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Discussion Groups | Rabbit-Semi | SoftTools
This is a group for folks designing and programming embedded systems using the Rabbit Semiconductor C-programmable microcontroller. Rabbit Semi is a spin-off from Z-World who makes a variety of embedded modules and tools. This group is not affiliated with either Rabbit or Z-World, but is a user forum for sharing ideas, asking questions, flaunting knowledge, and other typical user group stuff. The Rabbit is a powerful uC, supported by a full-featured C-compiler.
SoftTools - Alan Matheson - Jul 23 19:08:46 2008
I have a large project already written in Dynamic C.
The project team now includes people who are more familiar with Ansii C and who are working with a subset of the code. I'm faced with the problem of constantly converting from their code to something compatible with mine so am contemplating a shift to SoftTools. Probably sounds familiar to some?
Some questions
Does SoftTools have libraries that support I2C and a file system similar to Dynamic Cs.
Dynamic C has reasonable, to me, debugging facilities. Does SoftTools have a good debugger?
Is SoftTools strictly Ansii C compliant?
I dislike SoftTools front end. Can anyone reccomend a suitable editor with context highlighting that will run SoftTools compiler and linker.
Alan Matheson Dynamic C is
(You need to be a member of rabbit-semi -- send a blank email to rabbit-semi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
The project team now includes people who are more familiar with Ansii C and who are working with a subset of the code. I'm faced with the problem of constantly converting from their code to something compatible with mine so am contemplating a shift to SoftTools. Probably sounds familiar to some?
Some questions
Does SoftTools have libraries that support I2C and a file system similar to Dynamic Cs.
Dynamic C has reasonable, to me, debugging facilities. Does SoftTools have a good debugger?
Is SoftTools strictly Ansii C compliant?
I dislike SoftTools front end. Can anyone reccomend a suitable editor with context highlighting that will run SoftTools compiler and linker.
Alan Matheson Dynamic C is
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Re: SoftTools - Steve Trigero - Jul 23 19:43:58 2008
Though there are some here that are familiar with Softools,
your questions are probably better asked in the Softools group.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/softools/
Steve
----- Original Message ----
From: Alan Matheson
To: r...@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 4:10:57 PM
Subject: [rabbit-semi] SoftTools
I have a large project already written in Dynamic
C.
The project team now includes people who are more
familiar with Ansii C and who are working with a subset of the code. I'm
faced with the problem of constantly converting from their code to
something compatible with mine so am contemplating a shift to SoftTools.
Probably sounds familiar to some?
Some questions
Does SoftTools have libraries that
support I2C and a file system similar to Dynamic Cs.
Dynamic C has reasonable, to me, debugging
facilities. Does SoftTools have a good debugger?
Is SoftTools strictly Ansii C
compliant?
I dislike SoftTools front end. Can anyone reccomend
a suitable editor with context highlighting that will run SoftTools compiler and
linker.
Alan Matheson Dynamic C is
(You need to be a member of rabbit-semi -- send a blank email to rabbit-semi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
your questions are probably better asked in the Softools group.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/softools/
Steve
----- Original Message ----
From: Alan Matheson
To: r...@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 4:10:57 PM
Subject: [rabbit-semi] SoftTools
I have a large project already written in Dynamic
C.
The project team now includes people who are more
familiar with Ansii C and who are working with a subset of the code. I'm
faced with the problem of constantly converting from their code to
something compatible with mine so am contemplating a shift to SoftTools.
Probably sounds familiar to some?
Some questions
Does SoftTools have libraries that
support I2C and a file system similar to Dynamic Cs.
Dynamic C has reasonable, to me, debugging
facilities. Does SoftTools have a good debugger?
Is SoftTools strictly Ansii C
compliant?
I dislike SoftTools front end. Can anyone reccomend
a suitable editor with context highlighting that will run SoftTools compiler and
linker.
Alan Matheson Dynamic C is
(You need to be a member of rabbit-semi -- send a blank email to rabbit-semi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
Re: SoftTools - Scott Henion - Jul 24 3:30:46 2008
Alan Matheson wrote:
>
> I have a large project already written in Dynamic C.
>
> The project team now includes people who are more familiar with Ansii
> C and who are working with a subset of the code. I'm faced with the
> problem of constantly converting from their code to something
> compatible with mine so am contemplating a shift to SoftTools.
> Probably sounds familiar to some?
>
> Some questions
>
> Does SoftTools have libraries that support I2C and a file system
> similar to Dynamic Cs.
I have a port of DC's I2C lib, don't know if it is in the softools
package. It is in the winide files area.
I have a FAT file system for Softools (not free, but half the cost of
ZW's). It does not support the http server (a major rewrite of their
http.lib to use someone else file system.) It does come with CGI
upload/download samples. It also supports IDE drives, MMC/SD/CF cards,
Atmel Flash and uses a standard partition table (DC is non-standard.)
