How much has Microchip missed by not having an open source compiler?

[CafeLogic]

size doesnt matter... performance is. run the code in the mcu and record the speed of execution and report here.
unoptimized libraries/functions, whether algorithmitically or post compiled generated machine code, there should be some penalty in speed performance if its called thousands of time from say... in loop, for, while, iteration etc.

You guys are really a demanding bunch. If the application was performance sensitive, I wouldn't be using a PIC16. Furthermore, performance is generally going to follow code size with the obvious exceptions (in-lining, unrolling loops, etc.).  Just because I can't help myself, I did it anyway.

One iteration of the main loop with delays disabled is as follows:

PRO: 22,490 instruction cycles
PRO set to optomize for speed: 21,977 intruction cycles
LITE: 37,929 intruction cycles

[Mechatrommer]

You guys are really a demanding bunch...

maybe its just me. sorry if i sound too software'side. i need to know the limit of what i'm paying, so thats what i usually did.

thanx for the analysis. so 37,929 - 21,977 = 15952 ops, @1MHz = 15ms. for user interface based app, thats nothing. but for speed critical, such as sampling app, that can be something. so thats my conclusion from Cafe's case. i'm not saying good or bad. i just try to give a concrete and absolute judgement. so YMMV. Cheers.

[mikeselectricstuff]

If the application was performance sensitive, I wouldn't be using a PIC16

All applications are performance sensitive to some degree - it's just a matter of scale.
If it's a low-volume product and you're not worried about cost, sure use a higher end part. For low-volume products then the time spent squeezing maximum performance from the cheapest processor is worthwhile.

   

[arcom]

What image do you get from a microcontroller range named "PIC" ?

What image do you get from an MCU range named tinyAVR, megaAVR and AVR XMEGA?
To me they sound like something that came out of a Transformers movie or something from the trash Sci-Fi movies of the eighties.

It's just a name and as such, highly subjective due to language differences. For example, SE's new(ish) mobile phone called Kita doesn't mean much in english but in my language it stands for d*ck (imagine that with the marketing words such as "Twist, tilt, turn, smash...")


As for the compiler, I don't think that Microchip missed anything. They have a fully functional free version with limited optimizations and a more powerful Pro version which costs money. You get what you pay for. Personally, I'm tired of the "open source" cr*p and a huge amount of people who not only expect everything for free but also expect to get the source code and whine like babies when they don't get it.

[Psi]

What image do you get from an MCU range named tinyAVR, megaAVR and AVR XMEGA?
To me they sound like something that came out of a Transformers movie

haha i wouldnt know about that, i never did watch transformers as a kid, it just seemed silly to me.

I find the letters AVR sound fast and powerful (probably because its similar to TVR)

[mikeselectricstuff]

For low-volume products then the time spent squeezing maximum performance from the cheapest processor is worthwhile.

you mean hi-volume?

Oops - yes - edited while typing & forgot to change...!