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PICkit Basic & MPLAB X 6.25 Programmer/Debugger The MPLAB PICkit Basic is a new cost-effective programmer and debugger from Microchip Technology. It requires the latest version 6.25 of the MPLAB X IDE software, so we decided to see what new features are available. We’ll also mention some other recent announcements from Microchip. Review by Tim Blythman W e’ve seen a number of interesting announcements from Microchip Technology lately, so we thought that this article would be a good place to wrap up the latest news. While we don’t exclusively use their microcontrollers in our projects, we do use them quite frequently, so we take an interest in new tools, parts and software they offer. Readers often ask about the best programmer to get; many need to program just a single chip to get their project working. So it’s often the case that the cheapest thing that will do the job is the best. Thus, the cost-effective PICkit Basic programmer/debugger caught our attention. The related MPLAB X IDE software includes features such as an editor, compiler and programmer interface to integrate all the steps needed to develop software for microcontrollers. The release notes for MPLAB X IDE version 6.25 mention support for the new PIC32A and dsPIC33A families of processors, so we’ll look at what they offer. We’ve also designed a small USB power PCB to enhance the PICkit Basic. We describe its purpose, construction and use in an separate, accompanying article. Previous programmers Before getting to the details of the PICkit Basic, let’s take a quick look at what led up to it and some related concepts and articles. We reviewed the PICkit 5 programmer and debugger in November 2023 (siliconchip.au/Article/16016). Externally, it looks quite similar to its PICkit 4 predecessor, although it has a modern USB-C socket instead of the 4’s micro-USB socket. That article also covered the new features of the MPLAB X IDE v6.x, which had just been released then. The PICkit 5 has a Bluetooth module and can communicate wirelessly with a Microchip smartphone app, allowing a PICkit 5 to use its PTG (programmer to go) features without needing to be connected to a computer. This provides full galvanic isolation whilst using the PTG feature, since the PICkit 5 can also be powered from its target circuit. The PICkit Basic comes with more accessories than the more expensive PICkit 5. The serial wire debug (SWD) adaptor and cable will be handy for those working with ARM chips, while the eight-way connector with colour-coded extension wires are suitable for all processor types. siliconchip.com.au Australia's electronics magazine In case you are not aware, a programmer is used (among other things) to load a program file onto a microcontroller platform. For modern systems, that typically means writing to the micro’s internal flash memory. A debugger can be used to monitor and control a running microcontroller so that its operation can be checked. As the name suggests, this can help to find bugs (ie, faults in the software). You might hear it called in-circuit debugging (ICD) to emphasise the fact that you can debug the microcontroller while it is connected to a working circuit. Devices like the PICkit 5 can pause the microcontroller’s operation and even read and write its memory. ‘Breakpoints’ make it pause when the program reaches a certain point. All the currently supported Microchip programmers also incorporate comprehensive debugging features for the PIC microcontrollers that we use, so we will simply refer to them as programmers. Our review of the PICkit 4 included a panel about debugging if you want to read more about this process using the MPLAB X IDE (September 2018; siliconchip.au/Article/11237). The Snap programmer was released September 2025  33 The pin markings on the top of the PICkit Basic’s case are a very nice touch. The colour codes match those on the eight-way connector cable. The slot at lower left gives access to a pushbutton that can be used to hard-reset the programmer. not long after the PICkit 4. We reviewed it in May 2019 (siliconchip. au/Article/11628) and found it to be a cut-down (and thus cheaper) version of the PICkit 4. While it lacks some features, we have been using the Snap for most of our programming and debugging needs over the last five years. Other articles that might be helpful include our feature from January 2021 about installing and using the MPLAB X IDE (siliconchip.au/Article/14707). Also, the PIC Programming Helper project (June 2021; siliconchip.au/ Article/14889) still works with recent, small (eight- to 20-pin) 8-bit PIC microcontrollers. The PIC Programming Adaptor (September 2023; siliconchip.au/ Article/15943) is designed to ease the process of programming micros outof-circuit. We use this frequently to program DIP chips for sale in the Silicon Chip Shop. It can handle just about all the through-hole PIC micros we sell that have no more than 40 pins. For programming microcontrollers in SOIC and SSOP SMD packages, we use commercially available SMD-toDIP adaptors, which are discussed on the last page of the Adaptor article. For larger parts in the TQFP (thin quad flat pack) form factor, there is the option of using the TQFP Programming Adaptors project (October 2023; siliconchip. au/Article/15977). The PICkit Basic The PICkit Basic appears to be a lowcost variant of the PICkit 5, much like the Snap was for the PICkit 4. Like the Snap, it cannot power the target microcontroller or perform ‘high-­ voltage programming’. The Snap programmer shares a close resemblance to the PICkit Basic. They both boast a SAME70 processor and are very similar in size and layout. The PICkit Basic rounds out the product range neatly, with it being the low-cost version of the PICkit 5. Similarly, the PICkit 4 was followed by the low-cost Snap programmer. 