gnupic: compiling gpal
Subject:
Re: compiling gpal
From:
David McNab ####@####.####
Date:
16 Dec 2004 13:10:18 +0000
Message-Id: <41C1892B.20708@rebirthing.co.nz>
Geoff Horn wrote:
> I'm having trouble with compiling gpal programs. Specifically I've tried the
> example from David McNab (2004-10-24) and using the command line he gave
>
> "gpal -c helloleds.pal p16f873a.pub"
>
> I get the error:
>
> "helloleds.pub: No such file or directory".
Apologies - I've attached the missing 'helloleds.pub' file to this message.
> Does someone have a definitive method for compiling such a simple program? I
> find the requirement to specify the processor so many times in so many ways
> offputting and confusing! Cannot it just be specified once? After all if I
> have a statement in my pal file: "with p16f873a", my intentions are clear.
> Please put me out of my misery!
Hopefully with this missing file things should compile OK.
> Yup, I'm not a programmer and I would like to move away from Jal and use gpal.
The question is - do you have a clear and specific preference for gpal?
I shelved my experiments with gpal because I got the sense that it's
way under-ripe in development and not yet ready for users.
Given that you've said you're a non-programmer (ie, not yet a
programmer), I'd recommend two other free (as in 'beer' and 'speech')
options:
- PicForth - http://www.rfc1149.net/devel/picforth, or
- PyAstra - http://pyastra.sourceforge.net
PicForth is an excellent and pragmatic Forth implementation for PIC,
that's mature enough to be used in real development projects. Definitely
worth a try. Forth is a crazy language with a zealous core of
enthusiasts - some people find Forth exhilarating and liberating - other
people find it an excruciating form of torture - you gotta try it to see
if it fits with your thinking style. I do consider it a good first
language though, since it teaches some good programming concepts.
PyAstra is a Python implementation for PIC. Python is arguably the best
first language for not-yet-programmers, since it is so powerful, yet
quickly learnable, and its design is truly an inspiration. PyAstra is a
bit green, but works well enough to get a 'feel' for PIC programming,
and shouldn't entrap you into bad habits.
One last option - grab the free version of the CC5X C compiler. It's a
harder path for non-programmers, but worth the slog. There are
multi-module techniques that let you bypass most of the 'free crippled'
limitations.
Cheers
David
public helloleds is
pragma processor = "16f873a";
pragma udata_section = "BANK0";
pragma code_section = "PROG1";
procedure main;
with p16f873a;
end public;
