Why use a bootloader?

[Fredrick]

What´s the point as a hobby PIC programmer to use a bootloader if you have a programmer?

You can program the PIC witout a programmer but you still need a USB/Serial interface to a PC, right?

[aratti]

Sometimes you need to update the software on chips soldered to the PCB. Without a bootloader, this could be a real problem.

If you can remove the pic from the circuit, well you can do it with the programmer, But with the bootloader you don't need to remove the chip and this is an additional plus.

Al.

[Fredrick]

You could use ICSP if you want to update the software on a PIC on a PCB

[tenaja]

First, bootloaders are faster than a programmer. Second, ICSP takes up more pins (3), and limits the hardware to the pins. A bootloader only takes two serial pins, and if you already have a serial connection, requires no special treatment. Third, if you have the board in an enclosure, it is safer to have a serial connection to the outside world than your mclr pin.

In reality, from a hobbyist standpoint, it doesn't make a big difference. It is convenient, however.

[Jumper]

Because a bootloader will save tons of money when then enduser can correct the major bugs in the software just by using a serial cable and downloading the patch from internet :-)

In true errata Microchip style...

[Ioannis]

Note that a bootloader (normaly) cannot lock your code on the PIC. So for commercial usage this is a minus.

Ioannis

[Jumper]

Any bootloader can program the pic even if code protection is turned on... it is just access to the code area with a programmer that code protection protects from. Not from inside the PIC.

BUT since you download the HEX file from internet it better be a loader with encryption or the code is public anyway :-)