New version of FAT16 library

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ISL_Dave
Posts: 695
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 09:48
Location: Sheffield

New version of FAT16 library

#1 Post by ISL_Dave » 01 Nov 2011 11:14

Hi, I have a product that uses the FAT16 library and have just done my routine check for update and found a new compiler is available.

Before I installed it I noticed that the FAT16 library is much improved but this causes me some concerns.

I have a product that now uses 98% of my program memory and have to assume the new FAT16 library will be larger so want to ensure that when I compile my code, it will not try and add in the extra nice features that I will not be using.

Has anyone any idea if upgrading will cause me any issues.

Thanks for reading.
Dave

pk7639
Posts: 24
Joined: 24 Jun 2011 05:07

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#2 Post by pk7639 » 01 Nov 2011 12:12

Dave, I have a license of MikroC v5.2 running at home and an older (I assume) version running at the office. I've just built an app that used the MMC Fat 16 library at home and noted the RAM and ROM numbers, I'll build the same source at work in about 12 hours and compare.. Will this help?

Cheers

PK

pk7639
Posts: 24
Joined: 24 Jun 2011 05:07

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#3 Post by pk7639 » 02 Nov 2011 03:54

OK, same (FAT-16 library using) code, 18F67J10
MikroC 5.01 RAM: 2911 ROM: 47567
MikroC 5.2 RAM: 3632 ROM: 49952

Looks suspiciously like there's an extra 512byte buffer in there!.....
PK

ISL_Dave
Posts: 695
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 09:48
Location: Sheffield

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#4 Post by ISL_Dave » 02 Nov 2011 10:25

Wow, thanks for doing your comparisons for me.

It looks like both would cause me a problem because I use most of the available ram as a UART receive buffer and only have 201 bytes left and I do not believe I would be able to find the extra 2.3Kb of memory.

Do you know if there is still the ability to use the old FAT16 library or am I now stuck with build v.5.0.1 forever?

My next project would benefit from the extra features of the new library but not at the expense of losing the ability to make changes to my old code.

Cheers,
Dave

pk7639
Posts: 24
Joined: 24 Jun 2011 05:07

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#5 Post by pk7639 » 02 Nov 2011 11:55

I've looked but I can't seem to find a post detailing the changes to the new library.. Dave, I share your concerns about just blindly porting to a new codebase that has obviously undergone some changes... Now most of those changes are probably good ones, but I'd really like to know what they are before I release a firmware update to a thousand customers....

Cheers

PK

ISL_Dave
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Location: Sheffield

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#6 Post by ISL_Dave » 02 Nov 2011 12:02

I spotted the information relating to the improved library on the downloads page and this is why I never installed it until I am absolutely sure I can still use the old library.

Improving the library is a good thing as the extra features are likely to be useful but if it means the newer version is no longer compatible with existing projects then there must be a way of using the older library for compatibility.

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janko.kaljevic
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Joined: 16 Jun 2011 13:48

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#7 Post by janko.kaljevic » 04 Nov 2011 15:30

Hello,

We will revision our new FAT16 library.
Also we are always trying to improve our libraries with minimal changes visible to user, so they can compile their old programs on new libraries too.

Best regards.

pk7639
Posts: 24
Joined: 24 Jun 2011 05:07

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#8 Post by pk7639 » 08 Nov 2011 07:22

That'd be great, any chance you could put a link into this thread when it's ready?

TA

PK

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janko.kaljevic
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Joined: 16 Jun 2011 13:48

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#9 Post by janko.kaljevic » 08 Nov 2011 12:10

Hello,

As soon as we release them we will make public announcement.
Please follow our news page on mikroE web site for more details:
http://www.mikroe.com/eng/news/index/

Best regards.

Bushman
Posts: 27
Joined: 11 Apr 2006 16:55
Location: Canada

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#10 Post by Bushman » 19 Nov 2011 21:52

those extra 500 bytes or so that we have to pay for new features is not good at all, in such RAM limited devices we are using, PIC18F452 in my case. That would be great if the new release of the library is more RAM friendly.

pk7639
Posts: 24
Joined: 24 Jun 2011 05:07

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#11 Post by pk7639 » 30 Nov 2011 09:23

pk7639 wrote:OK, same (FAT-16 library using) code, 18F67J10
MikroC 5.01 RAM: 2911 ROM: 47567
MikroC 5.2 RAM: 3632 ROM: 49952

Looks suspiciously like there's an extra 512byte buffer in there!.....
PK
MikroC 5.3 (still using the new FAT16 library, not the legacy one) RAM: 3630 ROM: 46217

PK

ISL_Dave
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Location: Sheffield

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#12 Post by ISL_Dave » 30 Nov 2011 10:35

Thanks PK for doing your tests, It was really appreciated.

It is just as I suspected, they would not be able to reduce the RAM (ignoring the 2 bytes) but they have worked wonders at reducing the ROM usage.

I wish I could spare those extra bytes of RAM as it would be really useful to use the new library but maybe on the next project.

At least I have been able to upgrade the IDE as the legacy MMC library is what I needed.

HINT: It would be nice to know in the help files exactly how much RAM/ROM a routine requires unless this is micro specific.

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janko.kaljevic
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Re: New version of FAT16 library

#13 Post by janko.kaljevic » 01 Dec 2011 12:18

Hello,

New MMc library will use more RAM than previous, because of the new features that were implemented.
For users that can not afford that in their existing projects we have provided legacy library.

Thanks for suggesting this, I will forward it to our developers.

Best regards.

ISL_Dave
Posts: 695
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 09:48
Location: Sheffield

Re: New version of FAT16 library

#14 Post by ISL_Dave » 01 Dec 2011 12:33

Thank you for your reply and passing the feedback on to your developers. I have already upgraded the IDE as I am still able to use the Legacy library and fully understand why the new library uses more RAM.

Kind Regards,
Dave

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