Long File Names are supported. About 1/3 the code size and 2-5 times
faster. Uses less memory and does need partitions unmounted to flush files.
It does not support NAND Flash or xD cards. Even ZW is abandoning xD.
I hope to add FAT32 support in the coming weeks.
>
> Dynamic C has reasonable, to me, debugging facilities. Does
> SoftTools have a good debugger?
It is much faster, does not have the limitations of DC (data size is not
limited by compile options.) I can't stand to use DC's debugger.
Also, softools runs code at full speed under the debugger. DC has lots
of extra code added.
> Is SoftTools strictly Ansii C compliant?
Yes, so things like costates and #web functionality will never be part
of the Softools compiler as it is non-ANSI.
I have a free task switcher that can be used instead of costates
(CoExec). It emulates much of the costate/cofunc functionality. It is
much simpler, uses less root memory and far faster. Many use CoExec in
DC to get past the DC bugs in costates.
> I dislike SoftTools front end. Can anyone reccomend a suitable editor
> with context highlighting that will run SoftTools compiler and linker.
>
Works fine for me. You can call an editor from WinIDE if you like.
I do a lot of ports to Softools. Some are easy, some are a real mess.
Depends on how well the code is written, how complex the costate usage
is and the libs used.
--
------------------------------------------
| Scott G. Henion| s...@shdesigns.org |
| Consultant | Stone Mountain, GA |
| SHDesigns http://www.shdesigns.org |
------------------------------------------
Rabbit libs: http://www.shdesigns.org/rabbit/
today's fortune
BOFH Excuse #84:
Someone is standing on the ethernet cable, causing a kink in the cable
(You need to be a member of rabbit-semi -- send a blank email to rabbit-semi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
>
> I have a large project already written in Dynamic C.
>
> The project team now includes people who are more familiar with Ansii
> C and who are working with a subset of the code. I'm faced with the
> problem of constantly converting from their code to something
> compatible with mine so am contemplating a shift to SoftTools.
> Probably sounds familiar to some?
>
> Some questions
>
> Does SoftTools have libraries that support I2C and a file system
> similar to Dynamic Cs.
I have a port of DC's I2C lib, don't know if it is in the softools
package. It is in the winide files area.
I have a FAT file system for Softools (not free, but half the cost of
ZW's). It does not support the http server (a major rewrite of their
http.lib to use someone else file system.) It does come with CGI
upload/download samples. It also supports IDE drives, MMC/SD/CF cards,
Atmel Flash and uses a standard partition table (DC is non-standard.)
Long File Names are supported. About 1/3 the code size and 2-5 times
faster. Uses less memory and does need partitions unmounted to flush files.
It does not support NAND Flash or xD cards. Even ZW is abandoning xD.
I hope to add FAT32 support in the coming weeks.
>
> Dynamic C has reasonable, to me, debugging facilities. Does
> SoftTools have a good debugger?
It is much faster, does not have the limitations of DC (data size is not
limited by compile options.) I can't stand to use DC's debugger.
Also, softools runs code at full speed under the debugger. DC has lots
of extra code added.
> Is SoftTools strictly Ansii C compliant?
Yes, so things like costates and #web functionality will never be part
of the Softools compiler as it is non-ANSI.
I have a free task switcher that can be used instead of costates
(CoExec). It emulates much of the costate/cofunc functionality. It is
much simpler, uses less root memory and far faster. Many use CoExec in
DC to get past the DC bugs in costates.
> I dislike SoftTools front end. Can anyone reccomend a suitable editor
> with context highlighting that will run SoftTools compiler and linker.
>
Works fine for me. You can call an editor from WinIDE if you like.
I do a lot of ports to Softools. Some are easy, some are a real mess.
Depends on how well the code is written, how complex the costate usage
is and the libs used.
--
------------------------------------------
| Scott G. Henion| s...@shdesigns.org |
| Consultant | Stone Mountain, GA |
| SHDesigns http://www.shdesigns.org |
------------------------------------------
Rabbit libs: http://www.shdesigns.org/rabbit/
today's fortune
BOFH Excuse #84:
Someone is standing on the ethernet cable, causing a kink in the cable
(You need to be a member of rabbit-semi -- send a blank email to rabbit-semi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
Re: SoftTools - Bill_CT - Jul 24 9:36:11 2008
--- In r...@yahoogroups.com, "Alan Matheson"
wrote:
>
> I have a large project already written in Dynamic C.
>
> The project team now includes people who are more familiar with
Ansii C and who are working with a subset of the code. I'm faced with
the problem of constantly converting from their code to something
compatible with mine so am contemplating a shift to SoftTools.
Probably sounds familiar to some?
>
> Some questions
>
> Does SoftTools have libraries that support I2C and a file system
similar to Dynamic Cs.
>
> Dynamic C has reasonable, to me, debugging facilities. Does
SoftTools have a good debugger?
