CCS or Not CCS 4.xxx?

[octal]

Hi,
I'm reading the posts on this forum and I'm a little lost. I'm planning to buy the CCS compiler (full PCWH version) that supports ALL PICs but when I see all the problems on the v4 I'm quite affraid. I have created (with a friend) a new company specialised in embedded systems, and I would like to develop firmwares in C and ASM (mainly on Microchip PIC). Actually I'm using C18 from Microchip, and PICC for HITEC (at my JOB) for my actual working company (I'm going to leave them in few days). In creating my company, I want to buy a UNIQUE development system to share as much as possible code between PIC16 and PIC18 series.

Is CCS compiler stable ? can we rely on it for PRODUCTION use? Can any users give us objective feedback :I prefer feedback from companies that realy use it for PRODUCTION and not from hobbistes, because PRODUCTION systems are less fault tolerant than hobby projects.

Best regards
_________________
http://www.pocketmt.com the GLCD Font Creator home

[dyeatman]

As has been asked here many times...

"Use Version 4 for Production or serious work?" the answer is NO.

Version 4 is still still considered a "rough beta" by many on this board including myself. I play with V4 periodically just to see what works and what doesn't but I certainly do not use it for any production work. If you can't live with using CCS version 3.249 for the next 3-6 months then I would go elsewhere.

I currently use 3.249 (and earlier) for several production items and have had no significant problems to date.

However, it needs to be said that I am a very conservative programmer in that I don't try to use anything other than a very straight forward programming style so I avoid a number of issues others run into (using pointers etc).

[octal]

Thank you dyeatman, I also do not use systematically prebuit functions and drivers blindly. I use C only because it let me write control structure quickly (using parameters in functions is a nice thing). Most of the work I do it by using peripherals directly by manipulating pic registers. I learned that becaus Hitec C we were using at works was lacking drivers... and because I'm a long time PIC ASM programmer.

but I have two questions:

1- What do you mean by
"and have had no significant problems to date."

2- If I buy now the PCWH, can I have access to version 3.249 (since ccs is selling version 4, is v3 still available)?

Best regards
_________________
http://www.pocketmt.com the GLCD Font Creator home

[abraxas]

I'm working for a company taht is using the V4.xxx version and we produce about 10 000 differents units per year....waht I can say to you


BE AWARE that you'll find bugs that are not common and you absolutly need to be very good in ASM to be sure that the compiler is doing what you want...


conclusion : Is that normal that CCS release 3 versions per weeks ?...My best wishe would be that CCS is able to release a new version without introducing new bugs in it.

CCS is a good compiler

[Assen]

[dyeatman]

I also agree CCS is a good compiler. I have been using it now for a number of years.

In some older versions (prior to 3.249) I encountered a couple of issues that were eventually fixed in a following release. I each case I simply changed my approach to get around the problem. I personally have encountered none to date with 3.249.

As was stated above, yes, 3.249 is still available on the download page. I expect they will keep it there until version 4 becomes relatively stable.

Dave