MICROCHIP PICKIT 3 SOFTWARE SERIAL

With such simplicity of design it is easy to build a clone version. Apparently Microchip has made the open design intentionally, see it as the way to boost using the popularity PIC microprocessors. The firmware and schematic are freely available. The PICkit 2 has USB bootloader and capable of updating the programmer firmware. Even though Microchip hasn't updated the list of supported devices since 2013 there is user-contributed effort to add the new devices to it, see Updating the list of PICkit devices section. As alternative you can use the standalone programmer applet, see picture below. It is fully integrated with Microchip’s MPLAB IDE and allow not only program but debug applications as well. Only subset of PIC microcontrollers is supported, but the list includes most of devices from PIC16, PIC18 and PIC24 families and covers many the PICs you are likely want to use. Microchip's PICkit 2 is the low cost ICSP programmer for Flash PICs with USB interface introduced by Microchip. That is the root of the problem with third-party PIC programmers.

As Microchip introduces the new microprocessors the programming software has to be updated accordingly playing catch-up with the PIC manufacturer. There are many PIC programmer available, commercial and DIY devices. Here is the typical ICSP application schematic.

MICROCHIP PICKIT 3 SOFTWARE SERIAL

The standard Microchip PICkit programming connector is a 6-pin header that connects to the target device, otherwise called ICSP connector as referred in Microchip In-Circuit Serial Programming.

Microchip pickit 3 software