34 Silicon Chip Australia's electronics magazine Target power is definitely a handy feature, especially when chips are being programmed out of circuit, but it is by no means essential. Our PIC Programming Helper project noted a small modification that can be made to the Snap to allow it to provide 5V or 3.3V target power. High-voltage programming (HVP) uses a voltage much higher than the chip’s normal supply voltage to signal entry to programming mode; 9V or higher is typical. Earlier parts like the PIC16F84 required HVP, but newer parts from most families now have a low-voltage programming (LVP) mode. HVP is not so easy to simulate, since the high-voltage pulses have to be delivered with the correct timing and in synchronisation with the programmer’s actions. Some of the newer AVR chips can be reset to LVP mode by a single high-voltage pulse to the right pin, but it is more typical that the HVP and LVP protocols are completely separate. Some microcontroller features can only be accessed with HVP. This usually allows an extra pin to be used as a digital input; a minor advantage compared with the ability to use a much cheaper programmer. So for the most part, we prefer to design our projects to use LVP and thus transparently allow use of cheaper programmers like the Snap and PICkit Basic. The PICkit Basic has the eight-pin header that was introduced with the PICkit 4. This was around the time that Microchip took over Atmel, and started adding support for the protocols of the various AVR and SAM chips produced by Atmel. Since they make up the bulk of the micros that we use, our review will focus on using the PICkit Basic with PIC microcontrollers. But it will work with many of the other microcontroller families that are offered by Microchip. There is no microSD card slot on the PICkit Basic, and no Bluetooth module, so there is no PTG (programmer to go) feature or app connectivity. The PICkit 5 also has a hidden pushbutton switch actuated by pushing on the top of the unit that the PICkit Basic lacks. The status of the PICkit 4 or 5 is shown through a stripe-shaped light guide on the top of the case, while the Basic has two small round holes siliconchip.com.au through which LEDs are visible. There are two larger holes in the top of the case, one of which allows access to an emergency recovery pushbutton. The Snap only offers a pair of pads that can be shorted to provide this function! Unlike the Snap’s bare PCB or even the fully-featured PICkit 5, the PICkit Basic has a plastic case marked with a pin connection guide for six different microcontroller families. So our initial perception is that the PICkit Basic is similarly featured to the Snap, but with a number of niceties, like the case and a USB-C connector. These make it a better tool overall. Accessories The PICkit 5’s only supplied accessory was a USB-A to USB-C cable, while the PICkit Basic comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable. Also supplied is an eight-pin SIL connector with colour-coded wires; the coding matches the main unit. The colours are the same as resistor colour codes, except that brown and orange (for one and three) are swapped! Presumably, this is to keep us on our toes. An ARM SWD (serial wire debug) adaptor is also supplied, adapting the 8-pin 2.54mm (0.1in) pitch to a 10-pin 1.27mm (0.05in) box header. It comes with a matching ten-pin IDC cable with socket headers at both ends. These suit the SWD headers found on many ARM development boards. SWD is an implementation of the JTAG (Joint Test Action Group) standard designed for use with ARM processors. It performs much the same role as ICSP (in-circuit serial programming) on PIC microcontrollers, and can be used for programming and debugging. You can see the SWD and JTAG pinouts marked on the top of the PICkit Basic. The eight-pin SIL header suits just about all of our PIC projects that incorporate an ICSP header. Typically, only Screen 1; the ‘data stream interface’ is a USB-serial port that is connected to pins 7 and 8 of the PICkit Basic’s headers. It can be used independently of the ICSP programming pins (refer to Table 1). five of the eight connections need to be made for PICs. The package also includes a sticker sheet with two MPLAB PICkit Basic stickers. Table 1 shows the pinouts for the various supported interfaces, as listed on the PICkit Basic’s label (plus the AVR ISP pinout, which many readers might find handy). The rightmost column shows the pinouts for the so-called data stream interface. This is effectively a USB-­ serial adaptor built into the programmer; it appears as a virtual serial port on our computer. Internals We popped the PICkit Basic out of its case to see what’s inside; the photos overleaf show the