Real Ice and PBP

[MikeBZH]

Hello,

I am developping an application which is quite time-critical and I need to optimize the execution time of some parts of the code. I need something more powerful that the PicKit2 debugger I currrently use. Do some of you use Real Ice with PBP ? What is your feedback ? Is it possible to measure the execution time of the code and to conveniently trace it in the source ?

My target is a 18LF2685.

Thank you for your help

MikeBZH

[aratti]

An easy and convenient way to check "time-critical routine" is to toggle a spare pin within the routine and check the square wave period with the oscilloscope.

Al.

[MikeBZH]

Hi Arrati,

Sure, this works when you have at least one pin available. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

MikeBZH

[MikeBZH]

Hi everybody,

I was about raising a point about PBP and Real ICE but the search engine returned me the same question I asked 9 years ago !!! Amazing...

Well. When I developped my first product with the PIC18F2685 the question was Real Ice or PicKit 2. I selected PicKit 2 which was a good and cheap choice.

My next product is PIC18F26K22 based, again with PBP3 and MPLAB8 but PicKit 2 does not work with this PIC and PicKit 3 is an horrible tool.
Slow response time with MPLAB8, sometimes hangs and still no real time debugging capabilities which can now be ennoying for what I want to do.

Real ICE could be an interesting alternative.
Does anybody have some experience with it ?

Any feedback welcome !

MikeBZH

[Dave]

Sounds like you haven't updated your PicKit2 software for some time. It does indeed handle 18F26K22 processors. Have a look at these files:

[MikeBZH]

Hi Dave,

Thank you for your answer.

Yes, I did an upgrade recently and the 18F26K22 is now supported by my Pickit 2 but for the stand alone application only.
I can read, write, program the PIC from outside MPLAB8 but I cannot use Pickit 2 as a debugger inside MPLAB8.

Best regards
MikeBZH

[pedja089]

I have REAL ICE. I use MPLAB X. From MPLAB side it is same as if you are using PK3, except it CAN NOT power target, unless you buy additional adapter board. It is little more reliable than PK3.
It is pain to install, and you must install everything before you plug it in USB. If you plug it, and drivers are not installed then... Good luck getting it to work without system reinstall.

[tumbleweed]

I have all of them, except for the new SNAP debugger.

The REALICE isn't a real ice, and for what it costs it's not worth the money. Mine mostly sits gathering dust.
For most chips you don't get any real benefits. IMHO, if you're looking for something more powerful than a PK2/PK3 then your best bet is the ICD3.

It's faster, can supply up to 150mA for the target VDD, has a stopwatch feature for timing code execution between two breakpoints, and works with both MPLAB and MPLABX. You could buy two of them for less than a REALICE.

The newer PK4/ICD4 would force you to use MPLABX, and for the K22 I'd stick with using MPLAB 8.92.

Debugging PBP code using the ICD tools isn't all that great anyway, so I wouldn't waste a lot of money on it.

[mpgmike]

I currently own a PICkit2 knock-off, PICkit3, and ME Labs U2 programmers. Because it was so cheap, I just ordered the new Snap (under $20 US including shipping!). The Snap is supposed to work on anything in the 8- and 16-bit PIC line, as well as AVR products. I doubt you got your PICkit2 for less than the price of the new Snap.

[tumbleweed]

The SNAP is on sale until the end of the month so you can get one right now for about $12 US (plus shipping)

You can't use it to power the target, it's LVP only, and you're stuck with MPLABX.
If you don't mind all those limitations it's an ok deal.

[towlerg]

@Dave Hi, where did you get that list of supported devices from? There a couple of updated (by non-Microchip) version of PK2DeviceFile.dat around but none that I know of as complete.

Your list includes 18K27K42 and 40, my personal holy grail, bugger I even bought a PicKit3 and had to use IPE - still smarting from that one.

[tumbleweed]

Dave - do you have the DAT file that goes with that list?

[Dave]

Tumbleweed, Here is the dat file I have used in the past. Just rename the extention to ".DAT" I no longer use my 2 PK2's or mt PK3 as I now use my PicKit4. I just wish MicroChip would update the software for the PicKit4 so I can use the "Program To Go" function. I still rely on my ICD3 for the bench work. I have retired my ICD2.

[tumbleweed]

Thanks, Dave.
That's the file available as PK2DeviceFile-1.62.14.dat.

It doesn't match up with the devices in the file "8-bit+PICs LIST.txt" you posted... wouldn't happen to remember where you got that list from, would you?

[Dave]

Actually NO. I was reading a forum message from somewhere that I don't remember at the moment. I'll look for the forum I was on and get back to you.

[Dave]

Tumbleweed, Here, try this one... Just rename the extension to .dat

[tumbleweed]

I have that one too.

There's no 18FxxK40 or K42 in that dat file either.

[towlerg]

Dave, could you haver been looking at Great Cow Basic?

[Dave]

Possibly? I really don't remember..

[midali]

Tumbleweed, with PK2 or PK3 you can't programm 18FxxK40. ( read here :https://www.microchip.com/forums/m1011325.aspx ) . A simple way for standalone programmer is upgrade to PicKitPlus ( http://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/Typesetter/index.php/pickitPlus ) or choice another programmer ( like NSDSP )

[tumbleweed]

The PK3 will program the K40 and K42 just fine... it's just that the standalone app doesn't support them and you have to use MPLABX or the X IPE/command-line tools to do it.

I applaud the guy for doing the PicKitPlus but I'm not going to pay $ for what I can already do for free, especially when he's charging almost half of what the tool cost originally.

I'm not sure what he was thinking.

[rocket_troy]

I purchased the PicKitPlus as a last resort to program some 16F1788s for a project. Stuffed around with MPLABX and X IPE for a week trying to make that solution work - gave up and purchased the tool. Ever since I use nothing but PicKitPlus now. Haven't touched my PicKit3 since... haven't needed to. I highly recommend it as I know anything PBP supports, it will too.

Troy