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Raven_Writer
17-01-2004, 18:43
Are there specs for the project file format?

I'm thinking of writing my own version of the IDE, and I need to know if there's any specs of the format. (I've tried looking through MicroChip's site, but it's a little cluttered [I did a search for it]).
deltacoder1020
17-01-2004, 20:19
meh, who needs project files? just build an IDE for the actual .c and .h files themselves, and then provide a tool to call the command-line compilers with the correct arguments.
Raven_Writer
17-01-2004, 20:28
meh, who needs project files? just build an IDE for the actual .c and .h files themselves, and then provide a tool to call the command-line compilers with the correct arguments.True, I'd have to make sure the lib & linker files are in w/ the files though.
SeanCassidy
18-01-2004, 16:16
Why reinvent the wheel?
Raven_Writer
18-01-2004, 16:20
Why reinvent the wheel?Because MPLAB doesn't have some features I want, so I'm creating my own version.
mtrawls
18-01-2004, 16:35
Why reinvent the wheel?

Why? Well, quite simply because they've given us SIX WHOLE WEEKS to do this whole robot thing. I mean, six weeks to design, build, program, debug, and practice operating a robot is like an eternity. Why not throw in there the development of an advanced IDE, just to give yourself a challenge, however slight.

(On a serious note, though, it seems the time to have done this--if there ever was a time--would have been *before* kickoff.)

And out of curiousity, what "features" are you referring to?
Raven_Writer
18-01-2004, 16:43
...(On a serious note, though, it seems the time to have done this--if there ever was a time--would have been *before* kickoff.)

And out of curiousity, what "features" are you referring to?Before Kickoff, I had to much on my hands (mid-terms, programming, robotics in general, etc...)

Features (some):
Tab control (much like MSVC++ 6.0)
Better syntax highlighting (custom coloring, and overall)

There's probably more, but I can't think of them right now. Those two are the main one anywho.
mtrawls
18-01-2004, 19:03
Before Kickoff, I had to much on my hands

And now that the build season has started, you have nothing to do? It seems you'd be even busier now (and if it is possible, I sure know I am). But wouldn't it be easier just to use MSVC, or some other IDE to write the code, and copy it into MPLAB if you really, really wanted those features. Sure, it might be a hassle ... but building a whole IDE, while at the same time working on building and programming a robot, seems to be a tad bit more of a hassle.
Raven_Writer
18-01-2004, 19:14
And now that the build season has started, you have nothing to do? It seems you'd be even busier now (and if it is possible, I sure know I am). But wouldn't it be easier just to use MSVC, or some other IDE to write the code, and copy it into MPLAB if you really, really wanted those features. Sure, it might be a hassle ... but building a whole IDE, while at the same time working on building and programming a robot, seems to be a tad bit more of a hassle.Actually, since mid-terms just ended, I have a lot more free time.

As far as using another IDE, yes...I could.

For writing a whole IDE, I'm changing my origional intentions, and just letting the user edit the files in my IDE, and calling command line parameters when the user wants to build. I've been doing both quite equally the same. Besides, at the moment team 5 is still working out some more details, so I'm just learning what I must for right now (which isn't much)
KevinB
18-01-2004, 21:40
Why reinvent the wheel?
Don't say things like that ... let him develop this superb IDE ... that way WE can make use of it too. :D
Jay Lundy
18-01-2004, 21:43
I'd just be happy if someone came up with a way to use the C18 compiler and linker with Visual Studio.
deltacoder1020
18-01-2004, 23:12
hmm... custom build steps, maybe?
m0rph3us
18-01-2004, 23:18
That's what I have done... It works miracles:cool: ... The only problem is that you still have to use the other program to send the program OI
Astronouth7303
19-01-2004, 14:11
Is there a flag to have it download auto? like:
IFI_LOADER.EXE -d "C:\Code\Program\Compiled.hex"

Else, write it yourself. The original IFI_Loader was written in Visual Basic (6?), and uses the MSCOMM control and an IFI DLL. Shouldn't be hard (Especially compared to writting an IDE :))
Raven_Writer
19-01-2004, 14:19
Is there a flag to have it download auto? like:
IFI_LOADER.EXE -d "C:\Code\Program\Compiled.hex"

Else, write it yourself. The original IFI_Loader was written in Visual Basic (6?), and uses the MSCOMM control and an IFI DLL. Shouldn't be hard (Especially compared to writting an IDE :))Re-writing an IFI Loader shouldn't be to much trouble. I'd just have to know what each function in the IFI DLL does. Although that shouldn't be to hard either (:D...based upon the fact that all you do is basically declare a variable).
Astronouth7303
19-01-2004, 14:28
Re-writing an IFI Loader shouldn't be to much trouble. I'd just have to know what each function in the IFI DLL does. Although that shouldn't be to hard either (:D...based upon the fact that all you do is basically declare a variable).

Try putting a reference to it in VB. Or use the dependency walker to get the names.
Raven_Writer
19-01-2004, 15:40
Try putting a reference to it in VB. Or use the dependency walker to get the names.Dependency walker?? (Sorry, I hardly ever use the tools MSVC++ 6.0 installs)

The reference is what I was thinking of doing. Thanks for the idea.

New TODO:
- Syntax Highlighting
- Custom made (hopefully built-in) IFI Loader

I don't know if the built-in IFI Loader would work considering that it's made in VB, but if not, I'll have my program accept command line parameters.
Astronouth7303
19-01-2004, 15:50
VB has no issues with command-line arguments. VB referencing doesn't work, I tried it. Yes, dependency walker is one of the tools in VS6. Point it at any Win32 module (I'd reomend PICBOOT.DLL). If you know how to read 'Hint', tell me. If we're lucky, how to download will be in documentation, like the dashboard stuff.
Raven_Writer
19-01-2004, 15:53
VB has no issues with command-line arguments. VB referencing doesn't work, I tried it. Yes, dependency walker is one of the tools in VS6. Point it at any Win32 module (I'd reomend PICBOOT.DLL). If you know how to read 'Hint', tell me. If we're lucky, how to download will be in documentation, like the dashboard stuff.I believe I've read the documentation on how the code is downloaded and such. I'll have to scrimmage up all the doc's I looked at before and see what I can find.