PICkit Basic’s red PCB. The family resemblance to the Snap is striking, with a SAME70 processor dominating both boards. Much of the remaining circuitry looks almost identical to the Snap, with the emergency recovery pushbutton labelled SW1 and two larger LEDs being the most obvious differences. Hands-on testing The PICkit Basic is not supported by versions of the MPLAB X IDE prior to 6.25, so we had to install the latest version before using the programmer. From there, operation of the PICkit Basic was quite seamless. We selected the new programmer in our current PIC project and, after a brief delay to Pin Colour ICSP MIPS EJTAG SWD JTAG 1 Orange MCLR MCLR RESET 2 Red VDD VDD VDD VTG VTG 3 Brown GND GND GND GND GND 4 Yellow DAT TDO SWO TDO 5 Green CLK TCK SWCLK TCK 6 Blue 7 Purple TDI 8 Grey TMS Table 1 – PICkit pin mappings debugWIRE UPDI AVR ISP UART VTG VTG VTG GND GND GND DAT MISO RESET RESET CLK RESET TDI SWDIO update the firmware in the programmer, everything simply worked. Fortunately, the project we used to test this has an internal power source, so the lack of target power was not a problem. We then tried out the data stream interface. On Windows, we did not need to install any drivers, but were greeted with a new COM port named “PICkit Basic Virtual COM port” (see Screen 1). We could open this port in the TeraTerm terminal emulator, even while programming a PIC using the IDE. It’s as though they are two completely separate hardware devices. Of course, some of the other available device types require the data stream interface pins, so this feature will not be available when the PICkit Basic is configured for other devices. We’ve taken our Snap programmer for granted for a while now, and its micro-USB socket is starting to misbehave with wear and tear. The PICkit Basic has come along at a good time and it has quietly replaced its predecessor without any fuss. So there really isn’t much more to say; the PICkit Basic offers much the same experience as the Snap, but with a case and a USB-C socket, it’s sure to be a more robust tool. There is a user guide, but we imagine that anyone that has used a Snap will not even need that. We noted in the PICkit 5 review that the PICkit 4 was quietly relegated to the status of ‘not recommended for new designs’. We would not be TMS Australia's electronics magazine RESET MOSI TX RX September 2025  35 Screen 2: the note at the bottom of the MPLAB X v6.25 installer marks the dropping of support for the PICkit 3, among other older development tools. surprised if something similar occurs with the Snap programmer. At the time of writing, some retailers are listing the Snap quite cheaply, but many also have them on back-order. The Snap may be hard to buy in the future. We purchased our PICkit Basic for just over $50 from Mouser Electronics; it is listed for much the same price at DigiKey. Both these stockists have free shipping for orders over $60. By adding a few extra parts to our order, we were able to get our PICkit Basic shipped for no extra cost. Its Microchip part number is PG164110, so a web search for that should find other suppliers. The installation process of MPLAB X version 6.25 shows this (Screen 2). Older versions of the IDE are still available for download from the MPLAB archive at siliconchip.au/link/abpn Like the transition from the Snap to the PICkit Basic, the new version of the MPLAB X IDE works in much the same fashion as its predecessor. The older versions would occasionally fail to compile a project, apparently for no reason, since the compilation would complete without problems when started a second time. We’ve seen less of these sorts of difficulties with version 6.25. MPLAB X 6.25 IDE software This version of the MPLAB X IDE is the first to offer support for the PIC32A and dsPIC33A families of parts. For a long time, we have used the PIC32M series of microcontrollers, such as the PIC32MX parts used in the many Micromite variants. These have a MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipelined Stages) processor core. MIPS is a type of RISC (reduced instruction set computer) processor and is typically contrasted with CISC (complex instruction set computer) processors of which the x86 and x64 families are probably the most widely-­ known. The PIC32C family is based on the ARM RISC architecture, while the The MPLAB family of programs goes back over 20 years, with the MPLAB X variants appearing around 12 years ago. The latest versions are highly modular, with separate compiler programs and loadable device family packs for different processor families. There are add-ons such as MPLAB Harmony that can be used to simplify device configuration. The previous version (6.20) was the last to support the venerable PICkit 3. The PICkit 3 was released in 2009 and has now been copied so much that if you were to try to buy a PICkit 3 today, it would likely be a clone instead of the real thing. 