MCS vs MPLAB 8

Hi Everybody,

From time to time it's good to sit and to reconsider one's own beliefs and maybe to optimize or chose an other way...

I have developped several projects with some PIC18LF2685 and PIC18LF26K22, using of course PBP under MPLAB 8 and PicKit 2/3. MPLAB X is a nightmare for me. I really dislike it but MPLAB 8 it now getting quite old.

For my future projects, with a PIC18LF26K22 what would be the pros (is any) of using Micro Code Studio ? Would it replace MPLAB 8 ? Would it replace PicKit3 as a debugger and/or as a programmer ? On the other hand what would be the cons ?

Thank you for your help

MikeBZH

You can use MPLAB8 (MPLAB v8.92) as a programmer and debugger for both those chips with a PICKit3.
MCS won't let you do any hardware debugging, just programming. Any "debugging" under MCS is really done using software, so I wouldn't recommend it.

I'd stick with what you're doing. I still use MPLAB8 for any chips that are supported even though I use MPLABX for the others.

What need do you feel XC8 would fill that PBP currently does not? I did migrate to MPLABX, but to gain access to 16-bit PICs (with XC16). That was what I had to gain.

Thank you for your answers.
Yes, I also went to MPLABX and XC16 for a development with a 24F chip. Very bad experience ! :mad:

Coming back to MCS, yes it is a little bit poor for debugging and MPLAB 8 should be better for this task.
But in the field programming without a PicKit may be interesting.


MikeBZH


PS : Please do not consider the :mad: in the title. It should be :) but I cannot change it !

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But in the field programming without a PicKit may be interesting.

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To do that you'll need to implement a bootloader and be able to transfer the program via a serial port link or some other method.
Is that what you're after?

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Originally Posted by MikeBZH

Thank you for your answers.
Yes, I also went to MPLABX and XC16 for a development with a 24F chip. Very bad experience ! :mad:

Coming back to MCS, yes it is a little bit poor for debugging and MPLAB 8 should be better for this task.
But in the field programming without a PicKit may be interesting.


MikeBZH

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Hi, Britton ...

for 16bits, you could try the MikroBasic Pro for DSPic ... eval version is free ... not so hard to turn to ... :rolleyes:

for MCS, you can buy the "Plus" license and then get the debug feature ...

I do use MPLAB 8.32 for 8 bits, for debugging purposes. But MPLABX 5.30 is fine for programming and using ICD4 ... ( also still have the v 2.35 on the computer !!! )
note my Old Picstart plus works fine with Win 10/64 !!!

Still sometimes use PBP with Win XP for the Pickit2 or ICD2 ...

Alain

Trugarez braz AceTronics ! : (sorry, private joke :wink:)


A lot of options to explore.
I was not aware of all these development tools. It opens some interesting ways.

MikeBZH

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Originally Posted by MikeBZH

Trugarez braz AceTronics ! : (sorry, private joke :wink:)

MikeBZH

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no need to bow down ...

long time I'm no more " super moderator " ;)