Latest PICs - how to program them?

[flotulopex]

Hi there,

From time to time, I see new PICs showing up, PICs that would just do the thing I need at the moment.

I'm week-end hobbyist and MCS user and there is an apparently fixed list of devices from which some of the latest PICs are absent.

I questionned MECANIQUE how to add new devices but, unfortunately, didn't see any replay up to now.

Is there a way to add new devices to the MCS list or what is(are) the alternative(s) to get these latest devices programmed?

[Ioannis]

Even if you manage somehow to add the PIC you want in the list, compiler will not be aware of this new chip. Compiler needs more files related to that specific chip and also have an assembler that will support it.

So, the latest assembler supported is in the 5.35 MPLABX IDE.

I am afraid that there will be no answer from Mecanique and no update now on for any new PIC. Either you have to stay with what is available with PBP or look for other compiler, preferably in C.

Unfortunately PBP is dead and we have not accepted the fact yet... Well some did and moved on to C compilers or Positron Basic compiler.

Ioannis

[tumbleweed]

... or if you really want the latest PICs then checkout Mecanique's Swordfish BASIC, but that only supports PIC18F family.

[Ioannis]

I think this is also at stall...

Ioannis

[tumbleweed]

I think this is also at stall...

Not at all.

Swordfish supports ALL the 18F family of devices, including the newer Q family... Q10, Q40, Q41, Q43, Q83, and Q84.
Support for the Q20, Q24, and Q71 devices will be released shortly.

[tumbleweed]

Well some did and moved on to C compilers or Positron Basic compiler.

Positron Basic has the same problem as PBP... no support for devices not included with MPASMX 5.87.
That rules out a number of newer 18FxxQxx and 16F1xxxx parts.

[Demon]

Not at all.

Swordfish supports ALL the 18F family of devices, including the newer Q family... Q10, Q40, Q41, Q43, Q83, and Q84.
Support for the Q20, Q24, and Q71 devices will be released shortly.

How is SF with USB? I just got the latest HIDMaker. I'm wondering how we can use that code with SF.
https://www.tracesystemsinc.com/blog...rocessors.html


I suppose I could finally make the switch to C++ on the PIC side; I'm already doing that for the Windows side. The part that bugs me is losing all the utilities that have been developed by Darrell and others here. Is there as strong a community over with SF?


EDIT: Holy crap! "ConvertTemp - Convert temperatures in any direction between Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin. Written by Darrel Taylor."

EDIT SOME MORE: Wow! "Supports all current 45 18F USB devices, including 18F2550, 18F4550, 18F2553, 18F4553, 18F2455, 18F4455, 18F2458, 18F4458, 18F2450, 18F4450,18F14K50, 18F13K50, 18F24K50, 18F25K50, 18F45K50, 18F24J50, 18F25J50, 18F26J50, 18F44J50, 18F45J50, 18F46J50, 18F65J50, 18F66J50, 18F67J50, 18F85J50, 18F86J50, 18F87J50, 18F26J53, 18F27J53, 18F46J53, 18F47J53, 18F66J55, 18F86J55, 18F65J94, 18F66J94, 18F67J94, 18F85J94, 18F86J94, 18F87J94, 18F95J94, 18F96J94, 18F97J94, 18F66J99, 18F86J99, 18F96J99"

[flotulopex]

...Unfortunately PBP is dead...

What did I miss here?

[tumbleweed]

What did I miss here?

As Ioannis pointed out, PBP updates for new devices is pretty much over.
PBP uses the assembler (mpasmx v5.87) from MPLABX v5.35, and mchip has replaced mpasm with a new assembler PIC-AS, which is not compatible.

Can you give more details on this please?

Positron interrupts work much like they do in SF. Also, it now has support for procedures and functions but the syntax for declaring parameters and "local" variables and how they actually work leaves a lot to be desired.

[flotulopex]

So then,

Since PBP doesn't seem to go on for newer PICs,




...what are the options?

Is there any "new" BASIC compiler out there that will take over from PBP?

[Ioannis]

For 18F series only Mecanique's Swordfish BASIC https://www.sfcompiler.co.uk

For all chips (16F, 18F, 24F, dsPIC) Positron Compiler https://sites.google.com/view/rosetta-tech/home

Ioannis