C in PIC... $500?

[nanob0t]

Hey.

I'm currently building a robot for Batelle.  They want me to stick with PIC  p4431 microprocessors, because of the compatability with the onboard electronics.   Problem is, I need a C programming language for the MPLAB IDE program.  After an intense battle with MPLAB, I realized I had the program over 60 days.  I previously installed the 'Student Version' of MPLAB C18 C Compiler, with no knowledge that it had a trail time on it.   

I am stuck using MPLAB IDE due to the fact that they gave me an MPLAB IDE 2 In-line Debugger to use and some compatable boards. 

The MPLAB C18 C Compiler costs $500 to purchase... well $495. 


Any thoughts?   Other than resetting my OS back every 2 months   

[snow]

C18 compiler still works after 1 month, but you arent able to use some optimizations after that time.
I think you can only use -o1 after 1 month, but -o1 is almost as good as -o2 and -o3.

So if you stick to -o1 all the time you wont even notice any difference. The biggest difference in optimization is between no optimization and -o1 anyway.

[nanob0t]

I am unfamiliar with -o1 and such, but it does not allow me to build the program and program it to my PICs rendering my program sort of useless            

[kld_555]

Hi,
   You can use the HITECH C compiler "PICC lite" it can be integrated in MPLAB, this is the free version of PICC, the limitation is that you are only limited to a 2k program.

Also You can use the compiler from MikroElektronica (http://www.mikroe.com/) called MikroC http://www.mikroe.com/en/compilers/mikroc/pic/ 

Have fun!