Author Topic: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.  (Read 20383 times)

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Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« on: July 04, 2018, 07:25:07 pm »
I recently posted about of a new version of the software for the PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers - we call it PICKit Plus.

PICKit Plus comes in three variants - a Windows GUI application for the PICKIT2 programmer,  another Windows GUI application for the PICKIT3 programmer and a command line utility for both the PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.

We have updated, revised and added new protocols to support the Microchip 8 bit parts released since Microchip dropped support, and, very importantly support for the newer range of Microchip parts (hence the new protocols).  Updated the parts database, help etc.  So, we tested and got folks to test even more - results were very good.   We did not share too far as we had a 'Go To Market' plan.... see next.

Then, we started the 'Go To Market' plan.  The plan was relatively simple.  Option One was to ask Microchip to take the development under the banner of Microchip.  This is the easier option for everyone.  Microchip would get the credit for work, a commercial arrangement would cover the support costs, Microchip would 'certificate sign' the PICKit Plus applications (as this is not cheap) and then the software would be released to you all as freeware.  As it was in the past.

Well after working with the Microchip 8-Bit Division Vice President...the response he got was a bit of a surprise from the Microchip Programmer Division.
Quote
They (Microchip Programmer Division) did not seem very excited… (do not think they would like to prolong the old PICKiT products at all…..
Yes, a brace was missing in the response.  :-)

So, we have to go to the next step in the 'Go To Market' plan.  Find the funding for the application packaging, sort out licensing, and release a new package in a more complex manner. 

Summary.

We have a very good programming suite for the PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers that will extend the life of your programmer/investment.  No need to buy a new programmer just to program a part, and, all you old parts work with PICKIT Plus.   

Will post more news about formal release and how you can obtain when I am over the shock.

Evan :-(



#disappointedthatMicrochipdisrespect
 
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Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2018, 12:48:13 pm »
News:

We have released the software.

Ping, email, contact me. Provide a donation to cover the costs to publish the software and we will send a download URL.

:-)

This week --- we got busy shipping software.

 

Offline art-666

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2018, 05:42:42 pm »
I ask why is there no feed back from users.

Looks good from your point of view, but no way
would I buy into something with no track record.

even a limited demo of the program would let users
get a feel for the programmer, say with older pic chips.
 

Offline towlerg

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2018, 11:25:05 am »
I emailed the guy and he sent me fully working (albeit with 25 seconds delay) GUI Pickit2 code. Seemed to work just fine, on 18F26K42, even with delay still quicker than IPE.

He also has a Pickit3 GUI and a Pickit2/3 command line programmer.

He's looking for a "contribution" of £10 each or £23 for all three.

I was kindda tempted by the Pickit2/3 commandline but as I've already written the code to detect P2 or P3 and call the appropriate programmer code, I didn't bother.

I beleive he is genuinely looking for funds to certify the code, but I am at a loss to explain what cerification he is trying to get.
 

Offline Kean

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2018, 08:27:20 pm »
I sent him (Anobium) a PM a week ago but haven't had a reply
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2018, 09:26:36 pm »
@Kean.  Sorry never got the message.  I was just checking in.  I have sent you a PM.

@biggles.  I cannot reply as you EEVBlog inbox is full.

@towlerg.  I would be grateful for a donation. Please. The certification is to sign the application to prevent the application being treated as malware (a serious issue for Windows 10 users) and the certification give some 'validation' to the authenticity of the application.

@All.  We can, and we do, respond very quickly.  When you contact please provide your email address and then contact is easier.

Let me take answer the no track record.  I am co-developer of a microcontroller compiler - in development since 2007 now with three major releases a year, I also led the development of Microsoft Office Groove 2007 and 2010.  And.... I am the UK&I CTO of one of the largest IT organisations.  I have a track record.

 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2018, 09:32:43 pm »
@art-666.  You raised a great point about a limited demo.  We did have one. I posted a few months ago.  But, we have closed the test program down.   I did provide limited demos to a lot of people and we got lots of great feedback.

And, please note the context for the release.  We were working with the 8-bit Business Unit of Microchip and they supported the development program in terms of 'go to market'.  It was the Programmer Business Unit of Microchip that does not want the life of the older programmers extended.  Our desire was to get the code under the banner of Microchip - then, it would have been a very different outcome.

Cheers

Evan
« Last Edit: July 16, 2018, 09:59:03 pm by Anobium »
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2018, 06:19:31 am »
@Biggles.   PM could not be sent to 'biggles' as their inbox is full

:-)
 

Offline CJay

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2018, 07:56:18 am »
Ah, I misread at first and thought it was for PICStart Plus, shame, I had high hopes I could dig out my old favourites and get them going with a bunch of new devices on Win10.

Interesting though, I like my PK2 as well so if there's a demo version I'd like to see it, screenshots and supported device list at least if not a feature limited demo
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #9 on: July 18, 2018, 06:25:06 pm »
This is a YouTube video I posted last week: See   

and, for a feature list: See gcbasic.sourceforge.net/pickitPlus

I do hope these help.

Evan
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2018, 04:58:03 pm »
An update... we are currently fixing a long standing bug where some devices loose the BANDGAP configuration and we are updating the devices supported.


Re BandGap this should be fixed in the next few weeks and then released as part of our release cycle.

