> '  I'd interpret the broad question as "having read a cross section of
> manuals, I find that there are a wide range of situations that apply.
> It may be that there are best practices,

there are: follow the manual

(the question was specifically about Vdd. For the gpm/pgd/pgc lines 
there are more general advices, Olin has a good page explaining those. 
but for Vdd it is realy programmer-specific.)

> frowned on procedures

of course there are, I think you can guess :)

> common means of implementation

- programmer-powered
- target powered
- hybrids

 > and more which I in my necessarily
> incomplete knowledge may have failed to pick up on

Which can be remedied by either
- reading the manuals, or
- asking specific questions

> So, can anyone skilled in the art and experienced in the ways of the
> beasts offer some generic advice through what is obviously a bit of a
> minefield?

I dunno if I qualify, but I did give advice, repeated here: RTM

Sorry grasshopper, there is no easy path.

-- 

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products
docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: www.voti.nl/hvu

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