ds30 bootloader

[dhouston]

Has anybody used the ds30 bootloader (http://digital-diy.com/PIC-Microcontroller-Articles/ds30-loader.html)? It's open-source and supports a ton of PICs.

There's a link to the ds30 homepage in the article linked above.

I'm surprised there hasn't been a discussion of it here.

[mister_e]

Nope, Never tried it...I heard the name quite often though.

[Ioannis]

Well, I use Pickit2 and 3. Also the Pikprog+ by ELNEC (provides good serialization tools).

I see no point in bootloaders as they are slower and use memory too. The Pickit also programs automatically whenever the hex file changes.

Is there any particular reason for the bootloader?

Ioannis

[mister_e]

Next to none nowaday with those programmer on the go. As you know, PicKit 2 can be updated via USB, cool, unless you would need a 2nd programmer... to update a programmer.

Handy if you need to upgrade via Network/USB/... or justify a service call once in a while :D

More an end user convenience tool for firmware upgrade... You might be surprised, but some pro CD/DVD player can be updated via CD... My car radio can be updated via it's usb ... endless possibilities.

[dhouston]

Is there any particular reason for the bootloader?It future proofs firmware, allowing updating by end-users after the PIC is installed in a device and the device is out in the field which might be halfway around the planet. But, I guess the forward looking programmers here never need to to do that. It's also why things like Arduino and PICAXE have become so popular.

[Ioannis]

Hmm, take into account that bootloader does not lock your code. Normally...

@Steve: I did update/hack my DVD Pioneer player that way. Now plays also mkv I think!

Ioannis

[cncmachineguy]

My first use of a bootloader turned out more hassle then it was worth, but lately I have been working on a USB device. It has proved very nice to be able to update with a BL for that. No need to keep the programer AND USB plugged in.