Trace Systems, Inc

Frankly, we admit and agree that the present version of HIDmaker FS is long overdue for an upgrade.  At this very moment, the newest version that we can provide to you is a Beta version we call HIDmaker FS 1.60, which is necessary for users of PICBASIC PRO 2.60.  If you are a PICBASIC PRO user, you should contact Dr. Bob by email for this Beta version.

We want you to know that we ARE working to add support for Microchip's 16-bit and 32-bit USB processors, so that HIDmaker will be able to support all PIC processor sizes, like TCPmaker already can.

We intend to release the product as HIDmaker32, which will contain support for all microchip USB processors of the 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit sizes.

HIDmaker32 will be a new product, and as such, will NOT be a free upgrade to HIDmaker FS users.  Registered users of HIDmaker and HIDmaker FS will be able to upgrade to HIDmaker32 by purchasing an annual maintenance contract at a very modest cost of $100 per year.  We hope you agree that this is still a pretty good deal, especially given the level support we have given you in the past, as well as the power that HIDmaker32 will give you in your new USB projects.

We have made a start on HIDmaker 32, but have had to postpone work on adding support for these processors to HIDmaker until after we had completed and released the initial version of the Simple Upgrade Management SYSTEM, which we are introducing in this issue. 

What We Plan To Do

Our initial approach will be to add support for just the Microchip C30 and C32 compilers for these devices in the first version of HIDmaker32. We will perhaps branch out to other compatible 16-bit and 32-bit PIC compilers in a later version of HIDmaker, IF enough customers express sufficient interest in them. 

Because Microchip changes their USB framework much more frequently nowadays than they did when they released their first full speed USB devices, for the new code generators we will provide a hybrid approach: the low level files that you won't need to touch will be those that Microchip provides in their USB libraries.  The high level files that HIDmaker32 generates, and which you will want to customize, will be as close as we can make them to the easy to work with HIDmaker files that we currently generate.  Most importantly, we will add extra library files to add all the important things that only HIDmaker provides, like automatic generation of code and USB descriptors, real packing and unpacking of data, and our exclusive Direct Transfer of Variables technology.

Please understand that we WILL continue to support the existing code generator frameworks for the 8-bit devices that you are using now, so you won't be forced to change to a different framework for new projects if you don't want to.  For the Microchip C18 compiler, we will provide two code generators: the code generator we are using now (with a few enhancements to make it easier for you to use interrupts with HIDmaker code), and a separate new C18 code generator that uses the new hybrid code framework.

We Will Need Your Help

Now would be a really, really good time to tell us about your wish list.  What capabilities would you love for us to provide in HIDmaker32, if we were only smart enough to provide them?

Also, we are going to be needing some serious Beta testers - no, Alpha testers, actually - when we get our first testable version of the new C30 and C32 code generators.  We will send out a call for testers at that time, but we expect you to be honest with us - we can only use  people who are serious about this.  We will need folks who will have the time to do some actual testing quickly, and provide feedback within a week.  Please note that only registered HIDmaker licensees can be considered.  If you can help test HIDmaker32, we'll find a way to make it worth your while.