Version holds a special place in many makers’ hearts. It was stable, it was fast, and it didn't have the licensing headaches of the newer XC8 Pro modes.
If you’ve been in the embedded game long enough, you know the name HI-TECH Software . Before Microchip absorbed them and folded the technology into the modern XC8 compiler, the standalone HI-TECH C Compiler (often called the "Pro" or "Standard" compiler) was the gold standard for PIC10, PIC12, and PIC16 series microcontrollers. Hi-tech C Compiler For Pic10 12 16 Mcus V9.83 Download
The safest "unofficial" source is the Internet Archive. Search for "HI-TECH C for PIC10/12/16 v9.83" on archive.org. Community members have preserved the installers here. Always hash-check (SHA256) against known community values before running. Version holds a special place in many makers’ hearts
e5b3c9a1... (Verify before installing!) Have a war story about moving from HI-TECH to XC8? Drop a comment below. Let’s hear how you solved the "bank switch" nightmare. Before Microchip absorbed them and folded the technology
Legacy Microchip FTP sites occasionally still serve these files. Try navigating to ftp.microchip.com and browsing deprecated tools. (Note: This is often shut down or requires partner login).