Summary of PICKITPLUS: AUTOWATCH – A NEW PIC PROGRAMMING TOOL
PICKitPlus: AutoWatch is a software tool designed to automate the programming of PIC microcontrollers across various IDEs and compilers. It eliminates manual intervention by monitoring source HEX files for changes and triggering automatic programming when updates are detected. The tool supports Pickit2, Pickit3 programmers, and Microchip Xpress and Curiosity boards, featuring robust handling of IDE folder structures and compatibility with MPLAB-X environments.
Parts used in the PICKitPlus: AutoWatch project:
- Pickit2 programmer
- Pickit3 programmer
- Xpress Microchip board
- Curiosity Microchip board
- MPLAB-X for Windows
- MPLAB-X Cloud
- Source HEX file
After 2 years in development, the PICKitPlus team is approaching the completion of their new programming tool called PICKitPlus: AutoWatch.
This new tool is designed to facilitate the automatic programming of PIC microcontrollers across a wide range of IDEs and compilers.
PICKitPlus: AutoWatch is software that enables you to simply and automatically program PIC microcontrollers across the very widest range of IDEs and compilers.
You simply select your programmer, select the source HEX file, select a few parameters and you are ready to automatically program your microcontroller. It will automatically detect and work with both the Pickit2, Pickit3 programmers and Xpress and Curiosity Microchip boards.
You select the programmer type, or programmer-on-board type. You manually select the microcontroller, or use automatic detection, then you click “Start”, the software will begin monitoring for changes to the source file and It will automatically program your chosen microcontroller whenever the source HEX file changes. That simple!
There are lots of features like pop programming event notices, you can control the ICSP programming performance, save/load projects and much more.
The new software does not need special integration with the IDE, therefore should work with the vast majority of IDEs. It correctly handles cleaning of IDE folder structures, and PICKitPlus: AutoWatch works with MPLAB-X for Windows and MPLAB-X Cloud.
You may be thinking “I can already do this with the PICKitPlus GUI application”. You can, sort of… but, HEF/SAF is not handled; the GUI will fail when the IDE cleans the folder structure; and it is just generally less robust.
The new tool handles the monitoring and programming procedure in a much more reliable manner and help you do the job in less time.
Read more: PICKITPLUS: AUTOWATCH – A NEW PIC PROGRAMMING TOOL
- What is the primary function of PICKitPlus: AutoWatch?
The software enables simple and automatic programming of PIC microcontrollers across a wide range of IDEs and compilers. - Can this tool work with existing IDEs without special integration?
Yes, it does not need special integration with the IDE and should work with the vast majority of them. - Which programmers are supported by the software?
The software automatically detects and works with Pickit2, Pickit3 programmers, and Xpress and Curiosity Microchip boards. - How does the tool handle IDE folder cleaning?
The new software correctly handles the cleaning of IDE folder structures where the GUI application would fail. - Does the software support MPLAB-X environments?
Yes, it works with both MPLAB-X for Windows and MPLAB-X Cloud. - What happens when the source file changes?
The software monitors for changes to the source file and automatically programs the chosen microcontroller whenever the source HEX file changes. - How does this tool compare to the PICKitPlus GUI application?
This tool is more reliable because it handles HEF/SAF and folder structure cleaning, whereas the GUI fails in those scenarios. - Are there features for managing projects?
Yes, the software includes features such as save/load projects and pop programming event notices.
