PIC Micro Controller C/C++ Languages

There is a constant flow of debate over the use of C or Assembly to program microcontrollers. While it is true that C compilers may generate less efficient code from a quickly written line of C than a human working in hand coded / hand optimized assembly, in most cases, well written C compilers can come very close. In some cases, a C compiler can optimize code in a way that would be very difficult for a human, even surpassing well written human assembly when very complex constructs are involved. Byte Craft did an interesting test on one of thier C compilers^ where they verified that for every instruction in the processors instruction set, there is some C sequence that compiles into that single instruction. At least with that compiler, for every possible Assembly program there exists a C program that generates the same (if not less) code.

C17/C18 http://www.microchip.com/1010/pline/tools/picmicro/code/mplab18/index.htm The "official" Microchip versions of C. That link will most likely be wrong in a few days since Microchip apparently rearranges the web site on a weekly basis, but if you go to microchip.com and search for C18, you will find it.

• Rolfs String Format code generator for making effecient C18 string tables. Perfect for LCD displays.
• Mike McLaren's Keyboard debounce beep toggle in C18

Data Types, size and range:

TYPE                SIZE     RANGE 
char(1,2)            8 bits  -128 127 
signed char          8 bits  -128 127 
unsigned char        8 bits  0 255 
int                 16 bits  -32,768 32,767 
unsigned int        16 bits  0 65,535 
short               16 bits  -32,768 32,767 
unsigned short      16 bits  0 65,535 
short long          24 bits  -8,388,608 8,388,607 
unsigned short long 24 bits  0 16,777,215 
long                32 bits  -2,147,483,648 2,147,483,647 
unsigned long       32 bits  0 4,294,967,295 

float               32 bits  1.17549435 e-38 to 6.80564693 e+38
double              32 bits  1.17549435 e-38 to 6.80564693 e+38

Byte Craft http://www.bytecraft.com/  MPC (Microchip PIC Compiler). ByteCraft developed the first C compiler for the PIC and Microchip licensed that code as a start on MPLAB C although it has been developed seperatly since then. MPC goes for $1,750.00^ USD. There is a demo version, but I have no information on the limitations.

Hi-Tech http://www.htsoft.com/ FREE! PICC-Lite is essentially the same as our full-featured, industrial grade PICC compiler, support is limited to the 16F877, 16F877A, 12F675, 12F629, 16F627, 16C84, 16F84 and 16F84A devices. MPLAB compatible. In March 2009, Microchip aquired Hi-Tech and will narrow thier focus to Microchip products.

• bit twiddleing effeciently in c
• http://www.keyghost.com/htpic/Hi-Tech_C_FAQ.htm an independant FAQ for Hitech C
• These excellent C compilers can now be used to develop programs for the SX using the AS2SX postprocessor. And the SX-DEV integrates it for source level debugging!

C2C http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/3656/c2c/c.html C-compiler runs on Win-95, DOS and Linux and compiles for PIC and SX

• 2002/18/00 Purchased by Kanda, selling for $260.
• 2004/02/07 Back to the original author
  http://www.picant.com/c2cpp/cpp.html C++ compiler for PICmicro and Scenix processors.+
• http://www.picant.com/c2c/c.html SourceBoost IDE is a MS Windows based modern IDE that works with Picc Lite and C2C-plus C Compilers, C2C++ C++ compiler, P2C-plus Pascal compiler and MPASM assembler, project support, symbol browser, expandable plugin system, debugger and clock accurate simulator.+
• 2007: now at http://sourceboost.com/, which has a discussion forum for talking about programming the PIC and SX in C, C++, and assembly language.

CC5X http://www.bknd.com/ optomizing C-compiler (free limited version, up to 1 kB, integrates with MPLAB?) all 14- and 12-bit PIC

CCS http://ccsinfo.com/  C-Compiler (usefull examples can be downloaded) James Newton says: "Based on (clumsy) link spamming, shoddy support for the SX (PIC clone) and bad personal experiences, I do NOT recommend this compiler. Your milage may vary."

Wiz-C http://www.fored.co.uk 70 to 100 pounds UK. Grew from: PicC http://members.aol.com/piccompile/products.htm  C-Compiler $59, source level debugger $79. ?

pico-C http://personal.eunet.fi/pp/jokinen/ produces assembler code (free)

Visual C http://home.t-online.de/home/Swen.Gosch/epic.htm free demo

Linux:

SDCC the Small Device C Compiler

• SDCC is not only free but also open-source. SDCC is currently (as of 2005) being developed at http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/.
• the SDCC wiki: http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/release_wiki/
• Scott Dattalo started the Microchip PIC port of SDCC. He handed it over to the Sourceforge team in 2004, but some of his old documents can still be seen at http://www.dattalo.com/gnupic/sdcc.html.

Several people have started developing IDEs to connect to SDCC.

• http://sourceforge.net/projects/sdccide
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/microide
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/devmic

Small-C for the PIC'84 http://http://www.gnupic.org/compile/pic_cc.zip John Favata's modification of Small-C for the PIC '84 that generates Parallax SPASM assembly code.

http://ejames2.freeyellow.com/GGC.htm A free beta release of a new PIC18Cxxx compiler

Also:

• C Language Code Library

Comments:

• This page lists some C compilers. To learn more about the C language, see http://www.piclist.com/techref/language/ccpp/index.htm .
• gnupic has apparently moved to http://www.gnupic.org/ .

Questions: 

• TakeThisOuTmonadSPAM at spamvsnl.com asks:

  PIC C compiler from Microchip has disappeared. I do not find it any where. Also C17 compiler doesn't support PIC16 CPUs. Is that correct. I got error message for 16F628 and other CPUs. Is there any solution. Is Microchip C compiler is available for download.

Ned T Konz of MetaMagix Says:

The PIC C compiler from Microchip has hardly disappeared. They just don't have any support for the 12-bit and 14-bit parts.

But you can get demos of the C17 and C18 compilers. The C18 especially bears looking at; it produces good code and is reasonably ANSI compatible.

See also:

• David A Cary refers to

  http://www.microchipc.com/ Shane Tolmie
  http://www.microchipc.com/
  hosts a discussion forum for people who program Microchip PIC micros with C. He mostly uses Hi-Tech C, but seems open to other C compilers.
  

  +

Questions:

• EMAILdaveeATpostDOTcom asks: " http://www.mikroe.com/en/compilers/mikroc/pic/ Anyone care to review mikroC for low cost PIC compilers? It looks good, is it?" +

Says:

C2C with SourceBoost has an excellent PIC16xxx simulator with it, which requires no additional hardware, AND has 'plug-in' simulated hardware (like LED's, buttons, even an 8-bit logic analyzer).
You should be aware that C2C is a subset of Ansi C, with 8 and 16-bit unsigned math only. However, the assembly output is very easy to follow.

The CCS-C compiler is Ansi-C with extensions for the PIC. However, it's source-level debugger requires attached PIC hardware to work.

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