Z-World RabbitCore RCM3200 User Manual - 3.  S

User’s Manual

17

3.  S

OFTWARE

 R

EFERENCE

Dynamic C is an integrated development system for writing

embedded software. It runs on an IBM-compatible PC and is

designed for use with Z-World controllers and other controllers

based on the Rabbit microprocessor. Chapter 3 provides the

libraries, function calls, and sample programs related to the

RCM3200.

3.1  More About Dynamic C

Dynamic C has been in use worldwide since 1989. It is specially designed for program-

ming embedded systems, and features quick compile and interactive debugging in the real 

environment. A complete reference guide to Dynamic C is contained in the Dynamic C  

Premier User’s Manual.

You have a choice of doing your software development in the flash memory or in the data 

SRAM included on the RCM3200. The advantage of working in RAM is to save wear on 

the flash memory, which is limited to about 100,000 write cycles. The disadvantage is that 

the code and data might not both fit in RAM.

NOTE: An application can be developed in the data SRAM, but should be run from the 

program execution SRAM after the programming cable is disconnected. To run the 

application in the fast program execution SRAM, select 

Code and BIOS in Flash, 

Run in RAM

 from the Dynamic C 

Options > Compiler

 menu.

NOTE: Do not depend on the flash memory sector size or type. Due to the volatility of 

the flash memory market, the RCM3200 and Dynamic C were designed to accommo-

date flash devices with various sector sizes. 

The disadvantage of using flash memory for debug is that interrupts must be disabled for 

approximately 5 ms whenever a break point is set in the program. This can crash fast inter-

rupt routines that are running while you stop at a break point or single-step the program. 

The flash memory and SRAM options are selected with the 

Options > Compiler

 menu.

Dynamic C Premier provides a number of debugging features.  You can single-step your 

program, either in C, statement by statement, or in assembly language, instruction by 

instruction. You can set break points, where the program will stop, on any statement. You 

can evaluate watch expressions. A watch expression is any C expression that can be eval-

uated in the context of the program. If the program is at a break point, a watch expression 

can view any expression using local or global variables. If a periodic call to 

runwatch()

is included in your program, you will be able to evaluate watch expressions  by hitting 

 without stopping the program.