PIC Micro Controller BASIC Languages

If you are used to BASIC, and want to make the transition to assembly language The PIC Source Book, BASIC STAMP assembly code may be of interest.

(Several more BASIC compilers/interpreters added to this list 2006-08-29)

• Great Cow BASIC : An open-source BASIC compiler for Microchip® PIC® microcontrollers. almost all 10, 12 and 16 series chips. As of 2006-08-21, version alpha 0.9.0.1.
• Oshonsoft Basic Compilers for selected PIC16F, PIC12F, PIC10F models; also works with Oshon simulators for the same chips.
• mikroBASIC http://mikroelektronika.co.yu/english/product/compilers/mikrobasic/ seems to have a nice IDE and simulator. Supports many PIC12, PIC16, and PIC18 chips. $150. free Demo version of mikroBasic is available for download. Full manual is available for download. Can write interrupt routines in BASIC.
• XCSB optimising structured BASIC compiler
  http://www.xcprod.com/titan/XCSB
  • PIC LITE edition is free for non-commercial personal use
  • source level debug facilities available
  • generates fast native optimised executables not interpreted byte code
  • supports 14 bit PIC core (this includes 16F84, 16F628 and 16F877)
  • provides many 'C' type capabilities such as pointers and early out logical operators
• BASIC87x Interpreter http://myke.com/mbaspg1.htm by Myke Predko for the PICmicro® PIC16F876/PIC16F877 MCU. Structured (no line numbers). Source code available. Version 0.85 as of 2006-08.
• http://www.basicmicro.com/ MBASIC by BASIC Micro for PICmicro® MCUs. Much simpler than C or Assembly. Write, compile, program and test your new code with the click of a button, and all from one windows application! Debug your code with the new ICD (In Circuit Debugger). Plus get the best support available. Also provides development kits called "BASIC Atoms" Easy to use, self contained packages, just add a power source (9 Volt Battery) and a Serial Cable for programming and you are on your way.
   
  Suplimented by the top rated (5 stars at amazon!) book "Programming the PIC Microcontroller with MBASIC" by Jack Smith which includes a demo version of the MBASIC compiler. The book is available from Amazon.com, Buy.com,

  There seem to be a lot of people trading MBasic tips at the basicmicro forums http://forums.basicmicro.net/

• the BSS club develops higher language interpreters for PICs. example: PIC16C84 Basic Stamp I code compiler
  http://www.oocities.org/siliconvalley/cable/7772/ (was: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Cable/7772/ )
• Swordfish http://www.sfcompiler.co.uk/ Swordfish is a structured, modular compiler for PIC18 microcontrollers. Seems to have a nice IDE integrated with a bootloader. Free demo version available for download (?).
• pbasic http://let.cambs.net/pbasic.html This BASIC Compiler produces stand-alone code for PICs 16c54, 16c71/84, 12C508/9 , there are no 'run time modules'.

   

• Basic18 http://basic18.piclist.com/ a Structured Basic compiler for the PIC18Xxxx series of microcontroller. * String and array support * Variable types supporting both integer and real numbers * Stack level tracking * Efficient use of RAM

  PICList thread "Basic18" +

• http://melabs.com/ microEngineering Labs, Inc.
  • PicBasic for PIC12C67x, PIC14Cxxx, PIC16C55x, 6xx, 7xx, 84, 92x and PIC16F8xx  ($100 as of 2000-01-11) and
  • PicBasic Pro for PIC12C67x, PIC12CE67x, PIC14Cxxx, PIC16C55x, 6xx, 7xx, 84, 9xx, PIC16CE62x, PIC16F62x, 8x, 87x and PIC17Cxxx ($250 as of 2000-01-11; latest price)

  PICList post "PicBasic Pro" +
   

• PICLite http://www.myke.com/piclite/ PICLite basic like pre-processor produces MPASM code (free)

   

• http://www.celestialhorizons.com/products/products.htm BASIC compiler

   

• the "Proton Development Suite" http://picbasic.org/ £150 / $265 has a free "lite" demo version. Supports 12 bit, 14 bit, and 16 bit cores. The "lite" version supports the 12C508 12F675 16F628A 16F877 .

  (This apparently replaces "LET PIC BASIC" http://www.letbasic.com/ from http://www.leadingedge.cambsnet.co.uk/menu.html )

• BASIC STAMP (for the SX, a PIC clone)
• Is anything at this wiki http://oase.uci.kun.nl/~mientki/wikifarm/stef/ relevant?

See also:

• http://www.aiscube.com/main/development-tools.html FREE Visual BASIC compiler for the 32bit PIC Microcontroller.
  Native library support for OLED Displays, Accelerometers, CMOS Camera, FAT16/32, Strings, Math, Structures, microDB, Audio Wav, PWM for Servo Motors.+
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/nilibasicpic24/ NiliBasicPic24 interpreter for the 16bit PIC microcontroller 24FJ64GA002. The interpreter runs on the chip only, no compiler/tokenizer is needed. Communication with PC is done by USB-to-serial converter cable. Free download with source code on sourceforge.net.+
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/nilibasicpic24/ NiliBasicPIC24: BASIC interpreter for the 16bit PIC microcontroller 24FJ64GA002. The interpreter runs on the chip only, no compiler/tokenizer is needed. Communication with PC is done by USB-to-serial converter cable.+
• Eric F James of Indiana University refers to " http://www.midwest-software.com/Basic18/basic18.htm Basic18 a Structured Basic for the PIC 18 Series Microcontroller" +
• STOPspampicforge@spam@ at interfree.it refers to

  http://www.4shared.com/dir/1412981/69d030b/PicForge_Pro.html BASIC compiler for PIC MCU's PicForge The only compiler in the world that generates a comprehensible MPASM-code from the customer Support all family 10,12,16,18 Freeware for pic16f84 and similar Low cost only 35,00 euro for full version !!! http://picforge.interfree.it

• http://picemulator.com/links.html
• STOPspamsqlmain@spam@ at supereva.it refers to " http://picforge.interfree.it Basic compiler for PIC microcontroller " +
• http://www.mcmanis.com/~cmcmanis/robotics/stamp-decode.html (http://www.mcmanis.com/chuck/robotics/stamp-decode.html (cached 20000505)
• STOPspamhobbylab@spam@ at interfree.it recommends: " HTTP://HOBBYLAB.INTERFREE.IT COMPILATORE BASIC PER PIC"
• BASIC on other computers and microcontrollers

Questions:

• Antoine Mariucci asks:

  I recently purchased a copy of Let pic basic professional version 7.11 When I tried using the sound command SOUND (50,50,B.2) decribed on page 55 in the user's guide, intead of expecting a repetitive bleep as the port toggles, I only get 1 beep and then nothing. Is the command given still valid on ver 7.11 or does it need to be modified? Thanks for any help

  Um... I think that command is supposed to make a single half-second beep, and then nothing. (During that beep, the port toggles many times. Hitting a piano key makes a single note. But during that note, the piano wire vibrates many times).

Code:

• shares this code: " http://pic.flappie.nl/

  JALcc, a M$-windows Integrated Development Environement, supporting JAL and XCSB, by Stef Mientki
  

  " +

See also:

• /techref/microchip/seepicsrc/psbpix/debug.htm tips for debugging pbasic programs
  /techref/microchip/seepicsrc/psbpix/debug.htm+

Says:

Just passin' through. . .I need access to very basic information so I can teach myself how to program a micontroller for really simple tasks, like a drum machine idea I have. Nothing fancy, just wsommething I can build myself. I can solder, and I can read and understand better than most folks. Technology is not my area of specialization.

Interested:

  .