" is rooted in the CPU, with branches consisting of
the on-chip peripherals. For example, when you choose a project built on the PIC16C64, you see an icon representing that processor as the root, and beneath are labeled icons of the 16C64's peripheral deivices: five I/O ports, capture/co
mpare and PWM registers, interrupts, and other elements.
Building an application amounts to clicking on a peripheral and selecting associated routines for controlling that device from MP-Driveway's built-in library. If you want to use PORTB as an input port, you click on the PORTB icon, and dialog boxes lead you to the appropriate routine. Once you've assembled all the control routines that your application needs, simply click on the Generate menu selection, and MP-Driveway emits C source code.
MP-Driveway is the result of a collaboration between Aisys (which sells Driveway for other chip families) and Microchip Technology. MP-Driveway sells for $495, and you will need the Byte Craft MP-C compiler ($795) to create an executable. (Microchip will have its own compiler available for $695 by the time you read this.) If your applications find you working frequently with Microchip's PIC family of processors, this is one product you must investigate.
Product Information
Microchip Technology
Phone: (602) 786-7299
Internet:
http://www.microchip.com
Visual RAD Gets Very Small
