Hello all! (this is continuation of discussion of my problem in comp.lang.c; I thought that it may belong to here also)
I am programming a microcontroller, ICPDAS i-8411 to be exact.
- i186-compatible CPU; 512K RAM
- 512K flash-based disk with simple filesystem
- DOS-compatible OS in boot sector
- some specific devices
Manufacturer suggests using one of the following compilers: - Borland C++ 3.1~5.02 - MSC 6.0 - MSVC (before version 1.52) - TC 2.01 (*available for free) - TC++ 1.01 (*available for free) and supplies a system library for their controller for use with one of the above compilers. Library doesn't have source and comes as .lib and .h files. I also have some of the above compilers .
So, the proposed design cycle looks like this: I write my program in 'C' and link against the manufacturer's library with one of recommended compilers, on Windows PC (maybe even in a DOS box). Then I transfer binary file to microcontroller using manufacturer's terminal program. I run it. Repeat until satisfied with result.
There are 2 major problems for me:
- Proposed compilers are all old cruft. I would like to use more up-to-date tools for programming my embedded PC. I want something that is at least either (a) non-proprietary or (b) modern, or both. The best I saw is Borland C++ 5.02 (in the modern department, but still it could use some improvement) And how do you obtain license for the compilers _that_ old? Will Borland or Microsoft grant me license for them tomorrow? (or even today) Will DOS compilers run on my computers tomorrow? (or even today)
- No debugging. It doesn't need explaining, I guess. Debugging is good.
So I started to think about using a Forth system on this controller. I can choose a free as in freedom Forth for DOS, put it on controller's disk and if I find a way to use system library from it, I'll be fine. With a little modification, I hope, I will have a license-free development environment with debugging. I'll also have the bonus of the compiler on the target, just in case.
I want to use the supplied library because as opposed to microcontroller as "Embedded CPU", I don't have the datasheet for all my hardware. I don't get schematics, it's not practiced in the case of microcontrollers in the sense of "small box". Instead, I get system library that should fit a lineup of controllers.
So, I thought that maybe I should dynamically load the system library and gain acess to its functions. From what I gather LIB is a collection of OBJ files in the OMF format, developed by Microsoft, but later standardized. I found a bunch of information here, on the 'D' community forum:
Either that, or I could use a better devel> I am programming an embedded controller that has a 'C' library for using