RE: [avr-gcc-list] Experimental WinAVR/avr-gcc update for

[E. Weddington]

> 
> So what is the relationship between Atmel and IAR? I mean 
I downloaded
> the eval copy of IAR's product, and I was entirely 
unimpressed. I'd
> probably like it more if the compiler integrated into the 
AVR Studio 4.


As to their relationship, you would have to ask Atmel. All 
I can do is speculate based on publically available 
information. I find it interesting that the file formats 
that AVR Studio does support include:
1. Nordic Object Format: This if for Atmel's assembler.
2. UBROF - _Proprietary format from IAR_.
3. COFF - For other 3rd party compilers.

Jörg Wunsch, when he was writing the AVR to COFF converter, 
pointed out that the COFF format is old and is very 
unsuitable as a debugging format. Additionally, it cannot 
support C++ features.

UBROF is proprietary to IAR. There is also a feature in AVR 
Studio that, if you use IAR, you can printf values (such as 
in debug code) and AVR Studio will automatically display 
them in a windows. Nice, huh? This feature is not found in 
any other compiler. 

Interestingly, IAR has a C++ compiler. So does AVR GCC, but 
GCC has to use the COFF format which doesn't support C++ 
features.

If Atmel supported the ELF format in AVR Studio, this would 
very much put GCC at least on par with IAR, wrt debugging 
in AVR Studio.

Hmm. You decide. ;-)

 
> Maybe I'll just write a decent IDE for the AVR, since I 
haven't seen one
> that I like yet.

I could always use help to add Project Management to 
Programmers Notepad, if you're interested.

Eric