Demo Download

The Flash and Bronze are different compilers. The Flash Compiler will be maintained to keep up to date with the new Microchip flash parts

1. CH Flash Basic V3.5 has been released. It supports character LCD's based on the 44780 LCD controller chip. The link has been updated for the Eval download. I will be adding new info over the next few days on the dt_flash webpage regarding the new functions.

CH Basic Compiler - Bronze Edition V1.2.1 now available.
The Bronze Edition supports the PIC12Cxxx, PIC14Cxxx, PIC16Cxxx series. This means that it also covers the Flash MCU's. This compiler has instructions for integer arithmetic operations and expressions, flow control, relational expressions and general purpose port access.

CH Basic Compiler - Bronze Edition
The Bronze compiler covers all the PIC's, but doesn't support the peripherals except for PORT access. But this will be done in the Silver Edition which will come out next year. This means it now supports the PIC16F84, which is the most common starting point for beginners.

CH Interactive Basic Compiler for PIC microcontrollers. A new style of compiler. Enter the basic code and immediately see the translation to PIC assembly language.

         Click on the image for a full screen view.

Upon download you are given an evaluation licence. The evaluation version is limited to 20 lines of basic code. With this you can run the demo programs which are included. You can also insert your own assembly program and use additional basic code. If you wish to purchase a full licence you will receive a password which will enable the full version. This means you only need to download once. Along with the full version you will receive 6 months of free updates and technical support via email.

When the Basic Compiler is started, a window pops up asking for the password. Also, a unique ID number is given in this window. You will need to return this number with your order. There is a text box on the order form for this.

Bronze Compiler URLs:

Download CH Basic - Bronze Edition V1.2.1

Compiler overview:
http://www.celestialhorizons.com/compilers/Bronze/bronze_overview.htm

Help file:
http://www.celestialhorizons.com/compilers/Bronze/CHBasicHelp.hlp

Programmers Guide:
http://www.celestialhorizons.com/compilers/Bronze/chbas_pg.pdf

Revision history:
http://www.celestialhorizons.com/compilers/Bronze/Bronze%20Revision%20History.htm

Comments

We welcome all your comments. Let us know what you think of the compiler.
Tell us what features you would like to see in future versions. Let us know
of any ideas you have which you think might make a better product.

You can Subscribe to CH Newsletter and new products information.

Compiler Overview

Introduction

CH Basic is a tool which simplifies the development, writing and debugging programs for Microchip PIC microcontrollers for the PIC12, 14 & 16 series. Instead of writing in PIC assembly language you can reduce time by writing in CH Basic which contains a subset of standard basic instructions along with some specific instructions for the PIC microcontroller. Using CH Basic as a tool for writing programs has the following benefits:

Benefits

It's not necessary to learn PIC assembly instructions.

Even if you have no knowledge of PIC assembly language you can write programs for PIC microcontrollers which can be used for any purpose. If you have some knowledge of PIC assembly language, it is possible to enter direct assembly code into the basic program using the in-line assembly function.

Drastic reduction in the time it takes to write programs for PIC microcontrollers

PIC microcontrollers have a RISC type core. This means it has a smaller number of instructions which execute faster, which makes the program execute faster. This is one of the benefits. A drawback is that the programs are longer than with a CISC microcontroller. With a RISC processor any complex operation requires the programmer to write more assembly instructions than with a CISC processor. The only arithmetic instructions available on the 12 & 16 series PIC's are addition and subtraction. This means a lot of programming for the assembly level programmer. CH Basic will allow the programmer achiev his goal in much shorter time.

Once the basic program is compiled, simply import it into Microchips freely available MPASM or MPLAB, and you're ready to burn the memory.

Ideal educational tool

Would you like to learn PIC assembly language and the relation between a higher level language and assembly ?

CH Basic is an ideal solution ! As soon as you enter a line of basic, the compiler immediately interprets the code and translates it into the equivalent assembly instructions which make up that basic instruction. Every change in basic code will be updated in the assembly code in real time.

Simple and intuitive instructions

The basic instructions that are used are simple, clear and similar to the spoken language in contrast to the cryptic assembly language. Entering instructions and the user interface itself are intuitive and made so that they are suitable for both beginners and professionals. Beginners will prefer to use the instruction buttons, which will reduce syntax errors.
More advanced programmers will use the keyboard for entering basic code. Finally, professionals will use their preferred text editor,
and use CH Basic for compiling the code.

Neater code which makes it easier to debug

A basic program is much smaller than the assembly program. Therefore it is neater and easier to understand. This makes it easier to debug and find various parts of the program.

Characteristics

Support for Microchip PIC12, PIC14 and PIC16 series microcontrollers

8-bit and 16-bit signed and unsigned data types

Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, relational and logic operations for all supported data types

Support for in-line assembly code

Automatic setting of the correct bank and page

Basic commands for I/O port operation

User Interface

The screen is divided into several parts. On the left are the buttons which are used for entering the appropriate basic instructions. The instructions can also be entered from the menu or by typing on the keyboard. When using the keyboard, you can directly The basic window is the central part. There the whole basic program is listed. On the right is the assembly window. The appropriate assembly code is listed in this window. These windows are updated in real time after the entry of any instruction. The status window is on the top right. Here, information is displayed regarding the type of PIC chosen, the number of basic and assembly lines and the
percentage of used program and data memory for the chosen PIC.

Specifications :

Basic Instructions:

          For..Next
          If..EndIf
          Clear
          Goto
          Gosub
          Return
          SetPort
          PinHigh
          PinLow
          PortOut
          PinRD
          PortRD

Data types: 8-bit signed & unsigned integer, 16-bit signed & unsigned integer.

The compiler supports expressions containing all 4 data types.

The following relational operators are supported:
>, <, >=, <=, <>, =.

The following logical operations are supported:
& (and), | (or), ~(xor), !(not).

Bank and page issues are automatically resolved.

In-line assembly code is supported.
In fact, you can import you whole assembly program, then build the basic code
around it.

Being the simplest, the Bronze edition is the first compiler to be completed. It has been available since June 2000. This version covers the PIC12Cxxx, PIC14Cxxx and PIC16Cxxx MCU's. It compiles the basic program and gives assembly code as the output, which can then be assembled with Microchip's MPLAB. The Bronze compiler gives functionality for arithmetic operations such as integer multiplication and division, relational operations and tests such as =,<,>,=<, etc, flow control with If..Then, For..Next statements, and the ability to create expressions. Four data types are available: unsigned byte, signed byte, unsigned word, signed word. As for peripheral functions, there are several instructions to help with PORT access. This compiler is quite useful for MCU's such as the 16F84 or the 12C509, for example. The Bronze Edition does not have high level instructions for work with the A/D converter, PWM, interrupts etc. If, however, you want to use an MCU such as the 16F877, depending on what you want the Bronze Edition can still be useful to you. For example, you may have already developed an assembly program, and want to add some mathematical expressions. In that case, you can insert your entire assembly program, then where you want to, you can write basic instructions that deal with the more complex maths. If you require a compiler with more peripheral functions and you currently use a flash part, then consider the CH Flash Compiler discussed later.

What do you want in a compiler ?

Feel free to send us comments to compiler@celestialhorizons.com, telling us what you would like to see in a future edition. We will see what we can do.

Licensing information.

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