5.19.3 8-bit Device Limitations

Some 8-bit devices lack conventional register resources to support a traditional stack-based storage and lifetime (e.g, Stack pointer, Frame pointer, working registers, etc). For code on any of these devices, the MPLAB XC8 compiler is not actually allocating space on a stack memory for the variables but statically allocating the variables in RAM. Therefore these variables will not display in the Variables window even when the option Show all local variables is selected. This means that the Watches window is the correct view for tracking these variables.

As a work-around for the Variables window, there is hybrid support offered when you select the Show only variables near PC location option (see red circle in graphic.) The information about each variable is visible as you step through the code where the variables are used.