Here is the critical update as of 2024-2025: Microchip Technology no longer hosts the standalone HI-TECH C v9.83 installer on their main website. They have transitioned fully to the MPLAB XC8 compiler.
However, because v9.83 was a perpetual license release (and many developers have legal backups), it remains available through: hitech+c+compiler+for+pic10+12+16+mcus+v983+download+updated
Important: v9.83 exists in two editions: Here is the critical update as of 2024-2025:
You need a free MyMicrochip account. If you don’t have one, register. Microchip uses this to track legacy software downloads. Important: v9
For nearly three decades, embedded systems engineers and hobbyists have faced a critical question when working with Microchip’s popular 8-bit PIC microcontrollers: Which C compiler offers the most efficient code for limited ROM and RAM?
The answer, for millions of legacy projects and industrial systems, has consistently been the HI-TECH C Compiler, specifically the Pro edition for PIC10, PIC12, and PIC16 families. Even after Microchip’s acquisition of HI-TECH Software and the introduction of the XC8 compiler, the standalone v9.83 release remains a gold standard for stability, speed, and predictable compilation.
In this article, we provide an updated, complete walkthrough for finding, downloading, installing, and using HI-TECH C Compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCUs v9.83 (the final legendary release).