Quitting MplabX

johnl · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 120

Is there an simpler alternative to MplabX? It decided to stop working and I've always had issues with it over the years. I believe I'm at my limit.

NotePad++ and CCS command line compiler would work, but how to program the chip? I have ICD3 and ICD2. Anyone use Mplab IPE for programming?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

chaphill · Joined: 07 May 2019 Posts: 21 Location: Chappell Hill, Tx

I use MPLAB X IPE V5.10 with PICKIT 3 for dsPIC33EV256GM004, some PIC24's and occasionally for an 18F. I have used the CCS ICD U64 with the CCSLOAD as well. I ended up going back to the older MPLAB IPE after some isues with a newer one. That is the only reason I use MPLAB though, CCS is much simpler to use. I had to download all of the MPLAB X IDE but the only thing I have ever opened is the IPE.

temtronic · Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:40 pm

I've used MPLAB for decades, last version is V8.92. Have used ASM and CCS C through it to burn PICs using my PICSTARTplus and PICKIT3 burners.
Have never used the 'simulator' in it..I just burn and test in the Real world.
It does support the 18F46K22, the newest PIC I use on a steady basis.
I'm old, stuck in my ways....no real need to 'upgrade'.

johnl · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 120

@chaphill: So you use the command line CCS, then load the .hex into IPE and program the chip?
What editor do you use?

johnl · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 120

@temtronic: I have 8.92 and just saw that it covers 18F4520 which I'm using. I'll give it a try. Simpler is always better and MplabX goes off the rails for me.

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19536

Have to agree wholeheartedly.
MPLAB was always a much better program than MPLAB-X. MPLAB-X
seems never really to work well, and can be a real pain.

PrinceNai · Joined: 31 Oct 2016 Posts: 480 Location: Montenegro

I always use the old MPLAB with 18f46k22 and Pickit3. Once upon a time I decided that I'll use 16f15323 because it is smaller and I wanted to squeeze as many PCB's as possible on 100mm x 100mm area in order to save $5 on PCB price. Had to use MPLABX to do the development and programming. If I weren't bald already, I'd rip all my hair out. Nothing worked from the start, interface is terrible, it is slow. It reported 1.000.000 errors in the code that were not there. Unresolved this, unresolved that. It flashed Pickit3 with a newer firmware that old MPLAB didn't recognize and was unable to revert back. Luckily the ancient Pickit app did the trick there, otherwise I'd have to reflash Pickit3 manually.

Those were by far the most expensive 5 bucks I ever saved.

temtronic · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:14 am

PrinceNai · Joined: 31 Oct 2016 Posts: 480 Location: Montenegro

Well, every lesson costs. Luckily I'm (mostly) just a hobby developer and all it took was some of my free time. But I learnt never ever to use MPLABX again :-)

Jesse · Joined: 07 Sep 2021 Posts: 7

I have used both, MPLAB X IDE 5.50 and MPLAB IDE v8.92 on PIC24 using the CCS compiler.

With MPLAB IDE 8.92 I compile the code and program with the MPLAB IPE is working fine for me.

A lot of problems using MPLAB X IDE and those compilers... (XC8, C...)

I would go back to MPLAB v8.92

PrinceNai · Joined: 31 Oct 2016 Posts: 480 Location: Montenegro

I use CCS IDE to write and compile the code. Until I'm happy with how the code behaves, I import the COF file to MPLAB 8.92. After that, every time I rebuld the code in CCS, the changes are automatically reflected in MPLAB. Debug the code with Pickit3. When debugging phase is over, just comment out ICD = TRUE, import .hex into MPLAB and burn it. No need for MPLABX IPE. But I suspect you are using a newer programmer, unsupported by MPLAB. On that note, I'm using Chinese clones of Pickit3. Since I move around a lot, I have at least 5 of them and they all work. They cost like 10€.

You could of course use only MPLAB to do it all, but I got used to the looks of CCS IDE for writing.

chaphill · Joined: 07 May 2019 Posts: 21 Location: Chappell Hill, Tx

@Johnl I am another one of those old farts. I spent 15 years working for a company that was too "cheap" to buy a real compiler so I developed some pretty sophisticated multiprocessor data collection tools in assembly using a freeware command line compiler. I bought the CCS C IDE when I formed my own company and will never go back to the command line versions. Sorry, been there done that.
I use Notepad+ when I am working in windows, I love the dual screen for "borrowing" code from "known working" programs. -Ray

johnl · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 120

OK, switching to MPLAB 8.92. It does build the project with no errors, which is a big improvement over MPLABX. However, it won't connect to the ICD3.
I ran the MPLAB Driver Switcher (as admin), unplugged the USB a few times.

Any ideas?

When reconnecting:

MPLAB ICD 3 detected
Connecting to MPLAB ICD 3...
ICD3Err0038: Failed to intialize ICD 3.

Failed to properly connect to ICD 3

Here's a new clue: MPLAB IPE connects to the ICD3 without a problem.

PCM programmer · Joined: 06 Sep 2003 Posts: 21708

Search for this with Google:

PrinceNai · Joined: 31 Oct 2016 Posts: 480 Location: Montenegro

If you already used the same ICD3 in MPLABX it is possible that the firmware it loaded is too new and not compatible with MPLAB. ICD firmware (.jam file), found in MPLAB 8.92 directory is version 1.28.90 and FPGA 2.02.10. Check in MPLABX which versions you have. If I understood correctly, driver switcher only changes the way ICD communicates with the PC, not the actual firmware. You could try picking a PIC from another family and force ICD3 to load the firmware for that family and then go back to MPLAB. There should also be a checkbox somewhere in MPLABX "always use the latest firmware". If you uncheck that, it seems possible to downgrade the firmware version to this one.