For latest list of devices download https://sourceforge.net/projects/pickit3plus/files/readmetxt.markdown/download

 
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2018, 03:07:32 pm »
Update

Added new parts and update the parts database to improve quality.

Latest version is 178 and is available for download on PICKItPlus Sourceforge web site.
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #12 on: August 20, 2018, 06:33:09 am »
Update

Updated the parts database to improve support for 16(l)f191xx  parts.  The config mask was incorrect. Now corrected.


See http://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/pickitPlus for details on PICKit Plus for the PICkit™ 2 and PICkit™ 3 applications.  PICKit 2Plus and PICKit 3Plus  PICKit Plus are a replacement for the out of support Microchip PICKit2™ and PICKit3™ GUI software.  The PICKit Plus software  provides supports the lastest 8-bit Microchip microcontrollers.
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2018, 01:45:59 pm »
Update:  PICKitPlus resolves the BANDWGAP issue version 4.0.61.25 or greater
 
PICKitPlus resolves the BANDWGAP issue with 12f675 and other 12f and 16f devices.  With PICKit Plus you can easily reset/recover the BANDGAP. It is as simple as clicking the text in the user interact 'BandGap'.  Then, Erase or Write.  Simple.
 
See  http://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/Typesetter/index.php/pickitPlus on how to obtain PICKit Plus.
 
Evan
 

Offline ruben pena

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2018, 04:22:43 pm »
My email is rubenpenavaldes@gmail.com
please send me a download link.
Grettings...
Ruben de la Pena V.
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #15 on: September 05, 2018, 06:49:01 pm »
Sent to your personal email address shown above.

Here is the URL to the key information.  http://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/Typesetter/index.php/pickitPlus

Evan
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #16 on: October 01, 2018, 08:21:24 pm »
Another step forward.

PICkitPlus now supports HEF and SAF memory.

You can write, merge, write and retain HEFSAF,  erase and retain HEFSAF.

PICKIT 2 and  PICKIT 3 programmere are supported,  of course.

Tested on 16f and 18f. Including the 18f25k83  and the 1825k42 family parts. For the 16f we tested 16f1454 and 16f1459.  All works a treat.

No more cutting and slicing Hex files.  Read and Write as normal and the HEFSAF is automatically managed.

This is update is a new version of the GUI software, an updated parts database with the HEFSAF parameters, and a new command line utility that also supports HEFSAF.

So easy to use.
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #17 on: October 04, 2018, 10:37:17 am »
A few new videos.


How to use the software with all the functional changes including HEF/SAF support. How to install to a quick navigation around the software.

See

A video that shows the details on HEF/SAF support

See

More videos to come...

Details on how HEF/SAF works, how to integrate into MPLAB-X ( how to avoid using MPLAB-X or MPLAB-IPE to progam a device).

And...

PICkit2 and PICkit3 clone manufactures are asking for certification that PICKit Plus works with the clones.... yes they do!!!! 
 

Offline technix

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #18 on: October 04, 2018, 10:49:25 am »
Is there a Linux/macOS version? At least the command line version?

If there is a macOS/Linux command line version but no GUI, I can try create a GUI using Cocoa (macOS) and GNUstep (Linux)
 
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Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #19 on: December 03, 2018, 08:59:40 pm »
We are working on Linux and Mac versions.  I will post when we have news.
 

Offline AnobiumTopic starter

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #20 on: February 19, 2019, 07:41:01 am »
We are now preparing the design and functionality of the Linux version.

How much interest is there in a Linux version?  same functionality as the new Windows commandline - essentially, it will program all the old and new parts.

No point in developing if only one person wants it.

:-)
 

Offline technix

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #21 on: February 19, 2019, 12:06:11 pm »
We are now preparing the design and functionality of the Linux version.

How much interest is there in a Linux version?  same functionality as the new Windows commandline - essentially, it will program all the old and new parts.

No point in developing if only one person wants it.

:-)
If you are careful, the exact same command line code used for Linux can be reused for macOS. That means use libhidapi to access the USB device (since libhidapi abstracted the OS-specific code away for you) and use POSIX API for the user interface.

And it would be better if you can provide a library version so I can create a Mac App out of it with the GUI and putting it on Mac App Store.
 
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Offline KL27x

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #22 on: February 19, 2019, 10:18:40 pm »
Does this mean PICKit+ software can be used with a PK2, and the device file is updated to support the latest 16F parts? And is P2G supported with PK2?

Do you have to use PCKit+ software? Or do you also have a updated device file that works with the original PK2 software?
 

Offline Nerull

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #23 on: February 20, 2019, 08:01:59 pm »
Is there any chance of this working with the PKoBs found in the Curiosity HPC board? AFAIK its a stripped down PK3.

We had hoped to use them with a 18F4520, but MPLAB says it is not supported. Moving to a newer chip is not the end of the world, but a bit of an annoyance.
 

Offline geraldfryjr

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Re: PICKit Plus for PICKIT2 and PICKIT3 programmers.
« Reply #24 on: February 27, 2019, 01:34:27 pm »
I use linux, and I know I bunch of people that use it for development as well as found in 100's of Forums on FB that I am in.

I have Everything from  Atmel to STM to Xilinx running under Linux and especially Microchip stuff, so Ya, a Linux port will be  Greatly Appreciated by All !!   :-+

jer  :)
 


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