MPLAB or Micro Code Studio

[Aussie Barry]

Hi All,

I have just upgraded to PBP 2.60C and have a question regarding which IDE to use.
With my previous version (PBP 2.47) I had been using MPLAB 8.10
After the PBP Upgrade I tried upgrading to MPLAB 8.70 but ran into difficulties at compilation stage (error message unable to find specific .COD file). I had a quick try at resolving the problem but then decided to try the version of Micro Code Studio that came with the new PBP disk. No problems compiling previously developed PBP programs.

I am sure I would be able to nut out my problems with MPLAB 8.70 eventually but my question is this - what IDE to most people use and why?

I have tried a number of different forum searches on MPLAB and MCS but haven't been able to find anything that answers my question.

Cheers
Barry

[cncmachineguy]

Hi Barry, let me give you my 10 cents. As a long time user of mplab, and a new comer to PBP, I started with mplab as my IDE. I have just recently started using MCS, and I find it much nicer. It provides nice color coding as a huge plus. You could do this with mplab is I call my programs .BAS but its not correct most times.

From a code,compile, and program point of view, I see no advantage to mplab.

[mackrackit]

From a code,compile, and program point of view, I see no advantage to mplab.
Agreed, but sometimes the extra tools included in MPLAB are handy so it is a good idea to keep familiar with it.

I have been using this on windows for quite awhile now.
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/content.php?r=275-FineLineIDE

And on Linux I use gedit with VB.NET highlighting.

Why??? I feel they are light, fast and simple.
But then there is always emacs....
http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/tour/:eek:

[Demon]

MicroCode Studio Plus.

I guess I didn't find MPLAB as user-friendly way back when I first started.

[Darrel Taylor]

After the PBP Upgrade I tried upgrading to MPLAB 8.70 but ran into difficulties at compilation stage (error message unable to find specific .COD file).
The .COD files are no longer used by MPLAB, and no longer generated by PicBasic Pro.

You'll need to make sure that the latest PBP Plug-in is installed in MPLAB.
You can run the PBP_setup utility found on this page ...
http://melabs.com/support/mplab.htm
Close MPLAB and Microcode Studio before running it.

Then open your project in MPLAB and go to Project > Build options > Project >PicBasic Pro tab.


If the correct plug-in is installed, you should see only 3 checkbox options.

Use PICBASIC PRO Long (PIC18 only)
Source-Level Debug
Show MPASMWIN Progress Bar
Change one of the options and press OK. Then change it back to what it was and press OK again.
This forces MPLAB to save the project with the new plug-in options, and it should then look for .COF files instead of .COD

[mister_e]

I prefer MicroCode Studio Plus code editor (even if it has it's own quirks), it also have a built-in Terminal, a simple ICD and can launch most device programmer (assuming they support command lines), MPLAB for software simulation.

[Aussie Barry]

Thanks to all who have responded.

I now have both MPLAB Ver 8.70 and MicroCode Studio running successfully.
I will try both and see which one best suits my needs.

Cheers
Barry