New PBP version - Gold version - Is it really worth it?

[Darrel Taylor]

PBP3 was just made available in the on-line store on Friday.
It has not been officially announced, but it didn't take long for people to notice and start talking about it.

With the changes in the way PBP3 is purchased and downloaded, we hoped there wouldn't be a flood this weekend, in case a problem popped up with the new systems.

PBP3 installs with a 15-day trial that gives the FULL compiler with ALL available chips.
The trial is not limited to 31 lines like the previous demo version.
Feel free to download and try it at http://www.PBP3.com

• Yes, DT_INTS is compatible with PBP3.
• The #CONFIG block is awesome.
• The conditional compiling is more usefull than I ever imagined.
• The ability to add new commands to the language without modifying the compiler means you will be seeing a lot more capabilities at a faster pace.

It may even be possible for 3rd party programmers to write new commands and make some money.
But that part is only one of our wishes at this point.


HI2C, HSPI, CRC etc. is all possible now, the framework is there, but the code isn't, yet.

With easy updates from downloads, those pesky patches that won't run because you modified an .inc file are a thing of the past. Just download and install the new version and away you go.
Alain will finally be happy.

In fact, there is no reason to modify the .inc files at all anymore because the #CONFIG block eliminates the need to comment default configs. You can also use the new style CONFIG directives on the 18F's. (Much easier)

PBP3 is compatible with Microchips MPLABX IDE.

Get the 15-day trial at http://www.PBP3.com
It installs seperately from your PBP 2.60 and prior versions of PBP, so you can have it installed at the same time.
It includes the new version of MicroCode Studio which also co-exits with previous versions of MCS.

There are many more things to talk about, but I can't do it all in this post.
Get the Trial, give it a try, and Read The Manual.

[financecatalyst]

Ordered already! Will wait till tomm to get the new version.
Best part is that the old version does not get affected, any problems, I will still be able to carry on with my old version (if I understood the last 4 lines of the post above)

[HarryPow]

Gold Version is fantastic, conditional compiles take me back to my 'C' days.

With the new #config I have one include file for the several PICs I use which sets the configuration fuses according to
which PIC I'm using at the time.

Regards

[pedja089]

I also like pbp3. I'll move on it anytime soon.
But function still missing. And maybe MCS5it would be nice "Optional Command Line" for certain tab.

[mister_e]

Bought it yesterday, waiting for melabs e-mail. PBP Proof of purchase on hand, but not MCSP one... dunno where I've put that one

[mister_e]

Something is slick now... I did it manually before but...

TMR1                VAR WORD EXT     ; Joined SFR, BANK0
 TMR1L              VAR BYTE EXT     ; BANK0
 TMR1H              VAR BYTE EXT     ; BANK0

Cool, no longer need to do it manually

[prstein]

I think the new Version 3 PBP compiler came at the right time and for the right price. Reading the manual (I'm the type that will do that several times before I dive in) I can see features that will make my life easier and more that I never even knew I was missing. I like the layout and style of the v3 manual.

Perhaps 15% of my work time is spent writing and debugging uC code, but when I'm at that stage in a project it proceeds with single-minded intensity. PBP has always been there for me. My first PBP install disk is a 3.5" floppy. I know several other programming languages but I've never done micros with anything other than BASIC. I'd hate to be forced to go that route.

I am happy MELabs has captured Darrel Taylor and that they apparently have a plan to maintain or increase their success into the future. I would have paid full price if they made me (although I would have complained some about that...) to keep the product going.

So for those reasons (and several others) I think it is totally worth it.

Best Regards,
Paul

[Ioannis]

I did not got it. Wasn't this available to the previous versions?

Something is slick now... I did it manually before but...

TMR1 VAR WORD EXT ; Joined SFR, BANK0
TMR1L VAR BYTE EXT ; BANK0
TMR1H VAR BYTE EXT ; BANK0

Cool, no longer need to do it manually

Ioannis