I guess this is a public question mainly for Rob, but is there a Linux version of PIC32prog + GUI for Linux?

If not, any plans to port it to Linux?

It's my go-to PIC32 chip programming tool, but I can't find a Linux version - probably cos there simply ISN'T one.

I COULD download and install the Linux version of Microchip IPE and use the PK3 units I have here, but I have always found that PIC32prog is better for programming chips, as it is just so easy and simple to use - you don't need to download a 600MB IDE to get the Microchip IPE part to program chips.  I have also found in the past, that it is much easier to get PIC32prog and GUI to work, then it is sometimes to get the Microchip IPE+PK3 to behave together.  Historically, I have had issues with IPE+PK3, whereas PIC32prog + GUI just works right out of the box.

...but I digress.

For now, I am simply using an old Win8 laptop with PIC32prog+GUI on it, to program the MMBASIC firmware into the virgin chips, after which, I use GFXterm in Linux to everything else from there, but it would be fab if I could also program the chips from inside Linux.

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Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

Hi Grogster,

Since the image for the MX170 does not change anymore, you could program one to act as a programmmer. There is a basic program version that can image a blank MX170 I recall from 6 years ago. I remember using it once. You must have that somewhere on your NUC. It may be slower, but who cares if it takes a minute. And you have a tool that you can use without ties into Win or Lin.

The CMM2 needs a different tool anyway. So it is just for the PIC.

Volhout

EDIT: maybe I am wrong, the MMbasic program may be capable of programming the microbridge. Not the MX170 itself... too much beer...
Edited 2025-10-29 18:59 by Volhout

Not GUI but pic32prog probably works if you've a Pickit2 or 3.

(Can be used with other tools but those are the most common I think.)

There's also an RPi tool but again not GUI.

(I've even used a USBASP but yet again not GUI.)

John
Edited 2025-10-29 20:27 by JohnS

  Quote  

There is a basic program version that can image a blank MX170

Perhaps you are thinking of MMFlash.exe by Tassy Jim.
MMFlash
It can use a MM2 as the programmer hardware (as well as a MicroBridge or Arduino Nano) but still needs Pic32prog.exe to do the programming so still needs a windows environment. Maybe it will work in Wine, if you can get it to access a virtual com port.

Robert Rozee also did a programmer, P32P GUI(R6).exe that also uses Pic32prog.exe.
Link to P32P GUIr5.exe but haven't found a working link to R6.

Edit.
If anyone is going to rewrite Pic32prog maybe do it to run on a PicoMite.
That probably has the capacity and speed to do it, along with the storage to hold the HEX file. An all-in-one software / hardware solution.
Edited 2025-10-29 22:26 by phil99

the Linux 64-bit version of pic32prog (2.0.204) can be downloaded from Serge's github repository here:
https://github.com/sergev/pic32prog/tree/master/linux64

while the Linux 32-bit version (2.0.203) is located here:
https://github.com/sergev/pic32prog/tree/master/linux32

i've just checked and can confirm that both locations contain working binaries. in the past i've just run the Linux version from a terminal/command window. the syntax is the same as the Win32 version:



append filename.hex to end to program device, eg:



i never bothered porting the GUI i created to Linux, but will try to have a look at creating a new version using Lazarus/FPC over the weekend.


cheers,
rob   :-)
Edited 2025-10-29 22:36 by robert.rozee

Thanks chums.  

As there is a Linux version of PIC32prog that I was not aware of, I will download that, and simply keep it in the same folder as all the HEX files, so that programming via the terminal should be easy-peasy.  I'll try it out in the next few days.

Been on Linux Mint now 24/7 for almost two full weeks.  EASILY as good as W10, and having nothing other then minor little hiccups with things such as this.  Email/Internet etc, has been running flawlessly.

Worked a treat:





Easy-peasey.    

I've finally got a mini DP to hdmi lead so I've set up my latest Mint box. It's an old Intel i5 D54250WYK nuc, with 8GB RAM (only one DIMM installed though) and 128GB of SSD. The storage isn't really a problem as I have a local USB3 HDD and it has network access to the NAS anyway. Fun computing for £37 off ebay plus a lead. :)

The only problem I've hit so far is that it refuses to even see my usual Bluetooth keyboard! It will see a different one and the TV so the module is working fine. Even with the keyboard that does work, if the keyboard is switched off and on again it gets lost and has to be re-paired again from scratch - even if it's set up as "trusted". This version of Mint has a different Bluetooth system, I might try reverting to bluetuith, as used previously.

On a different Win 11 note, My install of SL6 had a nasty pause while waiting to access Macros. I realised that it was because this machine has everything installed on a HDD, not flash. I moved the Makros directory to flash and got rid of the delay. :)  It's a fairly big directory but it's worth it.