04-12-2012, 05:30 PM
HI-TECH C Compiler for PIC MCUs
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INTRODUCTION
This chapter provides an overview of the HI-TECH C Compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCUs.
COMPILER DESCRIPTION AND DOCUMENTATION
The HI-TECH C Compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCUs is a free-standing, optimizing ANSI C
compiler. It supports all PIC10, PIC12 and PIC16 series devices, as well as the
PIC14000 device and the enhanced Mid-Range PIC® MCU architecture.
The compiler is available for several popular operating systems, including 32 and 64-bit
The compiler can run in one of three operating modes: Lite, Standard or PRO. The
Standard and PRO operating modes are licensed modes and require a serial number
to enable them. Lite mode is available for unlicensed customers. The basic compiler
operation, supported devices and available memory are identical across all modes.
The modes only differ in the level of optimization employed by the compiler.
Conventions
Throughout this manual, the term “the compiler” is often used. It can refer to either all,
or some subset of, the collection of applications that form the HI-TECH C Compiler for
PIC10/12/16 MCUs. Often it is not important to know, for example, whether an action
is performed by the parser or code generator application, and it is sufficient to say it
was performed by “the compiler”.
It is also reasonable for “the compiler” to refer to the command-line driver (or just driver)
as this is the application that is always executed to invoke the compilation process. The
driver for the HI-TECH C Compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCUs package is called PICC. The
driver and its options are discussed in Section 2.7 “PICC Driver Option Descriptions”.
Following this view, “compiler options” should be considered command-line
driver options, unless otherwise specified in this manual.
Similarly “compilation” refers to all, or some part of, the steps involved in generating
source code into an executable binary image.
DEVICE DESCRIPTION
This compiler supports Microchip PIC devices with Baseline, Mid-Range and
Enhanced Mid-Range cores. All are 8-bit devices.
The Baseline core uses a 12-bit wide instruction set and is available in PIC10, PIC12
and PIC16 part numbers. The Mid-Range core utilizes a 14-bit wide instruction set that
includes additional instructions to those provided by Baseline parts. Its data memory
banks and program memory pages are larger than those on Baseline devices. It is
available in PIC12, PIC14 and PIC16 part numbers. The Enhanced Mid-Range core
also uses a 14-bit wide instruction set, but incorporates additional instructions and features
over the Mid-Range devices. There are both PIC12 and PIC16 part numbers that
are based on the Enhanced Mid-Range core.
[attachment=42515]
INTRODUCTION
This chapter provides an overview of the HI-TECH C Compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCUs.
COMPILER DESCRIPTION AND DOCUMENTATION
The HI-TECH C Compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCUs is a free-standing, optimizing ANSI C
compiler. It supports all PIC10, PIC12 and PIC16 series devices, as well as the
PIC14000 device and the enhanced Mid-Range PIC® MCU architecture.
The compiler is available for several popular operating systems, including 32 and 64-bit
The compiler can run in one of three operating modes: Lite, Standard or PRO. The
Standard and PRO operating modes are licensed modes and require a serial number
to enable them. Lite mode is available for unlicensed customers. The basic compiler
operation, supported devices and available memory are identical across all modes.
The modes only differ in the level of optimization employed by the compiler.
Conventions
Throughout this manual, the term “the compiler” is often used. It can refer to either all,
or some subset of, the collection of applications that form the HI-TECH C Compiler for
PIC10/12/16 MCUs. Often it is not important to know, for example, whether an action
is performed by the parser or code generator application, and it is sufficient to say it
was performed by “the compiler”.
It is also reasonable for “the compiler” to refer to the command-line driver (or just driver)
as this is the application that is always executed to invoke the compilation process. The
driver for the HI-TECH C Compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCUs package is called PICC. The
driver and its options are discussed in Section 2.7 “PICC Driver Option Descriptions”.
Following this view, “compiler options” should be considered command-line
driver options, unless otherwise specified in this manual.
Similarly “compilation” refers to all, or some part of, the steps involved in generating
source code into an executable binary image.
DEVICE DESCRIPTION
This compiler supports Microchip PIC devices with Baseline, Mid-Range and
Enhanced Mid-Range cores. All are 8-bit devices.
The Baseline core uses a 12-bit wide instruction set and is available in PIC10, PIC12
and PIC16 part numbers. The Mid-Range core utilizes a 14-bit wide instruction set that
includes additional instructions to those provided by Baseline parts. Its data memory
banks and program memory pages are larger than those on Baseline devices. It is
available in PIC12, PIC14 and PIC16 part numbers. The Enhanced Mid-Range core
also uses a 14-bit wide instruction set, but incorporates additional instructions and features
over the Mid-Range devices. There are both PIC12 and PIC16 part numbers that
are based on the Enhanced Mid-Range core.