> Is SoftTools strictly Ansii C compliant?
> I dislike SoftTools front end. Can anyone reccomend a suitable
editor with context highlighting that will run SoftTools compiler and
linker.
Softools' WinIDE now has context (syntax) highlighting.
You can configure it to use any editor you like. Debugging will
always have to be done within the IDE for obvious reasons.
Bill
Softools
------------------------------------
(You need to be a member of rabbit-semi -- send a blank email to rabbit-semi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
>
> I have a large project already written in Dynamic C.
>
> The project team now includes people who are more familiar with
Ansii C and who are working with a subset of the code. I'm faced with
the problem of constantly converting from their code to something
compatible with mine so am contemplating a shift to SoftTools.
Probably sounds familiar to some?
>
> Some questions
>
> Does SoftTools have libraries that support I2C and a file system
similar to Dynamic Cs.
>
> Dynamic C has reasonable, to me, debugging facilities. Does
SoftTools have a good debugger?
> Is SoftTools strictly Ansii C compliant?
> I dislike SoftTools front end. Can anyone reccomend a suitable
editor with context highlighting that will run SoftTools compiler and
linker.
Softools' WinIDE now has context (syntax) highlighting.
You can configure it to use any editor you like. Debugging will
always have to be done within the IDE for obvious reasons.
Bill
Softools
------------------------------------
(You need to be a member of rabbit-semi -- send a blank email to rabbit-semi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
Re: SoftTools - Martin Honeywill - Jul 24 14:41:46 2008
I'll answer your questions one by one.
> Does SoftTools have libraries that support I2C and a file system
similar to Dynamic Cs.
I2c - Not as standard but, the Dynamic C ones have been converted. I
have done this myself.
File System - Scott Henion has developed a product called, the
resident file downloader, which creates a file system in the rabbit
flash, it works very well and he has an application that allows files
to be uploaded/downloaded to a PC. This can also be extended to
support SD cards. See http://shdesigns.org/rabbit/filesystems.shtml
and http://shdesigns.org/rabbit/resident.shtml
> Dynamic C has reasonable, to me, debugging facilities. Does
SoftTools have a good debugger?
Softools is Much, Much better in my opinion, one key thing is that in
softools you debug in Ram which makes downloading and setting
breakpoints etc very easy and fast, watches are also simple to setup
and use. In DC you have to compile special debug versions with RST28
instructions. In Softools your debug code is identical to your release
code.
> Is SoftTools strictly Ansii C compliant?
Pretty much, it is very good at picking up coding errors too. Code we
use for Softools compiles for the PC and ARM unchanged.
> I dislike SoftTools front end. Can anyone recommend a suitable
editor with context highlighting that will run SoftTools compiler and
linker.
>
The latest version of Softools does have syntax highlighting, but I
also use an external editor called UltraEdit which works very well
with softools. Softools is designed to support other editors. See
www.ultraedit.com You get used to the front end.
We have been down the route of porting from DC to ST and would not
look back. Its a real paint evry now and then when I have to use DC to
support an old product.
Feel free to ask any other questions.
Good luck
Cheers
Martin Honeywill
------------------------------------
(You need to be a member of rabbit-semi -- send a blank email to rabbit-semi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
> Does SoftTools have libraries that support I2C and a file system
similar to Dynamic Cs.
I2c - Not as standard but, the Dynamic C ones have been converted. I
have done this myself.
File System - Scott Henion has developed a product called, the
resident file downloader, which creates a file system in the rabbit
flash, it works very well and he has an application that allows files
to be uploaded/downloaded to a PC. This can also be extended to
support SD cards. See http://shdesigns.org/rabbit/filesystems.shtml
and http://shdesigns.org/rabbit/resident.shtml
> Dynamic C has reasonable, to me, debugging facilities. Does
SoftTools have a good debugger?
Softools is Much, Much better in my opinion, one key thing is that in
softools you debug in Ram which makes downloading and setting
breakpoints etc very easy and fast, watches are also simple to setup
and use. In DC you have to compile special debug versions with RST28
instructions. In Softools your debug code is identical to your release
code.
> Is SoftTools strictly Ansii C compliant?
Pretty much, it is very good at picking up coding errors too. Code we
use for Softools compiles for the PC and ARM unchanged.
> I dislike SoftTools front end. Can anyone recommend a suitable
editor with context highlighting that will run SoftTools compiler and
linker.
>
The latest version of Softools does have syntax highlighting, but I
also use an external editor called UltraEdit which works very well
with softools. Softools is designed to support other editors. See
www.ultraedit.com You get used to the front end.
We have been down the route of porting from DC to ST and would not
look back. Its a real paint evry now and then when I have to use DC to
support an old product.
Feel free to ask any other questions.
Good luck
Cheers
Martin Honeywill
------------------------------------
(You need to be a member of rabbit-semi -- send a blank email to rabbit-semi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )