>> We don't need Olin to support Linux. All that's required is open
>> specifications for the hardware.

Which will be available on a web site.

> Honestly, the chip-programming spec is fairly braindead.  If I were
> going thru the trouble of porting code or writing my own programming
> software, then I'll just roll my own programmer from scratch.

You can certainly do that.  The programming specs are not hard to
implement if you are willing to sit down and read them carefully, although
there are a few outright errors and hidden issues.  Basic hardware is also
not that difficult to design, although you do have to think a little if
you want to support variable Vdd as I did.  (Variable Vdd allows
verification at the limits of the target chip's voltage range, as required
for "production" programmers according to Microchip's definition).

The biggest problem with a no-firmware programmer is speed.  In fact, my
programmer does present several interface layers to the host software.  At
the very lowest level, the host software can wiggle all the lines.  This
guarantees that any chips with one of the supported pinouts can be
programmed with only host software changes.  However, sending individual
RS-232 commands to wiggle pins to implement the serial protocol is very
slow.  The next higher interface level transfers strings of bits with the
clocking and serialization done in the firmware.  This is much faster but
still universal enough that all modern PICs that I know of could be
programmed with this interface.  The highest level presents a <address>
<data> ... <data> read/write interface.  This is where the algorithms vary
between PICs.  These are implemented in firmware as space permits.  The
host decides which algorithms to select based on chip type, then sends the
data.


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