From: Brent Brown <brent@eds.co.nz>
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Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2020 23:00:25 -0700
Subject: Re: [PIC]: MPLAB XC C Compiler License Change
Thread-Topic: [PIC]: MPLAB XC C Compiler License Change
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I just discovered Keil for 8051 for free... Silicon Labs offer a licence ke=
y for anyone=20
who registers. It seems to retail for about USD1500.

Revived a project that has a SiLabs C8051F120 (no slouch for an 8051, runs =
@ up=20
to 100MIPS). Began with HiTech 8051 C about 8 years ago, but Microchip boug=
ht=20
them and dropped it, so we switched to SDCC (free). Recently customer menti=
oned=20
it was taking them up to 15 minutes to compile, seems chip was getting clos=
e to full.=20
Price checked IAR, they wanted AUD5000.

Ported to Keil it builds in 20s and code shrunk by 30-40%. (Actually just u=
pgraded=20
my CPU/RAM and now it compiles in 3s~!) Not the flashest IDE, but perfectly=
=20
usable... and exceptional value for money~! Well, that's my good news compi=
ler=20
story, worth sharing.

Even though the above example is not Microchip, it does hint at some of the=
=20
reasons their licence change doesn't suit me particularly. I have a handful=
 of longer=20
term projects that get feature additions now via new firmware. Last compile=
r=20
upgrade I did was maybe 6 years ago... no hardware changes in at least that=
 long. I=20
may well use more (newer) Microchip parts in the future and require a compi=
ler=20
upgrade... but that introduces an expiry date ~ and forces into on-going ye=
arly=20
updates.

Similar happened with Altium Designer... for a couple of years I was using =
it a lot=20
fopr some contract work and I could justify, but only just, paying ~USD1000=
/yr for=20
upgrades and support. They increased that to ~USD1500/yr and I opted out. T=
hen I=20
think they started wanting backdated payments to fill in the gaps if/when o=
ne=20
wanted to "resume" support. I waited quite a few years until they had a spe=
cial=20
"once only" trade-in offer including 2 years upgardes & support.

On 27 Jul 2020 at 23:28, Neil wrote:
> I would still be a big proponent of Microchip C if it weren't for XC...=20
> and early Harmony.  That was when I was getting into PIC32's.
> I still do PIC18's with MPLAB 8.x though
>=20
> However, I'm now into ARM.  Mostly STM32-flavoured because they offer=20
> significant package/feature choices, and pricing is good.
>=20
> Some dev options:
> - First Keil and IAR offer their ARM tools free for Cortex-M0/M0+=20
> devices, and for limited code side (IIRC 32K).
> - However, a couple years ago, ST purchased Atollic TrueStudio and=20
> offered it for free for any of their processors, and they've now=20
> revised/morphed that into STM32CubeIDE.  Yes, it's Eclipse-based, but=20
> pretty decent if you take a moment to learn to use it and workspaces.
> - There are surprisingly many other development paths, which I've been=20
> capturing in a flowchart.  The latest version is here...=20
> http://orlandorobotbuilders.com/stuff/STM32_Getting_Started-v0_6.png
>=20
> ST's discussion forum is disappointing, but feel free to join us on=20
> STM32 Developers FB group,
>=20
> Cheers,
> -Neil
>=20
> On 7/27/2020 10:18 PM, Isaac M. Bavaresco wrote:
> > Em 27/07/2020 23:06, Bob Blick escreveu:
> >> Might I suggest that, rather than outright revolt, perhaps defection a=
s an alternate route? AVR and STM32 are both quite capable...
> >>
> >> Best regards, Bob
> >
> > That's what I'm doing. Most of my new projects are using ARM devices.
> >
> > For now I'm still using Cortex-M3 (SAM3) devices, from Atmel/Microchip.
> > If they change their compiler's license policy for ARM devices, then I
> > will migrate definitively to STM.
> >
> > Right now I'm experimenting with STM's Cortex-M7 devices. My RTOS is no=
t
> > ready for Cortex-M7, but soon I will have to byte the bullet and do the
> > conversion.
> >
> > STM's STM32H7xxx are  fantastic devices. Much more powerful than
> > Microchip's and still less expensive.


--=20
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