Microchip released the PICKit3 scripting tool that let PICKit3 behaves like a PICKit2, and thus makes it possible to use PICKit2 software with PICKit3 hardware. Logic analyzer and USART tool will be available in near future.
MicrochipTech: Software Update: PICkit 3 Scripting Tool v3.00 BETA http://t.co/IdR8iJTM (http://t.co/IdR8iJTM)
Readme for the PICkit(TM) 3 Programmer Application with scripting support
Beta Release: v3.00beta
Device File: v1.62.14
Updated: 19 April 2012
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Table of Contents
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1. Introduction
2. Installing with the PICkit 3 Programmer Application
3. Working with the PICkit 3 Programmer Application
4. Building the Firmware
5. Known Limitations
6. Supported Devices
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1. Introduction
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This release of software/firmware allows the PICkit 3 to be compatible with the
scripting framework that was originally developed for the PICkit 2. This allows
sharing device files and application support between PICkit 2 and PICkit 3.
The software adds other features that were only available on the PICkit 2 such
as the logic analyzer, logic output, and auto detection of devices. Future
support is also planned for UART and other features not available in this Beta
release.
Since PICkit 3 is supported under MPLAB(R) IDE with non-scripting firmware,
special firmware is needed to understand PICkit 2 scripts. A bootloader is used
to switch seamlessly between both operating systems.
Rumours of the PICkit2's demise have always been greatly exaggerated ...
A bootloader is used to switch seamlessly between both operating systems.
I loved the "seamlessly" reference. How many PICkit3's have gone to brickland with it's insatiable desire to keep changing its firmware at the drop of a hat :-)
There've been no needed bugfixes for the PICKit3 v1.0 software, instead they appear to have concentrated on turning the PICkit3 into a PICkit2! All in all this seems to be Microchip's ultimate concession that the PICkit3 (not 2) is dead; so turn it into a PICkit2 instead!
[quote author="dpropicweb"]I loved the "seamlessly" reference. How many PICkit3's have gone to brickland with it's insatiable desire to keep changing its firmware at the drop of a hat :-)
[/quote]
I know of 2, so probably a lot
[quote author="dpropicweb"]
There've been no needed bugfixes for the PICKit3 v1.0 software, instead they appear to have concentrated on turning the PICkit3 into a PICkit2! All in all this seems to be Microchip's ultimate concession that the PICkit3 (not 2) is dead; so turn it into a PICkit2 instead![/quote]
IMO if they turn the pk3 into faster pk2 that can deal properly with all pic32mx chips, I'm all for it :D
@dpropicweb
no I don't think. I only think that Microchip would want to have a single code base for both tools.
Microchip wants users to use all its programmers/debuggers from within MPLab, so external independant application is not really their objective. By rewriting the scripting firmware for PICKit3, users can now use the unique app that have been there for years for PICKIt2.
Anyway, I think PK2 is dead mainly because it will never support new chips with very low Vdd/Vpp. It's nice to see that we can replace it "completely" with PK3.
stand alone app is not a problem for mchip, it just looks like the icd team got to make pk3 so they made it like icd (poorly) ...
I found the solution myself - I use pk2 for everythng but pic32mx and use pk3 for pic32mx, this way I don't need to switch firmware on pk3 and everything works like a charm