How do I disable initialization of static variables?

[don]

Hi,

Immediately after main() in the LST file there are lots of CLRF instructions where static variables are being cleared. I don't need to have the static variables set to zero. Is there a way to disable this feature?

Thanks.

[Ttelmah]

Different answers according to what you really need.
First, if you want the variables initialised, but not to zero, then declare them with their values. So:

static int8 fred=100;

Which will make the compiler initialise them to your required value. Given that values must be initialised somewhere, this is a good way to deal with static values.
Second, remember that any variables declared in the 'main', inherently _are_ static already (only variables in subroutines are 're-used').
Third, if you must have static variables, and want them to retain their value on a warm boot (this is great if you are using 'restart_cause', and want values to not be reinitialised), then instead use the #locate declaration for the variable, instead of the 'static'declaration. This physically forces a value to be placed at a location in memory, that _you_ chose, and C will not initialise the area concerned. The value will be static, but not initilised by the compiler. This is how I declare 'static' values on code designed to handle a watchdog restart.

Best Wishes

[mskala]

I can't remember how I found this out, but for static variables that are declared outside of the main or any subroutines, just omitting the word 'static' keeps the compiler from generating the code to initialize to 0.

[Ttelmah]

If you declare variables outside the 'main', they become _global_ variables. These are inherently 'static', but because they are not declared as 'static', they are not zeroed. Difference is (of course), that they are accessible from anywhere. The use of 'static' variables, is normally to have a variable in a subroutine, that is 'distinct' from those externally.
As I said, it depends what you actually 'want'...

Best Wishes