Literally Bits

The new version of the MPLAB C32 (v1.05) compiler is out and is filled with new features and a new (as in additional) DSP library designed for compatibility with the dsPIC standard DSP lib. But for me the most exciting piece of news is that “binary” is back.

One of the simplest extensions to the ANSI C standard  offered on all previous Microchip compilers was the ability to define and use binary literals using the “0b” prefix. Example:

int x = 0b000100011;     // instead of 0×23

Now you can use the binary notation with the MPLAB C32 compiler too.

I have to admit, when you are working with 32-bit  long literals, binary could get a bit … tyring, but if you are like me, with a ton of PIC18 and PIC24 code to use and re-use, it sure comes handy…

This entry was posted on 7. April 2009 at 08:50 and is filed under PIC32, Tools. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.