>This brings me to an interesting thought...   It really looks as if
>this hardware should make it possible to also program other devices
>on this programmer if one just replace the existing controlling micro
>with another specially programmed one.  I would particularly like it if I can
> program
>the Atmel 89C20xx and 89Cxx devices.
>
>Has anyone else out there ever tried to do this?  Is the schematics
>for the Microchip Picstart Plus available anyware?  It shouldn't be
>too difficult to reverse engineer it, but I really don't want to do
>that if someone else has already done this and I can just buy a
>pre-programmed 17C42 to replace my existing one and wolla - My
>picstart can now also program the Atmel devices!
>
>It would be interesting to hear what the programmer experts like Jim
>and Antti think of this....   <hint> <hint>   :)
>
>Rgds
>
>Werner

Hi Werner and all others

well I can say what I think (or did at least): it would be possible
(and I had plans to do so) to replace the firmware chips on bla-bla
programmers with one single warranty:

"This is the final firmware upgrade you ever need for this hardware"

it means that the firmware would be to have full access over all the
hardware futures existing - swithces, drivers so on, and the upper level
software (on the host) would know how to handle the hardware (via the
the firmware), being able to use all available resources of the programmer
in question.

Another tool would take a programmer pin-capabilities description
file to help to make a pin-remap adapter for all those devices
the programmer does not support by default.

If that above would be made, every programmer equipped with the
"final firmware(tm)" Would be able (at least teoretically) to program
all devices that require equal number or less programmable pins and voltages
as the programmer hardware actually has.

YES Picstart would program Atmel, and lotsa other devices it was not designed
to program.

I have been working on this concept and will continue, but as I dont
know who I could get any profit of that work this is pretty much in
background.

well whats done is a base level specification for PINAPI - PIN (driver)
Application Programming Interface.

There are few programs written on top of that specification and they
are pretty much succesful. At least several companies are distributing
commercial programmers with my free software, (not paying and even without
sending me a notice) I still dont mind. And still will keep that programming
software (and hopefully coming soon new release) free.
(I have made no profit whatsorwhatever)

I had plans to make a new level spefication for programmers with firmware
chips, but its really not so easy. If I should do that, ie replacement
firmware chips for various programmers, then only if I will very sure
that the upgrade will be last firmware upgrade needed. Until that I am
pretty much amused to see what others are doing and thinking.

SORRY for this long mail to the list, but I was thinking
"What Werner is doing?" just befor I did see

"I wander what Antti thinks?" in Werners mail to list.

This is not PICLIST now I did make a Atmel2051 burner as simple
as it can be, and wrote a software for that, but didnt release.

Anyone interested? (AT89C2051 DIY programmer hw costs <10USD )

Grreetings Antti

























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