MicroC Overview : Languages Supported by MicroC : Activity Behavior: Graphical Implementation Languages

Activity Behavior: Graphical Implementation Languages
Statecharts

Statecharts are hierarchical state transition diagrams. That language is best in describing application modes and transitions between the modes, as well as application reaction to various events in each of the modes. This discrete behavioral language is very much powerful in describing such application modes and transitions between those modes. When other calculations needs to be defined, that are not mode-based, other languages, those that are described below, should be considered.

The implementation of Statecharts in MicroC is compact and efficient. The application uses a State Variable per each of the Activities implemented by a Statechart. States are encoded to reuse RAM bits. Several synthesis algorithms are used to reduce both the RAM and the ROM required to implement a Statechart on a base of “Pay for what is used”. The user should be aware that as the application maintains the State Variable, certain code (i.e., RAM and ROM) is required. Therefore, it is recommended to use that language whenever that information, i.e., the application state, is required.