PicLoader

Latest Version: 0.25

What is it?

PicLoader is a platform independent replacement for Screamer written out of need for a Linux equivalent.
PicLoader is a downloader interface for the Bloader bootloader from Spark Fun Electronics. PicLoader downloads firmware to a MicroChip PIC chip using a serial port connection.

PicLoader in action.

News:

PicLoader now comes bundled with RXTX binaries for Linux and Windows.
A Ant build script for easily building of PicLoader is now included.

Changes.

Version 0.1 --- Jan. 25. 2006

Initial version.

Version 0.2 --- Jan. 28. 2006

Fixed bug in baud rate settings.
Added "About dialog".
Added config file.

Version 0.21 --- Jan. 30. 2006

Fixed bug in chip type select..
The progress bar shows percent downloaded.
Added labels with current settings.

Version 0.22 --- Jan. 30. 2006

GUI improvements.

Version 0.23 --- Jan. 31. 2006

Major build changes. Ant based build script for building.
RXTX 2.1-7pre17 binaries for Linux and Windows included.
About class removed (changed to a PicLoaderGUI method).
Fixed "bug" - rxtx throws an unnessary exception in windows, had to caught it.

Version 0.24 --- Feb. 3. 2006

The Ant script now takes care of installing/uninstalling
RXTX automatic installed with PicLoader.

Version 0.25 --- May 21. 2006

Fixed bug in setDownloadSpeed. Reported by Francois Gervais.

System Requirements.

Operating System capable of running Java (Linux, Windows, OS X, etc.)
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or Java Development Kit (JDK) version 1.5 or higher.
java.sun.com
RXTX (Binaries for Linux and Windows included) - A native lib providing serial and parallel communication for the Java Development Toolkit (JDK)
rxtx.org
A MicroChip PIC16F88, PIC16F873A, PIC16F876A or PIC16F877A allready programmed with the Bloader bootloader.

Bugs:

NONE ;)
Probably many - please report them.

ToDo:

Maybe a terminal like in Screamer 1.6
Clean up the code.
Command Line Interface

Download.

Binaries: picloader-bin-0.25.zip - Checksum
Source code:picloader-src-0.25.zip - Checksum

Installing

A Ant script is included with the source code, hence the installation of PicLoader is exstreamly simple.

Linux:

Unzip the archive:
```
unzip picloader-src-0.23.zip
```
Change directory:
```
cd picloader-0.23
```
Become root:
```
su
```
Install PicLoader:
```
sh install.sh
```
Return to normal user:
```
exit
```
Run PicLoader:
```
/usr/local/bin/picloader
```

Windows (untested):

Become administrator.
Unzip the archive.
Install PicLoader:
```
install.bat
```
Return to normal user:
```
exit
```
Run PicLoader:
```
C:\\PicLoader\picloader.bat
```

Uninstall

To uninstall Picloader:

Linux:

Become root:
```
su
```
Uninstall RXTX binaries:
1. Change directory:
```
cd RXTXInstaller
```
2. Run the installer:
```
sh uninstallRXTX.sh
```
3. Return to base directory:
```
cd -
```
Uninstall PicLoader:
```
sh uninstall.sh
```
Return to normal user:
```
exit
```

Windows (untested):

Become administrator.
Uninstall RXTX binaries:
1. Change directory:
```
cd RXTXInstaller
```
2. Run the installer:
```
sh uninstallRXTX.sh
```
3. Return to base directory:
```
cd ..
```
Uninstall PicLoader:
```
uninstall.bat
```
Return to normal user.

Licensing.

PicLoader is free software. It is licensed under the GNU General Public License and comes with no warranties. The program is free for all to use. Use it and modify it, to your hearts content!

Who wrote this stuff?

Gert Lavsen created this program. Spark Fun Electronics created the original Screamer.