MikroElectronika C and stuff for ARM

[RCMR]

I bought a couple of those Mini STM32 V3.0 boards with the 2.8" LCD touchscreen from DX -- to see if they'd be a nice platform for developing a few little projects.

The hardware seems nice enough but the boards come with a couple of mini-CDs that are filled with only Chinese-language documentation (bah!).

One of the disks looks as if it might have a version of the Kiel toolset with a keygen program (uh-oh) and to be honest, I really am not interested in using pirated software, even for playing around with.  However, the genuine item is way out of my price-range so I was looking around and found that MikroElectronika have got a version of their C compiler that now spits out ARM M3 code.

Trouble is, I haven't been able to find out much about this toolset in the way of independent reviews, user-feedback, discussions etc.  I have used the PIC version of their compiler and it's okay with half-useful libraries.

So I'm wondering a couple of things:

1. has anyone used the MikroC for ARM complier and how did they find it?
2. does anyone have any half-sensible documentation for these Chinese mini-ST32 V3.0 boards and LCDs?

[Spikee]

You can download the microC compiler for free. But you will be limited to 8Kb or so. I just ordered an stm32 dev board whit the MikroC compiler and i will let you know in a week or so. I only have used Avr studio before so it might be biased.

[RCMR]

You can download the microC compiler for free. But you will be limited to 8Kb or so. I just ordered an stm32 dev board whit the MikroC compiler and i will let you know in a week or so. I only have used Avr studio before so it might be biased.

I think they mentioned a 2K (word?) code limit for the unregistered version.

However, you can invest a *lot* of time evaluating a tool, only to find out that it's buggy or otherwise unsuitable -- hence, I was looking to try and get some input from others who may  have already had some experience.

[nctnico]

If you can invest a lot of time in a tool then I'd go for Eclipse + gcc. I admit there is a learning curve (but that goes for any IDE) but the reward is that you can use Eclipse for almost any programming language and gcc for almost every microcontroller out there.

[RCMR]

Hmmm... let's install Java runtime (Since Eclipse is a Java application)  -- the wonderful environment with so many zero-day exploits you could drive a bus through them   

Another Java Zero-Day Vulnerability Hits Black Market

And let's face it, Oracle's track record in fixing the vulnerabilities in Java is less than poor.

Don't get me wrong, I've used a lot of Java (even co-wrote a book on it) but right now, I'd only use it on a machine that was not going to be connected to the Net -- and my main development machine doesn't qualify under those criteria.

[andyturk]

YAGARTO is free and runs everywhere.
 
Java in browsers is bad (for lots of reasons). Stand alone Java apps are just executables. Running Eclipse on your dev box is not going to open it up to Chinese hackers. FUD much?

[M. András]

you can use the keil software with a simple registration for free and upto 32k code

[amyk]

Java in browsers is bad (for lots of reasons). Stand alone Java apps are just executables. Running Eclipse on your dev box is not going to open it up to Chinese hackers. FUD much?

In other words, do NOT install the browser plugin, just the JVM (which Eclipse comes with already). Then it is as safe as running any other application locally; this also means you shouldn't be downloading and running random .jar files just as you shouldn't be doing the same with .exes.

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

Java in browsers is bad (for lots of reasons). Stand alone Java apps are just executables. Running Eclipse on your dev box is not going to open it up to Chinese hackers. FUD much?

I think andyturk summed it up nicely and I think I might try Yagarto, I was looking at it today.

you can use the keil software with a simple registration for free and upto 32k code

How do they stop you compiling with keil and maybe using an open source linker for executables/libraries larger than 32k? Not that I would want to bypass the rules.

[nctnico]

Hmmm... let's install Java runtime (Since Eclipse is a Java application)  -- the wonderful environment with so many zero-day exploits you could drive a bus through them   
Don't get me wrong, I've used a lot of Java (even co-wrote a book on it) but right now, I'd only use it on a machine that was not going to be connected to the Net -- and my main development machine doesn't qualify under those criteria.

Utter nonsense. Nobody in their right mind has their PC connected to internet directly. If you work from a regular user account (IOW not administrator or root) and have a decent virus scanner installed malware will have a very hard time to get into your machine. My kids use their PCs from user accounts and I have not found any infection for years.

[M. András]

Java in browsers is bad (for lots of reasons). Stand alone Java apps are just executables. Running Eclipse on your dev box is not going to open it up to Chinese hackers. FUD much?

I think andyturk summed it up nicely and I think I might try Yagarto, I was looking at it today.

you can use the keil software with a simple registration for free and upto 32k code

How do they stop you compiling with keil and maybe using an open source linker for executables/libraries larger than 32k? Not that I would want to bypass the rules.

dunno, maybe you cant flash it up and the free version generates files only for itself you cant flash it up with another program as far as i brothered to read their descriptions from the version differences, btw i must say they version control system sucks like other big software companies damn keygen controlled software i dont get whats their motive with this system, try our software "cracked, no files modified just a serial number" and you will buy it eventualy?

[andyturk]

Nobody in their right mind has their PC connected to internet directly.

Oh crap! Really?

 

I've had my machines hooked up to the 'net directly for years. A couple of viruses got in during that time, but only on Winblows. OS X seems pretty resistant (especially when "Little Snitch" lets me know if something dodgy is trying to contact an unknown server). I still run XP within a virtual machine, but usually tell the VM that it's network cable is unplugged.

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

I have a firewall on my adsl router, its between my PC and the internet. I think that is pretty standard for adsl modems.
Not sure what happens on wireless usb devices though.

The firewall means you don't have to worry so much about open ports etc.