Re: Dynamically loading a static C library (Updated; also compiler suggestion?)

Hello all!
(this is continuation of discussion of my problem in comp.lang.c; I
thought that it may belong to here also)

I am programming a microcontroller, ICPDAS i-8411 to be exact. (http://
www.icpdas.com/products/PAC/i-8000/i-8411-i-8811.htm)
Microcontroller not in the sense of "Embedded CPU" but "a small box".
A box has slots: one for CPU board and several more for I/O boards.
From the programmer's point of view microcontroller is a PC. It has:
- i186-compatible CPU; 512K RAM
- 512K flash-based disk with simple filesystem
- DOS-compatible OS in boot sector
- some specific devices

Manufacturer suggests using one of the following compilers:
- Borland C++ 3.1~5.02
- MSC 6.0
- MSVC (before version 1.52)
- TC 2.01 (*available for free)
- TC++ 1.01 (*available for free)
and supplies a system library for their controller for use with one of
the above compilers. Library doesn't have source and comes as .lib
and .h files. I also have some of the above compilers .

So, the proposed design cycle looks like this:
I write my program in 'C' and link against the manufacturer's library
with one of recommended compilers, on Windows PC (maybe even in a DOS
box). Then I transfer binary file to microcontroller using
manufacturer's terminal program. I run it. Repeat until satisfied with
result.

There are 2 major problems for me:

1. Proposed compilers are all old cruft.
I would like to use more up-to-date tools for programming my embedded
PC. I want something that is at least either (a) non-proprietary or
(b) modern, or both. The best I saw is Borland C++ 5.02 (in the modern
department, but still it could use some improvement) And how do you
obtain license for the compilers _that_ old? Will Borland or Microsoft
grant me license for them tomorrow? (or even today) Will DOS compilers
run on my computers tomorrow? (or even today)

2. No debugging.
It doesn't need explaining, I guess. Debugging is good.

So I started to think about using a Forth system on this controller. I
can choose a free as in freedom Forth for DOS, put it on controller's
disk and if I find a way to use system library from it, I'll be fine.
With a little modification, I hope, I will have a license-free
development environment with debugging. I'll also have the bonus of
the compiler on the target, just in case.

I want to use the supplied library because as opposed to
microcontroller as "Embedded CPU", I don't have the data*** for all
my hardware. I don't get schematics, it's not practiced in the case of
microcontrollers in the sense of "small box". Instead, I get system
library that should fit a lineup of controllers.

So, I thought that maybe I should dynamically load the system library
and gain acess to its functions. From what I gather LIB is a
collection of OBJ files in the OMF format, developed by Microsoft, but
later standardized. I found a bunch of information here, on the 'D'
community forum: http://www.dsource.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=959
Seems that if no one else, developers of exotic languages confront
this problem?

Either that, or I could use a better development environment for 16-
bit DOS. (But the debugging is out of the question, as I understand)

Previously I wrote:

I am programming an embedded controller that has a 'C' library for using
its system functions (I/O, timers, all the specific devices). The
supplied library has .LIB and .H files.

How can I dynamically load a LIB file and access all its functions?
Surely someone has solved similar task?

My intention is to use a Forth system for programming the controller,
calling library functions from it.

.