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I'm using a PIC18F4620 and I wrote the code in CCS C compiler. I found several tutorials on uploading code to the microcontroller but they all use MPlab X and PicKit. How can I upload the code to the microcontroller without MPlab X or PicKit?

Edit: I want to elaborate the question: I have this protect where I have to write the code, design the circuit and, design the PCB layout of a digital clock. Here is the PCB design:

enter image description here

The problem is, I have no experience in this type of job so I don't really have any programmer or any other hardware(I'm an intern). I thought someting similar to USART may be the answer. I would appreciate if you could help.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ do you already own programmer hardware? Can't really do it without, unless your PIC came preloaded with some bootloader. \$\endgroup\$
    – Marcus Müller
    Commented Apr 13, 2023 at 9:59
  • \$\begingroup\$ I ask because you say "I'm using…" and that sounds like you already have a setting where you can program it (otherwise you'd be saying "I'm planning to use…" or something). The complexity and cost of programming devices often make microcontroller decisions, especially in low-volume (as in: a single device, 10 devices) settings, where the programmer hardware cost and -annoyance can outweigh advantages of a microcontroller. The PIC1… microcontrollers are definitely not the easiest nor cheapest to be flashed microcontrollers on the market. \$\endgroup\$
    – Marcus Müller
    Commented Apr 13, 2023 at 10:03
  • \$\begingroup\$ The fact that "ftdi" has been chosen as a tag might be a hint that it came preloaded with UART over USB bootloader. Either way, we need more information on what particular evaluation kit that OP may be using \$\endgroup\$
    – pm101
    Commented Apr 13, 2023 at 12:46
  • \$\begingroup\$ Is there a reason your board only has copper on one side? I see a lot of 0-ohm links being used as jumpers; why not use backside copper? \$\endgroup\$
    – Hearth
    Commented Apr 13, 2023 at 18:46

3 Answers 3

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You could use a bootloader to program it via UART so you don't need PicKit.

But you still need to program the UART bootloader with PicKit, so you are back to needing a PicKit anyway.

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Assuming you are using the PIC18F4620 Embedded Ethernet Development Kit and bought the Proto-Board only offering, it doesn't include a programmer. CCS offer their own programmers and tools with the cheapest programmer ICD-U64 Debugger/Programmer currently not in stock at time of writing.

I strongly suggest you to upgrade to MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler which is far superior and has a free edition of XC8 compiler and PIC-Kit 4 which has programming and debug capability, is cheaper than the CCS programmer option and has >1000 in stock at time of writing on Microchip website and many other distributors such as Farnell.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ We use the CCS compiler with MPLAB X and Microchip Pickit, so you won't have to re-write your code. But as @Justme says, you still have to buy a programmer (Pickit or ICD). \$\endgroup\$
    – John Birckhead
    Commented Apr 13, 2023 at 16:56
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The cheapest Microchip programmer is the Microchip SNAP. I couldn't find a link to the list of supported devices so make sure your device is supported before buying it. It's been a while since I looked into it.

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