Re: PIC-based PIC programmer?

David McNab wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Does anyone know of a PIC programmer which itself is based on a PIC
> chip, and which only uses the bare minimum of parts?


http://www.taudelta.com.au/prog.html
could be a starting point.
It does verify  at high and low limits, as microchip recommend
for production use. This could be left off for hobby use.

john


> 
> Conceivably, a PIC-based PIC programmer would only need:
>  - a PIC
>  - a crystal or resonator
>  - a MAX232 or equivalent, plus charge pump capacitors
>  - maybe a transistor or two, in case the programmer needs to
>    bludge some +12V from the MAX232 and switch it into the target PIC
>  - a couple of buttons and LEDs.
> 
> If a PIC chip had the programming code plus a bootloader, it would only
> need to duplicate its own code into the target PIC, and then could
> function independently of the host computer when it's just being used to
> burn other PICs.
> 
> Such a thing, published with PIC code, host code and PCB artwork, would
> be a human-facilitated benevolent 'PIC virus'.
> 
> "Give your friends a pre-programmed PIC, together with the PCB artwork
> and host software". Would be a brilliant geek birthday/xmas present! :)
> 
> So, does such a thing exist?
>