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HI-TECH C

HI-TECH provide economical, efficient C compilers for a range of 8,16 and 32 bit microprocessors. Packages are normally shipped with both Windows and Linux on the CD with Unix versions available for most CPUs.

The HI-TECH C compliers may either be run from the IDE included which provides Edit/Make/Link facilities or, optionally, they can be run directly from the command line, allowing you to compile, assemble and link using one command or to integrate into other environments.

The C compilers for all CPU's share these features:

  • Full ANSI C specification

  • Floating point support (24-bit and 32-bit IEEE)

  • Multiple optimisation levels

  • Optimising assembler

  • Mixed C and assembler programming

  • Listings showing generated assembler

  • Comprehensive library with source code

  • Unlimited number of source files

  • We've added features to the language to allow you to write complete embedded applications without a single line of assembler code. I/O ports are directly addressable as C variables, even on processors with a separate I/O address space. Interrupts can be serviced directly in C with all register saving and restoring being taken care of by the compiler.

  • The compilers may be launched interactively from their IDE or integrated with other debuggers such as MPLAB'S.

  • The compilers are supplied on CD-ROM, with a short installation guide, and the main manual is on the CD-ROM in PDF (Acrobat) and HTML formats.

HI-TIDE

Hi-Tech are currently moving their product range from their original HPD environment to their Eclipse based HI-TIDE-3 fully windows based IDE.  Features included in HI-TIDE are:

  • Multi Platform...W98/ME/NT/2K/XP/Vista  Linux

  • Integral Project Manager

  • Integrated C Editor (or link to your favourite)

  • Full integration with C compiler (ie for error handling)

  • Code simulator with emulation of devices such as timers, Flash, EEPROM,  A/D

  • Code debugger supports Simulator and JTAG target link  (see CPU specific information )

  • Code Wizard automatically generates start-up and run time code for standard I/O (except CAN, USB).

 

Follow this link for more details of HI-TIDE 

Support and Upgrades

HI-TECH provides web based and email support to all owners of their compilers.

Over and above that, customers who are members of HI-TECH's Priority Access Service, will ........

  1. Receive priority treatment by the HI-TECH team responding to support queries.
  2. Receive free Upgrades and Updates to their compiler while they are members of the service.

The HI-TECH PRO range of compilers is supplied with one years Priority Access Service included in the purchase price.
The HI-TECH STD compilers do not include Priority Support Registration.

For those not on Priority support an annual Priority Support contract is available.

 

Compiler features
CPU Pro available IDE Code Wizard Debug Support
PIC 10 thru 16 YES HI-TIDE-3, MPLAB YES MPLAB
Simulation of CPU, some I/O
PIC 10 thru 17   HI-TIDE-3, MPLAB YES MPLAB
Simulation of CPU, some I/O
PIC 18 YES HI-TIDE-3, MPLAB YES MPLAB
Simulation of CPU
dsPIC/PIC 24-33   HI-TIDE-3, MPLAB NO MPLAB
PIC32 June 08 HI-TIDE-3, MPLAB NO MPLAB
PSoC YES PSoC Designer NO PSoC Designer(TM)
v. 4.4
ARM   HI-TIDE NO  
MSP430   HI-TIDE Yes - all but LCD JTAG
8051   HI-TIDE 8051 Core devices Simulation of CPU & core I/O
    6805     6801/3 
 68HC11  Z80/Z180
8051-XA    68000
H8/300(H) & SH
ARClite		   HPD NO Lucifer
    Holtech,   Batch NO HT-IDE 3000

 

PICC 18 PRO

The first compiler to include HI-TECH's OCG compiler technology (see side box).  This improves memory  usage by as much as 50% compared to competitive C compilers.  This normally will also result in significant performance improvements. At the same time it reduces the CPU architecture specific decisions that the programmer needs to make improving portability.  This C runs under HI-TECHs Eclipse based HI-TIDE-3 IDE and includes a full instruction level simulator or it will integrate into the MPLAB ICD 2 environment. 12 months support and updates is included.

PICC 18 STD

 For more details of the PIC 18 and 18 PRO

Fully supports the enhanced 18x architecture.  This C has been optimised for the PIC18 and with it C code for a minimum In/Out loop program only takes 25 words. It runs under their Eclipse based HI-TIDE-3 IDE and includes a full instruction level simulator or will integrate into the MPLAB environment.

