This screenshot (given as an example image on ) is a prime example:Įvery single line of code inside the main() routine is using proprietary functions for simple tasks, instead of just doing things manually which would have taken about the same number of lines of code. ĬCS seems like a decent package, but I was turned off from it because of the extremely proprietary feel of the example code I found.

I also have a couple of example programs for boostC on my website, including a 'hello world' type of program that simply flashes LED's connected to any of the output pins. This may not be a big deal as many people (myself included) choose to use the microchip-standard C18 compiler for the 18F series PICs, which has a free version that is practically unlimited as far as hobbyist use is concerned. The syntax and all that are relatively similar to CC5x, I myself switched from CC5x to boostC and only had to make minor changes to get things to compile in one or the other (mainly capitalization differences in SFR #define's, etc)īoostC also natively supports all the PIC series from 10F up to 18F, whereas many other compilers (such as cc5x) have a separate version for 18F series (with no free version available). $200+ for CC5x), and on top of all that, BoostC has better optimization than the free version of CC5x in my experience it was actually close to being as good as the optimization of the full version of CC5x (when you compile with the free CC5x it teases you with the code size due to the optimization you would be getting if you bought it) And, it's developed by a couple of really nice guys who run a forum on their site and are really helpful if you run into any trouble.

The free version has a 2k code limit (twice what CC5x has) and the full versions are much cheaper if you switched over ($30-70 depending on the type, vs. In MPLAB it supports C-source-level simulation and in-circuit debugging and all that. Another similar one that I suggest is BoostC ( ) It has its own IDE, but it is also supported by MPLAB if you choose to use it there.

Free c compiler for pic18