Okay, here's where EasyC and I are: I used easyC, yes, it works, yes, it makes stuff happen. However, I don't let my team (software captain here) use it. Yes, things get running faster with easyC, but you gain little if any understanding of the hardware that makes your software happen.
For example, in the pre season, software starts off by learning the architecture of an 18F series processor: the data buffers, internal peripherals, we even write a short bit of assembly code to show how your code looks in machine code (we blink an LED with two busy waits made from everybody's favorite DECFSZ instruction, but then the programmers can say they know a little assembly when asked
).
Also, we do about a week on binary math: handling binary fractions, how the ALU handles addition, how the hardware multiply works, bit shifting, etc. Also in the pre-season we teach all the sensors we've used in the past and how they're used. Over the year's we've compiled quite a library of drivers for various 'smart' sensors like cameras and ultrasonic sensors, so we make sure that the team understands how those drivers function, not just 'call this and it spits out a number'.
Really, the software kids love it. And, if you take the time to teach people and you don't tell them it's hard, freshmen understand it just fine.
Again, I'm not claiming C is any faster than easyC, but to me it takes a lot of the learning experience out of the software.
FIRST is supposed to prepare young people for the real world of engineering. At the company where I work, I'm currently writing a very low overhead display driver for a graphics LCD display from the ground up that will go on an industrial generator control... does easyC have a pre canned function for that? Does anyone know of any companies that use easyC?
Just my 2.14 yen.
-q