AVR-Chat

> From: rob@usbmicro.com
> 
> > (Off List)
> 
> >  - what do you think?
> 
> We all think you posted this to the list. :-P

Well Rob, I guess I made my question to Tim moot!  I keep forgetting to change the
'To' address ... (hangs head in shame) ...


My experience with CrossWorks so far:

I have downloaded CrossWorks and activated the 30-day trial license.

I must say that my first impression of the user interface is truly a breath of fresh
air!

I have not used it to flash any code to a processor yet but I have done a quick
compile and run it within the built-in simulator which was straight-forward.

As with any "full featured" environment there are lots of options (I like the
Debug/Release configuration mechanism) and it will take a bit of time to find my way
around.

I was surprised to learn that CrossWorks comes with built-in support for
multitasking with knowledge of tasks within the debugging environment.  I don't yet
know the memory overhead for the multitasking but I'll be looking into it.

From doing some looking around I think that the IDE allows you to add Java functions
that are invoked by the debugger - a cool way to implement extensibility.  One of
these displays tasks running, etc. when control passes from the processor to the
debugger and (apparently) allows the debugger to load the processor context of an
individual task.  This is similar to software I developed professionally to support
banking networks on a multitasking system for a fault-tolerant multi-processor
system manufactured by Tandem Computers (now part of HP).

The IDE also supports loading and debugging "external" projects (i.e.: not built by
CrossWorks) so I assume that it can at least load and debug GCC (WinAVR) code -
possibly even compile it by invoking WinAVR but I have not looked into this yet.
That would be handy for existing projects that one does not want to convert to the
CrossWorks compiler, library, etc.

In summary:

- CrossWorks has told me that I may license it for personal use even though part of
my use is for an item that I'll be selling (but is still connected with my hobby). 

- My first impression of the product is very positive and, if my impression holds as
I get more into it, well worth the $150 personal license fee and I might even kick
in extra to encourage them in their efforts.  As a retired software developer I
value good tools and can appreciate the effort involved in developing and supporting
good software products.

- If you make serious money developing software (especially if on multiple platforms
that CrossWorks supports - AVR, ARM, etc.) I would say it's worth the $1,500
Commercial license fee.

Did I say I liked it?  :-)

Eugene: I guess that answers your question also :-)
 
Cheers,

Chuck Hackett
"Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment"
7.5" gauge Union Pacific Northern (4-8-4) 844 http://www.whitetrout.net/Chuck