GCBASIC

Our mission is to create the best programming tools for Microchip PIC, AVR and LGT microcontrollers.   

 

Our software is called GCStudio.  The  GCStudio suite is robust and fully functional compiler and assembler.   GCStudio includes the GCBASIC compiler which is the fastest method to program a Microchip PIC, AVR or LGT 8-bit microcontroller.  It supports those just starting and the professional user.

 

We have has three main aims - to remove the need for repetitive assembly commands, to produce efficient code, and to make it easy to take code written for one microcontroller type and run it on  another microcontroller type.   The design intent is to remove the complexity of using and programming a microcontroller.     GCStudio is suitable for beginners, for those who do not like or wish to learn assembly language and for experienced microcontroller programmmers.   

 

The GCBASIC  compiler, which is at the core of GCStudio, is available for Windows, Apple Operating Systems and Linux.

 

We have different IDEs.   All versions use the same common core toolchain the difference is the user experience. 

  • GCStudio - the latest IDE
  • GCBASIC IDE  - legacy using the SynWrite editor as the IDE
  • Graphical GCBASIC - legacy using a Graphical User Interface as the IDE

GCBASIC IDE

This IDE is called  GCStudio.

It is based on VSCode released by Microsoft.

Adapted and modified for GCBASIC and maintained by Angel Ivan Mier Rangel.

GCStudio features:

  • Automatic updates
  • Deep integration with the GCBASIC compiler
  • Multiple programmer selection
  • Editor with syntax highlighting and code folding
  • Sub/function list
  • Autocomplete
  • Context sensitive help (F1)
  • Multifile tabs and bookmarks
  • Doubleclick on compiler errors moves the cursor to the sourcecode error line
  • Oneclick assemble/compile/flash microcontroller (F5, F6, F7, F8)
  • Serial Terminal software 
  • Programmming software
    • PicKit2 and PicKit3
    • AVRdude and Avrdude-GUI
    • Microchip Xpress Board programmer
    • Microchip IPE automation tool
    • TinyMultiBootloader+
    • And, many more programmers

The GCStudio uses the following tool chain as follows:

  • VSCode 
  • PPS Tool for Microchip Peripheral Pin Select 
  • XpressLoader 
  • Putty and Terminal 
  • TinyMultiBootloader+ 
  • WinPICgm 
  • PicKit3 Gui 
  • IPE-Pusher 
  • PicKit2 Gui 
  • PicKit2Cmd 
  • Micronucleus 
  • Avrdudess 
  • Avrdude

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GCBASIC Compiler SYNTAX

The syntax of GCBASIC language is based on that of QBASIC/FreeBASIC, but, with some adaptions to suit the vastly different system that it compiles for - a microcontroller.

GCBASIC will allow you to program most 8 bit PIC microcontrollers (10F, 12C, 12F, 16C, 16F, 18C and 18F chips), and most AVR and LGT  microcontrollers (Classic AVR, Tiny AVR and Mega AVR).


GCBASIC features are:

  • Simple, useful language
    • Standard BASIC flow control statements - If, Select Case, Do, For, While-Loop
    • Support for multiply, divide, add, subtract, Boolean operations and comparisons.
    • Bit, Byte, Word, Long and Integer and String data types, in addition to byte and word arrays.
    • Subroutines and Functions
    • Inline assembly, in most cases without any special directives
    • Data tables
    • Complex Maths
  • Portable, reusable code:
    • Supports  8-bit PIC and AVR microcontrollers
    • Write code for a TinyAVR, easily adapt it for an 18F
    • Automatically recalculates all delay commands depending on the clock speed of the chip
  • I/O capabilities:
    • Standard LCD and GLCD routines
    • Routines for on-chip A/D, I2C, PWM (8bit, 10bit, 12bit and 16bit), SPI, USART, EEPROM , Timers
    • RS232 communications - rates between 300 and 256000 bps with user configurable parity, start and stop bits.
    • PS/2 keyboard reading and 4x4 Keypad
  • Other features:
    • Libraries for the largest range of add-on components
    • Extensive help file and forum
    • Several translations
    • Generates standard MPASM compatible assembly code for PIC, or avrasm2 compatible code for AVR.

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You already know PIC Developing with another Programming environment?

Please look here for an enlighted story

GCBASIC HISTORY

  

GCBASIC was initially developed in 2007 by Hugh Considine and over the years a growing number of developers have support the Open Source development.   The key developers and key community member are:

Hugh Considine Lead Developer
Evan Venn Design Authority, Main library developer and Release Manager
Angel Rangel Design Authority and developer for GCStudio
William Roth LCD, Timers, SMT Libraries developer
Theo Loermans LCD and Libraries developer
Chris Roper Utilities and QA
Joe Realmuto GLCD developer
Kent Schafer PWM and GLCD developer
Pete Everett PPS Tool developer
Frank Steinberg Lead IDE developer
Bernd Dau Uber Web Master
Stefano Bonomi Two-wire LCD subroutines
Geordie Millar Swap and Swap4 subroutines
Finn Stokes 8-bit multiply routine, program memory access code   

 

If you are curious what you can do with GCBASIC.  Watch the video below - this shows the some of the capabilities of GCBASIC.

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A quick overview of Great Cow BASIC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphical GCBASIC

Graphical GCBASIC is our legacy icon based program editor. It allows you to create GCBASIC programs without having to memorise commands. This makes it particularly useful for those who have never done any programming before. And, as with GCBASIC, it's completely free!

Graphical GCBASIC is tightly integrated with GCBASIC - it will work with all of the same chips, and loads and saves GCBASIC programs directly. You can even copy and paste between Graphical GCBASIC and a text editor with a GCBASIC program in it! GCGB will load GCB libraries, and when you're comfortable to leave the icons behind, your GCGB programs can be edited like any other GCBASIC program.

Currently, Graphical GCBASIC will only run on Windows and requires the .NET Framework 1.1 or higher.   

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Important Links 

Help                             - a searchable comprehensive and Help system - this is updated daily

Forum                          - the user forum has a vast amount of information and you can ask the community for help and advice.

Microcontrollers        - GCBASIC supports more than 1100+ microcontrollers.

Hardware                    - this add-on hardware is already supported - this list grows weekly.

Download                    - this is where to download the software

Demo Code                 - this is where we have a huge repository of demonstration code.  To access select here

Showcase Collection  - and do not miss the collection of great projects published by the users of GCBASIC

Never miss a Release or an

important Update! News feed

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