Release Candidate RC42

[mkstevo]

I understand perhaps the not wanting to generate the minimal install given the effort required.

I don't normally use SynWrite though but when I do, I find that the colour scheme has been overwritten again. If I need to change my preferred programmer sequence, I have to use SynWrite and remember how it is done.

I think I'll try setting up an external directory with my IDE, preferences and programming tools in and then pointing those back to the GCB installation. That way "my" IDE(s) will perhaps remain static even after updating.

[Anobium]

An update on release with a specific focus on PIC-AS support.

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A recap on why does Great Cow BASIC need PIC-AS support ?

• Teaching aid - cannot do this as Microchip only support PIC-AS
• Debugging - cannot debug an ASM source files as Microchip only support PIC-AS
• Support from Microchip - cannot get support from Microchip as they only support PIC-AS
  AND... MPASMx is not supported by new chips

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PIC-AS works for 18F.
PIC-AS has not been tested on AVR or LGT

PIC-AS for 10f, 12f and 16f works for small chips but for larger chips Microchip are changing the compiler.

1. There is a series of bugs where the BANKSEL just does not operate correctly. They have accepted these bugs and are working in development to resolve.
2. BTFSx instruction are not working as expect. The BTFSx instruction is a single word instruction but in some cases PIC-AS is expanding this into two instructions. This then causes (in some cases) the PROGMEM page to overflow - and, the resulting HEX is invalid. Microchip have an open ticket on this,
3. BANKISEL is not supported. So, 16F's use BANKISEL for tables... and, therefore you cannot use PIC-AS in these specific cases. Microchip have an open ticket on this to revert the BANKISEL.

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So, some progress but the compiler has these issues and I cannot resolve - only Microchip can.

[Anobium]

And, I should add.

1. DECFSZ is also expanded under certain conditions. Again, this causes havoc with the page fitting routines.

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Microchip have told me that the latest PIC-AS software v2,35 (not yet released) may address these issue. Note. I did report the bugs in Jan/Feb 2021.

[jackjames]

I follow the situation with interest.

[Anobium]

I have resolved BANKISEL by the definition of a new macro (in the .S source) called
BANKISEL

Means that BANKISEL is not part of PIC-AS. :-)

BANKISEL MACRO bankaddress 
  ; Psuedo BANKISEL to restore missing instruction.
  #if bankaddress < 0x100
  bsf STATUS, 7
  #else
  bcf STATUS, 7
  #endif
 ENDM

[jackjames]

Good idea.
For DECFSZ (DECrement F, Skip if Zero) we expect a response from Microchip ...

[Anobium]

I have heard from Microchip today.

The reference number for the issue related to extra instruction added to BTFSX is XC8-2346.
This specific issue got fixed in the upcoming release of the compiler - v2.35

Regarding other reported issues(fixup overflow and Page don't fit), we are discussing with compiler team and they are actively looking at it.

Good signs of a good result.

[jackjames]

This is also a great satisfaction for all the work you do.