Latest UNO32 Bootloader

Created Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:55:35 +0000 by caroper

caroper

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:55:35 +0000

Can anyone give me a link to a newer version of the UNO32 Bootloader?

I have arduino-bootloader.X.Uno32_8-19-11.hex installed but am still having timeout issues so I wanted to update to the latest, even if it is experimental.

The link in the CHIPKIT WIKI is a dead link and the copy's on GIT-HUB are source or text based. I have seen hundreds of references to them in this forum, but not one post, that I have read, Links to the files they are referring to.

/Rant On

I have spent 2 days now trying to locate a simple, working, bootloader for the UNO32. For a device that is targeted at novice users I find it silly that you have to jump through more hoops here than you do on the Microchip Site, to find even the simplest documentation or file that is referred to frequently.

This product had great potential but it looks like it is now dying as a result of its own success. We have a mess of compilers, bootloaders, target platforms and a developers only Library system in GITHUB, even SourceForge is more friendly, but I would hardly expect a novice user to navigate it, let alone git hub and its cryptic comments rather than code descriptions.

I stick with it because I am a fan of the PIC32, but at this rate it has no chance of impacting on the Arduino Base and will actively drive the next generation to Atmel based systems rather than Microchip.

/Rant Off

I finally found this https://github.com/EmbeddedMan/PIC32-avrdude-bootloader

Which has a "download as zip" button, It downloads everything in one zip file, in which you can then locate the uno32.hex file and extract it on its own. A bit messy and well hidden, with no indication of what version it is. But at least I am getting somewhere.

Final Edit:

The hex file in the zip has solved my problem and works fine now with mpide-0023-windows-20121013-test.

But I will leave my rant here in the hope that it will help others in a similar situation who want to use the latest Bootloader and MPIDE.

Bootloader: https://github.com/EmbeddedMan/PIC32-avrdude-bootloader/archive/master.zip

MPIDE: http://chipkit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1607&hilit=20121013

Cheers Chris

majenko

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:49:59 +0000

Eventually the IDE will have bootloader burning built in. I am thinking that an auto-update facility to download the latest bootloaders from the web at the push of a button may be a good idea. It'd be simple enough to implement.

caroper

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:17:23 +0000

First thing I tried, having finally got the new Bootloader on to the UNO32 using a PICKit3, was to try the Bootloder Update Sketch included in the ZIP file I linked to above. It works very well, it actually upgraded my new bootloader from Vxxxx17 to Vxxxx18 and it did it faster than MPLab and the PICKit did.

The Code that all you guys are generating is fantastic, don't get me wrong, I admire the work that has gone into this as well as the Forward planning and direction. I just think we need to centralize stuff better and make it easier for a novice to access.

The ChipKit WIKI appears to be dead, and that should be the first place anyone looks, not the Forums. The strength of Arduino is not so much in the IDE or C++'ish Compiler, but in it's well documented and Structured information repository. For the ChipKit to survive and thrive it is up to all of us, as community members, to support and feed such a repository.

Cheers Chris

majenko

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:29:04 +0000

Documentation does seem to have fallen by the wayside a little recently. Hopefully the new site will gradually help to fix that.

As for centralising things, you have got me thinking... How about a central "update and publication" server, where board definitions (including their bootloaders) and libraries can be automatically downloaded by MPIDE and installed into the system - and kept up to date by a periodic update process...?

The problem with a central system for it is that someone need to be responsible for keeping it up to date and verifying the quality of the content. All adds extra work to the powers that be...

caroper

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:56:40 +0000

Hopefully the new site will gradually help to fix that.

I didn't even realise their was a new site :) Do you have a URL for it?

As for centralising things, you have got me thinking... How about a central "update and publication" server, where board definitions (including their bootloaders) and libraries can be automatically downloaded by MPIDE and installed into the system - and kept up to date by a periodic update process...?

I think a central update and publication server is essential, but having it automatically downloaded by the IDE may be counter productive as several people use the Chipkit Platform with IDE's other than MPIDE and given the fact that, hopefully, The Arduino Community will also migrate to MPIDE it would put a burden on the Arduino Folks to Support the same update process.

The problem with a central system for it is that someone need to be responsible for keeping it up to date and verifying the quality of the content. All adds extra work to the powers that be...

I may be stepping out of line here as this really should be a community project, but both Digilent and Microchip get massive exposure and, I hope, sales revenue generated through this project. Both are reputable company's with great products way beyond this one, but it is this Project that serves as first exposure, for many people, to those company's. Digilent in particular are well know for quality of documentation and libraries supporting their products and Microchip is in the top 10 results for any search on chipkit. I would think it would be in their interests to promote documentation and ease of use, even as a community service, as it directly impacts on their reputation.

Cheers, Chris

majenko

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:25:42 +0000

I mean the "new" chipkit.net default website - where chipkit.org redirects to.

caroper

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:10:53 +0000

Opps, I got to it via Digilent so assumed it was an extension of their site. I was a bit annoyed that my Digilent login didn't work and that I had to re register. Now I know I will try the details from here or register.

I have been pretty scarce in the community for the past two years and need to catch up on all the news. Time To read some old posts I think.

Cheers Chris