MPLAB IDE Project Specs

[Raven_Writer]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by deltacoder1020

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]

Why reinvent the wheel?

[Raven_Writer]

Originally Posted by SeanCassidy

Why reinvent the wheel?

Because MPLAB doesn't have some features I want, so I'm creating my own version.

[mtrawls]

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]

Originally Posted by mtrawls

...(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]

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]

Originally Posted by mtrawls

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]

Originally Posted by SeanCassidy

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.

[Jay Lundy]

I'd just be happy if someone came up with a way to use the C18 compiler and linker with Visual Studio.

[deltacoder1020]

hmm... custom build steps, maybe?

[m0rph3us]

That's what I have done... It works miracles ... The only problem is that you still have to use the other program to send the program OI

[Astronouth7303]

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]

Originally Posted by Astronouth7303

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 (...based upon the fact that all you do is basically declare a variable).