Debugging a programmer

Microchip says its PICkit 2 development programmer now supports in-circuit debugging of selected PIC microcontroller products.

This enables engineers, students and anyone with an interest to begin developing and evaluating PIC microcontrollers for a low initial investment.

The PICkit 2 debug express kit features a 44 pin demo board populated with a PIC16F917 microcontroller and connects to any personal computer via USB.

Its in-circuit debugging features include halt, single step and setting a breakpoint.

The kit includes 12 tutorials that allow users to learn (source code provided), along with the company's free MPLAB IDE integrated development environment and a host of other software - enabling new users into the world of embedded control. Users who already own the PICkit 2 programmer need to download the firmware from www.microchip.com/pickit to use the new functionality.

Existing programmer users can also buy the 44 pin demo board or use the debug-enabled programmer on existing demonstration boards, such as the PICDEM Mechatronics.