Abstract
Most projects use a high-level language to implement the software
As a foil to assembly-level programming, the C language is introduced as an alternative approach to designing and implementing software. The properties, advantages and disadvantages of both approaches are discussed; with examples using the CCS compiler to illustrate these concepts and techniques. MPLAB with its simulator is used to host this language tool.
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Notes
- 1.
A popular definition of a computer scientist is one who, when presented with a problem to solve, invents a new language instead!
- 2.
In the author’s experience a code size increase factor of ×1.25⋅⋅⋅×2.5 is typical.
- 3.
Originally called UNICS, for UNIplexed operating and Computing System, based on MULTICS (Multiplexed operating and Computing System) an operating system developed in the early 1960s at MIT.
- 4.
The ++ operator has given the name C++ to the next development of the C language.
- 5.
Some of which can be functions hand-coded in native assembly-level language for efficiency, and from libraries supplied with the compiler or bought in.
- 6.
- 7.
MPLAB V. 8 comes with a free CCS compiler for the base-family range of devices.
- 8.
Decimal is the default base in C but beware, because a leading zero is interpreted as octal; e.g., 026 is octal 26 (which is decimal 2×8+6=22).
- 9.
Some compilers either use an unsigned short int or unsigned char to hold an 8-bit datum.
- 10.
Many compilers are unable to distinguish between single bits which use efficient ‘bit twiddling’ instructions and use the less efficient logic instructions; for instance, Version 2 of this compiler.
- 11.
A 2-valued object of this kind is sometimes called a Boolean. In the CCS compiler a short int is a Boolean, but this is unusual.
- 12.
The CCS compiler will usually implement a function called from one point only as in-line code. This is the reason why the function sqr_root() was called from two points from main() in Program 9.2. The directives #INLINE and #SEPARATE can be used to encourage the compiler to implement the following function either as in-line code or as a subroutine.
- 13.
Having a mantissa and exponent of the form m×10e. The CCS compiler uses a 32-bit representation (signed 24-bit mantissa with an offset 127 8-bit mantissa) giving a potential range of approximately −1.5×10−45 to +3.3×1038.
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© 2010 Springer-Verlag London Limited
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Katzen, S. (2010). High-Level Language. In: The Essential PIC18® Microcontroller. Computer Communications and Networks. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-229-2_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-229-2_9
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