OpenLab supports all programmers including serial, USB, and bootloader. Most of the programmers are using ICSP port for connecting to the microcontroller. OpenLab is compatible with all the official debuggers, programmers, and third-party tools.
Below are some methods of programming.
Serial Programmer
The serial programmer uses a serial port to interface with the PC and it is low cost. But it requires a serial port in PC which is rare nowadays. The Microcontroller end is connected to the ICSP (In Circuit Serial Programming) port, so it can be configured in a way to program the microcontroller without removing from the application circuitry.
More: How to use Serial programmer with OpenLab
USB Programmer
USB programmers also use the ICSP port, but in the PC end, they are connected to the USB port, which is available in every computer. USB programmer converts the USB data to the serial by a microcontroller. Most of the USB programmer uses PIC18F2550 as it is the 28 pins USB supported microcontroller.
More: How to use USB programmer with OpenLab
Bootloader
The bootloader is another type of programmer but without any external hardware. It needs a piece of software which should be burned the Microcontroller. This code flashes the code into the flash memory of the Microcontroller thus by acting a mediator.
More: How to use Bootloader in OpenLab
Using Bootloader is the easy task, but we need some adjustments in code.
- The reset address of Microcontroller is 0 by default, but the Bootloader program will occupy the initial section of the flash memory to act as booting memory. So it should be changed to other areas which are not conflicting with Bootloader. The starting address of the user program also will be the reset address.
- The interrupt pointers are located in 0x08 and 0x18. It also needs to move to the non-conflicting areas.