Matrix user forums

Hello FC Community,

I just bought/upgraded to FC8 from FC6 and made my first steps.

Regarding the 8Bit XC Compiler I get the following message:

You have compiled in FREE mode.
Using Omniscient Code Generation that is available in PRO mode,
you could have produced up to 60% smaller and 400% faster code.
See http://www.microchip.com/MPLABXCcompilers for more information.

Does anybody have expierence with this Pro-Compiler Version?

Is it compatible under FC8??

BR
Dirk

There is no problem. I tried the PRO Mode demo version for 60 days and actually reduced the code a lot. However, using this version is not a big problem.
Good Luck!

Hi Dirk,
I use V2.05 professional version a work which is a later version that is shipped with Flowcode.
I don't have any issues as all with it.

If you want to use XC8 V2.0 or higher then take a look at this topic

Many thanks guys for your Feedback.

I think for the first time I will use the non pro Version that cam with FC.

The XC Compiler is much faster then my old Boost-C of FC6.

The XC code is smaler too compared with Boost-C

BR
Dirk

Hi.

think for the first time I will use the non pro Version that cam with FC.

The XC Compiler is much faster then my old Boost-C of FC6.

In my opinion doing projects with the non pro version for a long time the pro is only needed when you do very time critical projects and then the question arise if in need of such time critical code then C code is not the correct option but assembler

Hi Guys,

Here some results from my experiences with using different XC8 compilers.

At this moment i'm working on a small PIC project. At this moment it is using up to 95% of it's programm space with the standard Flowcode XC8 compiler. I also need to put in a bootloader, so i needed a compiler with more performance.

I licensed this week a XC8-Pro license from MicrosoftDirect.
I installed this XC8 (V2.10) compiler and the license .

It took a while to get it running in FC but with the help of the Matrix FC8 forum i managed.

After compiling of the project i was disappointed about the result. I gained 10%. Went from 95 to 84%.
As you compile with the standard compiler you get the message that a Pro compiler is more productive in speed and in used space.

Now the interesting bit...

I switched back to the standard Flowcode compiler and compiled the project again.
To my suprise i get a result of 65% used programm space!
Wow, this is where i'm looking for but how has this become while earlier the same compiler did 95%..

As you can see in the printout below, the standard FC compiler behaves like a pro compiler with license.
I checked the License type online and "Node Configuration" means a standalone license.
Don't ask how this has become like this...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.matrixtsl.com
Launching the compiler...
C:\Program Files (x86)\Flowcode\Common\Compilers\pic\bin\xc8.exe --CHIP=16F18857 "V13_20191227.c"
Microchip MPLAB XC8 C Compiler (PRO Mode) V1.45
Build date: Nov 15 2017
Part Support Version: 1.45
Copyright (C) 2017 Microchip Technology Inc.
License type: Node Configuration

Memory Summary:
Program space used 5403h ( 21507) of 8000h words ( 65.6%)
Data space used 2F7h ( 759) of FF0h bytes ( 18.6%)
EEPROM space used 0h ( 0) of 100h bytes ( 0.0%)
Data stack space used 0h ( 0) of CF0h bytes ( 0.0%)
Configuration bits used 5h ( 5) of 5h words (100.0%)
ID Location space used 0h ( 0) of 4h bytes ( 0.0%)

Launching the linker/assembler...
C:\Program Files (x86)\Flowcode v8\tools\DoNothing\DoNothing.exe

FINISHED
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These are the results with the latest XC8 compiler V2.10:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.matrixtsl.com
Launching the compiler...
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microchip\xc8\v2.10\bin\xc8.exe --CHIP=16F18857 "V13_20191227.c"
C:\PROGRA~2\MICROC~1\xc8\v2.10\pic\bin\picc --CHIP=16F18857 V13_20191227.c
Microchip MPLAB XC8 C Compiler V2.10
Build date: Jul 30 2019
Part Support Version: 2.10
Copyright (C) 2019 Microchip Technology Inc.
License type: Node Configuration

Memory Summary:
Program space used 6BE5h ( 27621) of 8000h words ( 84.3%)
Data space used 322h ( 802) of 1000h bytes ( 19.6%)
EEPROM space used 0h ( 0) of 100h bytes ( 0.0%)
Data stack space used 0h ( 0) of CDCh bytes ( 0.0%)
Configuration bits used 5h ( 5) of 5h words (100.0%)
ID Location space used 0h ( 0) of 4h bytes ( 0.0%)

Launching the linker/assembler...
C:\Program Files (x86)\Flowcode v8\tools\DoNothing\DoNothing.exe

FINISHED
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, an interesting experience with an unexpected result. I keep the license but using the FC standard compiler. Weird..

FC people:
I took me some time to find out how to configer all compiler settings.
My advice to update the "Managing Compiler Options" in the help option with usefull examples.

Hi

With out going in all of this ,there is no compiler differences between the XC standard free version and XC pro version besides the license for you get for the pro version.
Secondly the pro (license key) only activate the optimization features of the XC compiler so the free version becomes a pro version when you activate the license key .
it is possible that once you activated a license key and the license is on your system it does not matter what compiler you select the optimizations are activated is my guess

Hi Q,

I'm not into the options compilers do and don't have.
As a hardware engineer i only look at the results.

As you say, after installing the license the standard is going to a pro version. For me this does the job.

Thanks.

PS

Hi Patrick,
Did you set up V2.10 the same as in this post?
From V2.0 Microchip has changed the way the compilers work.
therefore you can't use the same Flowcode compiler batch file for xc8 2.00 and above.
It just won't work as well.

Hi Martin,

Yes I did change the batch file as suggested in the post link.

This is working in both cases. Old and new compiler.
If this works less well in V2.10 i can't say. I just don't have no experience in this field.
I can do some checks for you if you like..

Thanks.

PS

Hi Patrick,

patrick schoon wrote:I can do some checks for you if you like..

If you do test would be for you as I'm currently using V2.10 in professional mode.
The flowchart is for a FT810 driving a commercial heating controller that is touch screen 480 x 275
Since has settings for 5 different type of commercial heaters with a RTC and 4 daily program settings with optimum intelligence control, a lot of ROM is taken up.
So if not working well, I would have stuck to pre V2.0 XC8