 

PIC C 10/12/16 PRO

Supporting the PIC 10/12/16  but not the 17 currently it includes HI-TECH's OCG compiler technology (see side box).  This improves memory  usage by as much as 50% compared to competitive C compilers.  This normally will also result in significant performance improvements. At the same time it reduces the CPU architecture specific decisions that the programmer needs to make improving portability and making it more easily used by those engineers unfamiliar with the rather idiosyncratic architecture of the PIC.  This C runs under HI-TECHs Eclipse based HI-TIDE-3 IDE and includes a full instruction level simulator or it will integrate into the MPLAB ICD 2 environment. 12 months support and updates is included.

For more information on the techniques used by PICC 10/12/16 PRO to save code and RAM space as well as minimising interrupt overheads See : How the right compiler can save power

 

PIC C STD

 For more details of the PIC 10/12/16/17 Compilers

The PIC C compiler supports the Microchip PIC10, PIC12x, PIC16x and PIC17x series microprocessors. For the PIC the Linker provides overlaying of local variables to minimise RAM usage. It includes the Eclipse based HI-TIDE-3  IDE and integrates fully with MPLAB development environment. 

 

For a Free HI-TECH  C Lite for the PIC   12F629, 12F675, 16C84, 16F84(A), 16F627(A), 16F684, 16F877(A),  

dsPIC/PIC 24, 30 & 33 C

A C compiler with an optimising Assembler for these families of DSP chips and support for the MPLAB environment are provided for all chips in the dsPIC24, 30 and 33 families

 

PIC32

Hi-TECH will be releasing a PIC32 compiler in June 2008 when these new 32 bit chips (based on the MIPS core) are scheduled by MicroChip to be available.

 

HI-TECH Enterprise Edition

If you are using the full Microchip range of CPUs then this includes copies of the PIC C STD compile, the PIC 10/12/16 PRO,  the PIC 18 PRO compiler and dsPIC complier all at a significant discount

 

PSoC PRO

A PRO version of the compiler including OCG technology is available to run the Cypress PSoC Mixed-Signal Array processor and for debugging integrates into their PSoC Designer development environment. 12 months support and updates is included.

 

MSP430

This TI chip family is fully supported under HI-TIDE including both a simulator and connection to the TI  JTAG interface cables for remote debugging (also works with most 3rd party parallel cables such as the Olimex).  The Code Wizard simplifies initialisation and operation of all the MSP430 on chip peripherals.

ARM

Both ARM and THUMB functions are supported with development being under HI-TIDE.

8051

The 8051 family is supported by the HI-TIDE windows environment running a simulator and CodeWizard for device initialisation.

 

C compilers for other legacy 8 & 16 bit micros

HI-TECH have a range of 8 & 16 bit compilers for older CPUs all of them include the HPD character based IDE and the Lucifer remote monitor debugger. These mature Legacy compilers are all provided without a support commitment. The following are available -

6805

6801/3

68HC11

PSoC

Z80/Z180

Z180

H8/300(H) & HS

ARClite

68000,  68332,  CPU32

8051-XA

Holtech

 
PIC 18 PRO

 

Most compilers claim to provide "global" optimisation but in reality they optimise each individual module separately. The modestly titled OCG (Omniscient Code Generation) partially compiles each module then when information on them all is available it completes code generation for all modules at the same time. This can both substantially reduce code size and allows the code generator to automatically make many decisions (memory page allocation, pointer allocation) that would otherwise need to be controlled by the programmer.

Advantages of OCG
  Size reduction by ......
       Minimising compiled stack size
       In lining of functions not called by others
       Minimal register save and restore
       Sprintf() only needs to include those formats that
                    will be used
       Striping out code for un-used return values
       Optimising start-up code size

  Design Improvements
        Catches inconsistent variable
                  and object definitions
        Truly optimises register allocation over the
                  whole application
        Efficient address space and pointer allocation
        Re-entrant and recursive calls managed
        Most accessed variables allocated
                  to fastest accessed memory.

To give some benchmarks -
Size using conventional PIC 18 compiler    100
         Using PIC18 Pro with OCG                    83%
         Using other Mfrs compiler                     160%

You can find a white paper on the technology supplied by OCG and its performance here
 
For prices of all these Hi-Tech Compilers visit our Web Shop

 

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