Microchip’s PICkit™ 2 and PICkit™ 3 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer provide a low-cost hardware debugger and programmer for Microchip microcontrollers. Lots and lots of us use these programmers.
Software support for these programmers ceased in 2009 and 2012 for the PICkit™ 2 and PICkit™ 3 respectively with some community support for new microcontrollers but many, many new chips were not supported at all. This means programming newer microcontrollers meant that you have to install and use MPLAB-X. Support for the newer microcontroller was simply not possible within the architecture of the PICkit™ 2 and PICkit™ 3 GUI software.
PICKit 2Plus and PICKit 3Plus
Well… the answer. A replacement programmer software called PICKitPlus.
PICKitPlus is a total replacement for the existing Microchip PICKit2™ and PICKit3™ GUI software. We also have a new command line utility on Alpha testing.
PICKitPlus for the PICkit™ 2 and PICkit™ 3 support these newer microcontrollers. Microcontrollers controllers like the 16f18855, 16f118313, 18f24k42 and so on.
The PICKit2Plus™ and PICKit3Plus™ has all new capabilities – is it not just an update to the microcontroller database. This is a major update to the software.
The intent of PICKit2Plus™ and the PICKit3Plus™ is:
Support reprogramming of any 8-bit PIC microcontroller.
Use the full USB speed of 12 Mbits/s interface to host PC.
Be Great Cow BASIC IDE and MPLAB IDE-X compatible... and any other compiler....
Read/write program and data memory of the 8-bit microcontroller
Install and operate using Windows 10, Windows 7 and other versions are support. .NET is a prerequisite.
Interested?
I am completing final testing. It is going well but I will only know if this software really works if I release for testing.
Sign-up: All you have to do is install the software and let me know the results. I know that I need to grow the microcontroller database as this has not been maintained by Microchip since 2012 - but, this is task that can be managed.
Last edit: Anobium 2018-04-04
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Good day to all in this forum.
I am very new to this IDE.
I installed on my pc the Great Cow BASIC (0.98.01 2017-10-27) and I have the PICKIT_3 already connected and working wit Mplab IPE.
How could i make it working with GCB Please ? I would like to see a step by step procedure if possible .
Where are the . HEX files stored please ?
Thanks for helping.
regards,
Ambro
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Well as I am already testing I probably don't need to sign up, but just wanted to let the others know that this is a phenomenal piece of software. It not only supports all of the current devices used with GCBASIC it also fixes some bugs in the Original and adds some subtle new features.
If, like many of us, you frequently switch between PIC devices give it a try.
You will not want to go back to IPE I can assure you :)
And the more devices it is tested on the greater the confidence going forwards.
Cheers
Chris
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I'd like to test pk2plus. Anobium asked me to test some new software on win 10.
It worked ok with one pc but didn't show in gcb on start menu on another. It did install and is in uninstall list though.
Test on different pcs also.
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@Stan. This is about the functionality for the PICKitPlus programmer software. We need to focus on that - the installation icons can be sorted if we know the PICKitPlus programmer software works.
You are now signed up.
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I'm interested in the new PICkit ™ 2 software. It is not an urgent necessity but I am very curious to try it. Is the software installed on the old PICkit2 or in GCBasic? is it then possible to go back to the old one?
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It is a standalone program, a new version of the PICKit2 GUI application.
It installs separately to both GCBASIC IDE and your existing PICKit2 software.
So yes it is possible to go back to the old version, but I bet you won't want to :)
Cheers
Chris
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I will have to rule myself out of this. Not because I'm unwilling, but as a Mac user, it looks as though I won't have the capacity to do so. Best of luck, and thanks to all for the continued work that is put into GCB.
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What is the difference between Pickit2 + and Pickit3 +?
Typically, a Pickit2 programmer is black and a Pickit3 programmer is red. But, I do not think this is the question.
See this link http://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/pickit - there are two links near the bottom of the page - this will show the differences from a Microchip point of vew.
From my knowledge and insights the difference is a different solution architecture between the Pickit2 and Pickit3. Is is this architecture that means that the software called PICKit 2Plus and PICKit 3Plus needs to address.
PICKit 2Plus addresses the Pickit2 programmer.
PICKit 3Plus addresses the Pickit3 programmer.
PICKit 2Plus
An updated version of the applicatio software. Retaining all of the existing capabilities such as auto-setting the OSCCAL and the Serial and Logic analyers.
PICKit 3Plus
Retaining all of the existing capabilities but Serial and Logic analyers were not supported and to date I have not had time to reimplement.
Is Pickit3 + Ready? I want to programming 16f18855, I have Pickit3
I have an early version. It works with the 16f188555 but very few of the other required chagnes are implemented.
I want to complete the testing of the PICKit 2Plus first, so, I do not have to keep going around in circles fixing both applications.
You will have to wait a week or so until the PICKit 2Plus is completed.
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Background
Microchip’s PICkit™ 2 and PICkit™ 3 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer provide a low-cost hardware debugger and programmer for Microchip microcontrollers. Lots and lots of us use these programmers.
Software support for these programmers ceased in 2009 and 2012 for the PICkit™ 2 and PICkit™ 3 respectively with some community support for new microcontrollers but many, many new chips were not supported at all. This means programming newer microcontrollers meant that you have to install and use MPLAB-X. Support for the newer microcontroller was simply not possible within the architecture of the PICkit™ 2 and PICkit™ 3 GUI software.
PICKit 2Plus and PICKit 3Plus
Well… the answer. A replacement programmer software called PICKitPlus.
PICKitPlus is a total replacement for the existing Microchip PICKit2™ and PICKit3™ GUI software. We also have a new command line utility on Alpha testing.
