programming Pinguino Micro

Created Wed, 02 Dec 2015 21:55:43 +0000 by jwzumwalt

jwzumwalt

Wed, 02 Dec 2015 21:55:43 +0000

When I attempt to program my Olimex Pinguino Micro, MPIDE wants to use a serial port. I only have usb ports. Is there a way to have the MPIDE programming use the USB port?

Thanks!

majenko

Wed, 02 Dec 2015 23:13:40 +0000

The default bootloader on the Pinguino is not the same as the chipKIT bootloader. It uses a HID protocol, not a serial protocol.

You would need to replace the bootloader on the Pinguino with the chipKIT bootloader to use MPIDE.

Alternatively, it should be possible to use UECIDE which has a Pinguino bootloader specific version of the board (I think I made one anyway)...

jwzumwalt

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 00:26:21 +0000

Thank you for your response.

I have spent the last couple days evaluating the Pinguino IDE and UECIDE. The Pinguino IDE is the best programming IDE "CONCEPT" I have seen but it is so BUGGY that it is useless. I next tried the UECIDE but it has a few problems too (nothing serious) but it lacks documentation and references. If MPIDE was a good stable development platform for the Pinguino and had good documentation, i would not be bothered by loading a different boot loader. But, I would want to be I would be happy, before doing that.

Is there a MPIDE group for the PIC32 here?

EmbeddedMan

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 02:15:29 +0000

This whole forum is dedicated to all things chipKIT, including MPIDE and PIC32s. So whatever questions you have, fire away, and we'll do our best to answer them.

One option for you is to put the chipKIT bootloader onto your Pinguino board with a hardware programmer. You could then program the board from within UECIDE, MPIDE, or Arduino IDE (with chipKIT core installed).

*Brian

jwzumwalt

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 03:02:46 +0000

So... let me clarify what I think I have been told. MPIDE can only program through a serial port, so the Pinguino must be set up to use the serial port? The reason I ask, is the Pinguino Micro only has on-board USB. A serial connector would have to be built off board, or a usb/serial adapter would have to be used. My computer does not have a serial port (I could add one).

majenko

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 11:00:51 +0000

Changing the bootloader makes the USB port itself appear as a serial port (when it's placed in "programming" mode). I am not completely familiar with that board TBH and don't know what facilities it has on it - does it have a "user" button that can be assigned to be a programming mode enable button?

jwzumwalt

Fri, 04 Dec 2015 00:02:00 +0000

OK... Great, that answered my question. And yes it has a user button :) The Olimex Pinguino Micro was a super concept... except what they advertised was not what they delivered! Olimex advertised a PIC32 Arduino compatible board - the only problem is they never delivered a workable IDE.

The board offered a miniature footprint, 32bit 80mhz 512mb memory with SD card for $20 which was a pretty good deal 2 years ago. But now it looks like I would be better off to throw them out and switch to the RPI Zero for $5.

guymc

Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:53:51 +0000

I also believed the 32-bit Pinguino looked promising (I have a few in my office, as a matter of fact.)

But the software support was lacking, and I found the build quality to be suspect. On my board, one of the little buttons broke apart after the first or second press :-(

Inexpensive hardware is great, except when it's not...