needs to run in real time so breakpoints would make real
stuff break.

But as I said, I'm moving away from PICs and only do updates on legacy
designs. Now if I need to do anything 5 volts I use AVRs. For 3.3 volt
stuff it's XMEGA or MSP430.

I kept using PICs way longer than I think I should have just out of
habit. When I started using them it was 18 years ago and they were the
only thing available in the small-fry, low budget space.

When HiTech went to an online activation scheme it ticked me off. They
aren't jerks about it, but I just object to that model for anti-piracy.
Their original method was self-contained.=20

So that's want prompted me to look elsewhere. Now Microchip owns HiTech
and is trying to harmonize all their compilers and the libraries and
sample code is... interesting.

I still just edit and link and compile, but I do use Atmel Studio
because the updates of GCC for XMEGA parts(which are still rather new)
aren't fully in sync between the Atmel and pure GCC versions. It's the
opposite with MSP430 - MSPGCC is mature and works well, the version in
TI's Code Composer Studio isn't complete. By the way, if you don't like
trying to compile MSPGCC under Windows, a full MSPGCC toolchain is in
the Energia package, ready to use.

Anyway, now my tools are free, I don't have to pay yearly maintenance,
and I like my choices of parts.

I do still use PICs in little home projects, because I have some parts
and want to use them up.

I know Microchip has some new parts that are good but I changed lanes
and it would take something major to change back. The XMEGAs are quite
nice and very affordable.

By the way, I'm not doing a "PIC vs something else" thing. Microchip
makes good parts and there's no reason you shouldn't use them. The whole
system of parts, programmers, emulators and compilers is so involved
that you can't just say one architecture is better that another. PICs
were the right thing for me for many years.

Best regards, Bob


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