Has anyone else noticed that Keil seem not to be supplying the source for FlashFS? It was in versions prior to version 4.20. Notice the new paragraph in the click-through license!
(Another thread comments also about USB source disappearing)
Time to use a different FlashFS, come to think of it, what is the need for RL-ARM license as the RTX source is included now in all MDK-ARM (ref: http://www.keil.com/arm/rl-arm/kernel.asp, bottom of page).
- Phil
I agree very good compiler, but with poor to average (now) binary only middle ware.
Somehow I suspect the number of support calls at the "4) argue for a few days as to if there is or is not a problem." stage will increase significantly as its been hard enough convincing Keil there is a problem even when you can actually point to the exact line or function!
One can only wonder what has prompted Keil to start this foot-shooting frenzy. We've been using Keil tools and middleware for some years now, but I have never felt that the products have been worth the (very high) price. The only reason we're using the uVision IDE is that occasionally we need to use the integrated debugger. The project/target management is a joke, and file grouping is so limited it is of no use.
The compiler itself has been good (except for one bug in a recent version that actually broke our code), and RTX has (in general) served us well, but these moves towards closing their middleware sources will force us to consider whether we should take a different path in the future.
I am pretty sure that Keil are relying on the fact that moving away from them comes at a cost, and that most customers therefore will choose to live with the changes. Keil will only reconsider if a large number of customers leaves them, but I'm not sure that is going to happen.
I took a brief look at uC/OS-II, and my first impression is that seems like a well-documented RTOS, and with a lot of choices when it comes to additional middleware, like IP/USB/CAN etc.
Øyvind Kaurstad,
I see it as an exercise in long term/short term planning/economics. I work for a small company that does not have the financial means to maintain the current arrangements with Keil as they are: Some budget was made available for the procurement of software licenses at the beginning of 2011, and we cannot exceed that budget - period. We rely mainly on the skill of our staff - development tools should only play a side-show (in my opinion).