HI-TECH C Compiler and Embedded Software Development Tools for Microchip PICmicro PIC10/12/14/16/17 series microcontrollers

HI-TECH PICC is a high-performance industrial-strength ANSI C compiler for Microchip PICmicro PIC10/12/14/16/17 microcontrollers. The compiler implements full ISO/ANSI C except for recusion. All data types including 24- and 32-bit IEEE standard floating point are supported. HI-TECH PICC makes full use of specific PIC features, and its intelligent optimizer can generate high-quality code that easily rivals hand-written assembly. Automatic handling of page and bank selection frees the programmer from the trivial details of assembler code.

HI-TECH PICC Compiler Features

• ANSI C -- full featured and portable
• Reliable -- mature, field-proven technology
• Multiple C optimization levels
• An optimizing assembler
• Full linker with overlaying of local variables to minimize RAM usage
• Comprehensive C library with all source code provided
• Includes support for 24-bit and 32-bit IEEE floating point and 32-bit long data types
• Mixed C and assembler programming
• Unlimited number of source files
• Listings showing generated assembler
• Compatible -- integrates into the MPLAB IDE, MPLAB ICD/ICD2 and most 3rd-party development tools
• Sample project import wizard
• Runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X v10.4, and Solaris.

HI-TECH PICC Embedded Tools Environment

HI-TIDE makes managing your project development easy with its user-friendly project manager. Unlike conventional IDEs, HI-TIDE stores everything associated with a project in its own directory. Need to share your project with a co-worker? Simply export the project as a ZIP file and HI-TIDE will take care of archiving the necessary files, avoiding the dreaded missing header file or lost build option. Project creation is handled by a simple-to-use wizard that steps through the configuration for your new application.

A time-consuming part of embedded development is reading through datasheets for the specifics on how to configure the processor and its peripherals. Not only does this take time, but it is error-prone. Some sections of the datasheets can be intepreted differently or errata may have been issued in a different document you weren't aware of. The C-Wiz code creation tool provides a graphical way to configure such things and will generate the corresponding C code for you. Let C-Wiz take care of the distracting details so that you can focus on the core purpose of your application.

Included within HI-TIDE is an advanced debugging environment. The environment supports all of the standard debugging facilities such as source-level debugging in C and assembler files, breakpoints, single-step execution along with variable watching and memory views. The debugger environment has been designed in such a way that multiple instances of the debugger are permitted. This can be useful when you have two or more versions of an application which you would like to execute simultaneously for comparison purposes. Since the compiler, IDE and debugger are all integrated, you avoid the hassle of trying to get different vendors' tools to work together.

HI-TIDE is built on Eclipse, an extensible development platform and application framework for building software. Included in this environment is a flexible editor providing syntax highlighting, code completion, auto-indenting and a range of colored markers which indicate warnings, errors and advisories within your code. Unlike conventional IDEs where you must initiate compilation of your program via a menu, HI-TIDE builds your project in the background as changes are made. This allows indicators to give feedback, and facilitates a more productive development approach.

Keep your source code safe with built-in support for CVS version control. With Eclipse's plug-in design, if you use an alternative version control system, then more than likely there is a plug-in available.

Optionally, the PICC compiler may be run directly from the command line, allowing you to compile, assemble and link using one command. This enables the compiler to be integrated into third-party development environments.

HI-TECH PICC Supported Devices

Using HI-TECH PICC Compiler with MPLAB

Important compiler option notes

• -S (compile to assembly only)
• -PROTO (generate function prototypes)
• -PRE (generate preprocessed source)

When configuring the compiler options, it can be very useful (for debugging purposes) to generate an assembler list file and a map file. Assembler list files contain a mixture of your original C source code and the generated assembler code. Map files contain all information about how your code has been positioned in memory. Map files also contain a call graph which shows your stack usage.

If you are having problems with your program fitting into the available ROM/FLASH space, don't forget to turn on the compiler's optimizations. Compiler optimizations will attempt to reduce your program's code requirements without affecting the way it operates. There are two types of optimizations: global optimizations and assembler optimizations. To enable these, select them from the Compiler tab for C files, or from the Assembler tab for AS files.

Debugging your code

PICC Compiler Order Options

Several options can be selected via pull-down menus below.

Hi-Tech Priority Access -Extended Support Option