CCS C Complier Reviews/ Vote for the best C compiler

[rocky79]

Hello,
Have anybody used the CCS C complier?. it runs for $425 and you can program all PIC's from 10f to 18f. I am currently a picbasic user and i want to move to C. Any ideas thoughts or comments.
The CSS looks good because it's the only C compiler as far as i know that has the capability of programing all PIC's. Unlike the microchip compiler in which you have to buy seperate ones for different PIc family.
The programer is another $75

Let me know what you think
Thanks

[Comatose]

If you mean CCS, we use it here. Its overpriced but easy to use. The setup wizard is nice. My only major complaint with it is they want $200 a year or you can't get upgrades after 30 days.

Doing it again I'd probably have only gotten PCW (not PCWH) as we use AVRs where we initially expected to be using pic18s (cheaper and more powerful) you could save some money that way.

Also, the windows IDE is nice, but may not be $200 worth of nice. I've also used the command line versions of CCS and they're not that hard to work with.

[rocky79]

If you mean CCS, we use it here. Its overpriced but easy to use. The setup wizard is nice. My only major complaint with it is they want $200 a year or you can't get upgrades after 30 days.

Doing it again I'd probably have only gotten PCW (not PCWH) as we use AVRs where we initially expected to be using pic18s (cheaper and more powerful) you could save some money that way.

Also, the windows IDE is nice, but may not be $200 worth of nice. I've also used the command line versions of CCS and they're not that hard to work with.
Comatose,
Tell me is there technical support helpful? ALso are you using the ICD-U40 programer?.
I never dealt with avr microcontrollers, what compiler do you use for that? and what's the learning curve in switching from Pic to Avr?
Thanks

[Comatose]

Pic to AVR took me about a week. I've only used their tech support once, it was acceptable but nothing to write home about. That was for a compiler-specific bug, I don't know how much if any hand holding they do if you have code problems on your end. I'm not using their programmer.

I use Imagecraft's compiler for AVRs. Its $200 and as good as CCS. Its a little bit less warm and fuzzy for simple projects. There are free GCC compilers for AVR which are popular. For programming AVRs, the AVRISP2, about $35, is the standard programming tool. It works.

Imagecraft has a free evaluation version of the AVR compiler which is code limited to 4k, and otherwise is full featured, for what that's worth.

[thanhTran]

Comatose, I saw you mentioned about the AVR the other day in a thread. I just got the butterfly kit, and can't believe it. Only for $20 and it has so many things :). I hope I can start learning it soon. Thanks

Thanh

[rocky79]

[QUOTE=Comatose]. I'm not using their programmer.

I already have 2 programers one serial and the other is USB bought them from melabs.com. Do you think i can get those programers to work with the CCS compiler. Wich programer are you using?
Thanks

[shoutchen]

hitech has free versions (picc-lite) compilers for smaller pic chips.

http://www.htsoft.com/products/PICClite.php




sdcc is the best supported free compiler for 8051 ( cygnal/silicon labs, etc)chips...

http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/


steve h

[Comatose]

[QUOTE=Comatose]. I'm not using their programmer.

I already have 2 programers one serial and the other is USB bought them from melabs.com. Do you think i can get those programers to work with the CCS compiler. Wich programer are you using?
Thanks

I use a warp-13a for PIC work. They're not availiable anymore. I don't see any reason why you couldn't use your existing programmer. CCS will make a .hex file, then you just load that into your programming software and away you go.

[andy_rutter]

I have been using the BoostC compiler for some time. There is a free version (with code size limitations) but the full version is not exactly expensive. Supports all the PIC chips I have ever wanted to program and has excellent IDE with debugger.

http://www.sourceboost.com

Andy

[rocky79]

I have been using the BoostC compiler for some time. There is a free version (with code size limitations) but the full version is not exactly expensive. Supports all the PIC chips I have ever wanted to program and has excellent IDE with debugger.

http://www.sourceboost.com

Andy
Great Andy,
But i can't see the libraries of functions it offers. I don't see it on their website.

[Mr.RC-CAM]

I've used the CCS compiler for about 10 years. It is a love-hate relationship, but that is the nature of compilers.

If you pick the CCS compiler here is my advice:
(1) Plan on the buying the annual support every year. You will need the software updates. Really.
(2) NEVER update the software when a new release is made available. Wait for the updates-to-the-updates to stop coming.
(3) You might want to get the CCS chip programmer. Or better yet, use the Microchip ICD-2. These will allow you to load code from within the IDE for more convenient debugging. BTW, the CCS compiler integrates with MPLAB, which I prefer over the CCS IDE.

[rocky79]

I've used the CCS compiler for about 10 years. It is a love-hate relationship, but that is the nature of compilers.

If you pick the CCS compiler here is my advice:
(1) Plan on the buying the annual support every year. You will need the software updates. Really.
(2) NEVER update the software when a new release is made available. Wait for the updates-to-the-updates to stop coming.
(3) You might want to get the CCS chip programmer. Or better yet, use the Microchip ICD-2. These will allow you to load code from within the IDE for more convenient debugging. BTW, the CCS compiler integrates with MPLAB, which I prefer over the CCS IDE.
Thanks for the advice. i don't care about the in circuit debugging since i never used it .The question is can i use the melabs USB programer (http://melabs.com/products/usbprog.htm) with the CCS compiler?
thanks

[Mr.RC-CAM]

If the melabs programmer emulates CCS's Mach-X programmer, then it can be used within the CCS IDE. Otherwise, just launch the Melab provided program, load the compiler generated hex file, and burn.