36 Silicon Chip The PIC32A and dsPIC33A Australia's electronics magazine PIC32A and dsPIC33A families are a 32-bit evolution of the familiar 8-bit and 16-bit PIC processor cores. Users of the 16-bit PIC24 and dsPIC33F parts will note a similarity in the architecture and instruction set. We’ve had a look at the data sheets for these parts and there is lot of similarity with the PIC24 family. The instruction set is quite similar. So we anticipate that they will be of interest to those who work with PIC assembly language. The register set and status bits are also quite familiar. The new family also features a 64-bit floating point unit, and two 72-bit multiply-­ accumulate units. Those latter features may sound pretty straightforward but they represent a very large increase in number-­ crunching computing power compared to chips that lack such dedicated hardware. We’ve seen these new parts being pitched as low-cost, and a search on the likes of DigiKey and Mouser suggests they are available for around $3 in single quantities (and, of course, somewhat cheaper if you buy many). The dsPIC33AK128MC102 is a 28-pin part in a SSOP package. Another example we found is the PIC32AK3208GC41048, available in a 48-pin TQFP package. The PIC32AK3208GC41048 is no slouch, with a 200MHz clock speed, 32kiB of program (flash) memory and 8kiB of SRAM. The usual digital peripherals such as PWM, UART, I2C and SPI are present. The analog peripherals are impressive, with two 12-bit, 40MSa/s ADCs. There are also onboard comparators, op amps and three 12-bit DACs. Internal peripherals include peripheral pin select (PPS), which allows remapping of many digital peripherals to different pins. There are also four CLC (configurable logic cell) instances. The CLC can be used as internal ‘glue’ logic between peripherals. We previously used the CLC in an 8-bit PIC16F18146 to combine the comparator and PWM features to implement a simple but effective voltage boost controller. This was documented in the Digital Boost Regulator project (December 2022; siliconchip. au/Article/15588). So there is a lot of commonality for those accustomed to other PIC families. Even the configuration bits have familiar names and behaviours. These siliconchip.com.au chips also have a security module to allow secure booting and code protection. The dsPIC33A family, like other dsPIC families, is clearly aimed at real-time digital signal processing applications. This also includes machine learning algorithms, as well as the more traditional DSP applications, like audio and image processing. These are capable chips at a good price, and with their PIC pedigree, should be easy to work with for those who are familiar with other PICs. The fast ADC alone may make it the part of choice for certain projects. Other news There is also a 64-bit PIC family, the PIC64GX, which has four RISC-V cores. RISC-V is an open-source RISC architecture, so manufacturers are not encumbered by license fees as they might be with other architectures. The PIC64GX family is capable of running Linux, so it appears to be suited to a general-purpose computing role. The writing of this article coincided with the Electronex trade show, and we had the opportunity to talk to the staff at Microchip as well as see a presentation on the PIC64GX family. We learned that there are other PIC64 RISC-V families planned for launch later in 2025. The Microchip engineers spoke about how the PIC64GX offers true asymmetric multi-processing. This allows one of the processor cores to be dedicated to real-time applications, such as motor control, while the remaining cores can run operating system or application software. We have also read that there is now a Microchip MPLAB extension for the Visual Studio Code IDE (VS Code). We previously noted that the official Raspberry Pi SDK (software development kit) for the Pico family of processors has now moved to use VS Code; see the article about Transitioning to the Pico 2 from (March 2025; siliconchip. au/Article/17796). To get started with the Microchip MPLAB extension, search for “MPLAB” in the VS Code Extensions Marketplace and install the MPLAB Extension Pack. This should also install other features like project import and toolchain support. As with the MPLAB X IDE, compilers are installed separately. There is also an AI coding assistant, which we plan to test out in the near future. Where to buy it Our Snap programmer has seen six years of good use and the PICkit Basic has come along at a good time. It has quietly and seamlessly replaced the Snap and we expect it should be good for many more years, since its case and USB-C socket will make it a more robust tool. It just works! There have been no real surprises in the new version of the MPLAB X IDE. We will pay close attention to the Microchip MPLAB extension for the VS Code IDE, especially given that we can also use that IDE for development of projects for the Raspberry Pi RP2xxx processors used in the Pico and Pico 2 boards. The new processor families being released look very promising to us, so we’ll monitor developments with the new PIC32A, dsPIC33A and PIC64 parts that are now available. For more information on the PICkit Basic, see www.microchip.com/en-us/ development-tool/pg164110 Buy the PICkit Basic from Microchip Direct: www.microchipdirect. com/dev-tools/PG164110 DigiKey: www.digikey.com.au/en/ products/detail/PG164110/25965142 Mouser: https://au.mouser.com/ SC ProductDetail/579-PG164110 We removed the PICkit Basic’s plastic case to get these photos of the top and bottom of the PCB. Readers who have a Snap programmer will see the similarities. siliconchip.com.au Australia's electronics magazine September 2025  37