CCS Compiler on Windows ARM

asmallri · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 1655 Location: Perth, Australia

I read the great thread on Visual Studio Code and the CCS Compiler https://www.ccsinfo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=59296&start=15&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

But naturally once you see something like that, you want more :-)

After several decades working on Window's I have decided to move to the Apple platform, specifically the M4 mini family. What has been holding back for so long is that I am hooked on the CCS compilers for developing PIC24/dsPIC33 projects using the PCD compiler. I think these compilers are awesome.

However, despite having the PCWHD IDE suite, I work almost exclusively in the Microchip MPLAB-X IDE for anything related to Microchip microcontrollers. For other micros, I work with Video Studio Code.

For the Apple family of M series processors, Microchip support their IDE both natively on MacOS and also on Window's for ARM platform. However the CCS compilers do not currently support either of these platforms.

Ideally, as I only need the command line version of these compilers, I would like a mechanism that would allow me to wrap a command line compiler such that it, and only it, needs to be dealt with by Apple's Rosetta translation layer.

I thought this was a dead end because it would also require the CCS Plugin for the Microchip IDE. However, in the example for the work done with the integration of the CCS command line compiler with VS code, I can live without the Microchip IDE for the compilation part if I could use VS Code for that. I would still need to use Microchip's IPE to read and write the hex files to the PIC but that is ok.

So, about this wrapper? has anyone come across a mechanism that might work for this?
_________________
Regards, Andrew

http://www.brushelectronics.com/software
Home of Ethernet, SD card and Encrypted Serial Bootloaders for PICs!!

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19928

You can run the Linux version of the CCS compiler on the Mac using
Homebrew. However I just use a Windows VM.

robbincrusoe · Joined: 16 Jun 2022 Posts: 4 Location: Texas

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19928

As you will see, I use a Windows VM.
A few months ago, a poster was running your configuration. A Windows VM
on the M4, and was having an issue with the code giving an incorrect
maths result when run.
This was an issue with how the compiler was performing a couple of
operations, and CCS posted a fix for this,
I have got one M4 machine, and running Windows ARM as a VM on the
M4 works well, and with this fix, which is in the latest compilers.
Have you configured the VM to forward the ICD device to the VM?.
I use Parallels, and last used VMWare many years ago, so don't know
how you configure this. On Parallels, you get a pop-up on the Mac, when
you add a new device, asking if you want to connect this to the MacOS,
or to the virtual one, with an option to make this permanent. You can
also adjust these settings from the Control Panel.

temtronic · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 5:06 am

sigh, guess I'm too old to change. While I've got 3 or 4 MACs in the basement 'somewhere', I KNOW CCS runs on Windows.I no longer code 'professionally for profit' but if I was, could not use a MAC,too many unknowns, like that nasty 'math' problem Mr. T . pointed out. Makes me wonder if that's the 'tip of the iceberg' and what else can delay a project, upset the client when his product is delayed ? Have to wonder how much that cost in time and money when under Windows ...no problem.
Have to ask WHY 'change ships' ? You've got a KNOWN, SOLID 'platform' using WINDOWS and you KNOW that going to a MAC does HAVE problems. What are the real benefits of using something that you can't trust 100% ?

asmallri · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 1655 Location: Perth, Australia

asmallri · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 1655 Location: Perth, Australia

asmallri · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 1655 Location: Perth, Australia

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19928

That is a very good point. I run the ICD via a usb-3 hub, that runs all my
peripheral stuff. The thunderbolt ports are reserved for a second monitor,
and a raid system. The hub has the useful feature of separate switches
to enable/disable the ports, since I found I sometimes had issues after
a sleep.

Which ICD are you using?.
I have Mach, U40, U64, & U80. The 64 is more reliable than the U80.

temtronic · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 11:01 am

one's an original, though I did the 'double the memory cheat', one's a laptop ,almost as old ?, the 3rd is a clear case version. Might be next to the 2 boxes of Heathkit HAM radio gear...or the Swiss made translation turntable that came out of CSJH-FM. The 1st FM radio station in the Hamilton, Ontario area.
I KNOW they're NOT near the box of PIC16C84 and PIC16C71s !!!

robbincrusoe · Joined: 16 Jun 2022 Posts: 4 Location: Texas

robbincrusoe · Joined: 16 Jun 2022 Posts: 4 Location: Texas

robbincrusoe · Joined: 16 Jun 2022 Posts: 4 Location: Texas

asmallri · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 1655 Location: Perth, Australia

You might want t ask ccs if their debuggers are supported on ny Windows for ARM platforms.

For example, the CCS compiler does not integrate with Microchip's IDE on Windows for ARM.
_________________
Regards, Andrew

http://www.brushelectronics.com/software
Home of Ethernet, SD card and Encrypted Serial Bootloaders for PICs!!