PICKitPlus for the PICkit™ 2 and PICkit™ 3 support these newer microcontrollers. Microcontrollers controllers like the 16f18855, 16f118313, 18f24k42 and so on.
The PICKit2Plus™ and PICKit3Plus™ has all new capabilities – is it not just an update to the microcontroller database. This is a major update to the software.
The intent of PICKit2Plus™ and the PICKit3Plus™ is:
Interested?
I am completing final testing. It is going well but I will only know if this software really works if I release for testing.
Sign-up: All you have to do is install the software and let me know the results. I know that I need to grow the microcontroller database as this has not been maintained by Microchip since 2012 - but, this is task that can be managed.
Last edit: Anobium 2018-04-04
Hi
I hope you are successful. I started with pick kit 2 which was easy to use. Now I am using pickit 3 with MPLAB and I find it a pain.
I could try and program some devices I use with your new tool if it will help you.
Best Regards
Steve
Last edit: Anobium 2018-04-04
Good day to all in this forum.
I am very new to this IDE.
I installed on my pc the Great Cow BASIC (0.98.01 2017-10-27) and I have the PICKIT_3 already connected and working wit Mplab IPE.
How could i make it working with GCB Please ? I would like to see a step by step procedure if possible .
Where are the . HEX files stored please ?
Thanks for helping.
regards,
Ambro
Welcome.
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9lrQ5Bzc8U This should answer the questions.
We are developing new software for PICKit3 but not ready for prime time - new GUI and Command Line Utility.
Well as I am already testing I probably don't need to sign up, but just wanted to let the others know that this is a phenomenal piece of software. It not only supports all of the current devices used with GCBASIC it also fixes some bugs in the Original and adds some subtle new features.
If, like many of us, you frequently switch between PIC devices give it a try.
You will not want to go back to IPE I can assure you :)
And the more devices it is tested on the greater the confidence going forwards.
Cheers
Chris
I'd like to test pk2plus. Anobium asked me to test some new software on win 10.
It worked ok with one pc but didn't show in gcb on start menu on another. It did install and is in uninstall list though.
Test on different pcs also.
@Stan. This is about the functionality for the PICKitPlus programmer software. We need to focus on that - the installation icons can be sorted if we know the PICKitPlus programmer software works.
You are now signed up.
I'd love to test it with these PIC's that I have around:
PIC12F629
PIC12F1840
PIC16F1825
PIC16F1847
PIC16F1939
PIC16F18855
PIC16F18857
PIC18F14K22
PIC18F14K50
PIC18F25K42
PIC18F46K22
Johan
I'm interested in the new PICkit ™ 2 software. It is not an urgent necessity but I am very curious to try it. Is the software installed on the old PICkit2 or in GCBasic? is it then possible to go back to the old one?
It is a standalone program, a new version of the PICKit2 GUI application.
It installs separately to both GCBASIC IDE and your existing PICKit2 software.
So yes it is possible to go back to the old version, but I bet you won't want to :)
Cheers
Chris
I would like to try it. Just not sure if I will be able to get to testing it right away.
Hi Anobium,
I woul like to help testing both versions of PICKit GUI.
So, how can I get the installation packages for Windows?
Regards,
elreypic.
I will send instructions when I ready.
I will have to rule myself out of this. Not because I'm unwilling, but as a Mac user, it looks as though I won't have the capacity to do so. Best of luck, and thanks to all for the continued work that is put into GCB.
You raise a good question. I do not know the answer, so, I will ask. Can I port a .NET to Mac ? If yes, how
As far as I know MacOS is actualy LINUX so you would use MONO, the opensource version of .NET
You know I'm on board! PicKit 3plus to the rescue!
Where do I 'sign up' to get the PK+ software ?
I can try out PK+ on 12f675, 16f690, 16F883, 18f14k22
Geoff Younger
I would like to evaluate please as I need to programme PIC16F18854's with my PicKit2. Thanks
PICKit 2Plus is ready. Package is complete for testing. I have send messages to those that requested to be part of the testing.
:-)
What is the difference between Pickit2 + and Pickit3 +? Is Pickit3 + Ready? I want to programming 16f18855, I have Pickit3. Thanks
Typically, a Pickit2 programmer is black and a Pickit3 programmer is red. But, I do not think this is the question.
See this link http://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/pickit - there are two links near the bottom of the page - this will show the differences from a Microchip point of vew.
From my knowledge and insights the difference is a different solution architecture between the Pickit2 and Pickit3. Is is this architecture that means that the software called PICKit 2Plus and PICKit 3Plus needs to address.
PICKit 2Plus addresses the Pickit2 programmer.
PICKit 3Plus addresses the Pickit3 programmer.
PICKit 2Plus
An updated version of the applicatio software. Retaining all of the existing capabilities such as auto-setting the OSCCAL and the Serial and Logic analyers.
PICKit 3Plus
Retaining all of the existing capabilities but Serial and Logic analyers were not supported and to date I have not had time to reimplement.
I have an early version. It works with the 16f188555 but very few of the other required chagnes are implemented.
I want to complete the testing of the PICKit 2Plus first, so, I do not have to keep going around in circles fixing both applications.
You will have to wait a week or so until the PICKit 2Plus is completed.
Hi Anobium,
I'd like to try out your PK2+ software on a range of devices.
Thanks
Geoff Younger
@Geoffrey Younger. I have sent you the download URL.
Current release is v.4.61.0.14. The URL has the v.4.61.0.12 version but it ihas the same core functionality.
Thanks, Anobium :) Maybe I can try the Pickit 3+ version that supports 16f188555? I have to ask you for Pickit 3+ software... Please :)