In-Circuit Debuggers (Programmer-Debuggers)

Programming

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When acting as a programmer these devices allow user generated code to be programmed into the PIC® Microcontroller's non-volatile program memory. After programming, once the MCLR pin is released, the PIC Microcontroller will reset and the application code will begin to run.

Debugging

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When acting as a debugger the devices will program a version of the user code into the PIC® Microcontroller, however after programming MPLAB® X IDE will retain "control" over the device. The user will be able to use the debug commands of the IDE to control the program and view the memory contents inside the PIC® Microcontroller. This control and monitoring capability is what gives the user the ability to debug program errors.

In-Circuit Debugger Details

MPLAB® REAL ICE

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MPLAB® REAL ICE™ In-Circuit Emulator is Microchip's most capable hardware emulator/debugger/programmer. Like the MPLAB ICD 3 and PICkit 3, it can program and debug Microchip PIC® microcontrollers and dsPIC® digital signal controllers. Also it works seamlessly with the MPLAB X IDE.

The emulator connects to a PC using a high-speed USB 2.0 interface and connects to the target using the same interface found on all Microchip Debugger/Programmers, an In Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) interface. An optional LVDS (Low-Voltage Differential Signal) connection is available via the Performance Pak.

 
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How It's Used

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MPLAB® ICD 3

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MPLAB® ICD 3 In-Circuit Debugger is Microchip's most popular hardware debugger/programmer. Like the MPLAB REAL ICE™ In-Circuit Emulator and PICkit™ 3, it can program and debug Microchip PIC® microcontrollers and dsPIC® digital signal controllers. Also it works seamlessly with the MPLAB X IDE.

The MPLAB ICD 3 connects to a PC using a high-speed USB 2.0 interface and connects to the target using the same interface found on all Microchip Debugger/Programmers, an In Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) interface.

 
Microchip Direct
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How It's Used

PC-ICD3-Explorer16.png

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PICkit™ 3

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PICkit™ 3 In-Circuit Debugger is Microchip's lowest cost hardware debugger/programmer. Like the MPLAB® REAL ICE™ In-Circuit Emulator and MPLAB ICD 3, it can program and debug Microchip PIC® microcontrollers and dsPIC® digital signal controllers. Also it works seamlessly with the MPLAB X IDE.

The PICkit 3 connects to a PC using a full-speed USB 2.0 interface and connects to the target using the same interface found on all Microchip Debugger/Programmers, an In Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) interface.

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The PICkit 3 In-Circuit-Debugger/Programmer is NOT a production programmer. It should be used for development purposes only.

 
Microchip Direct
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How It's Used

PC-PICkit3-Explorer16.png

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Accessories

  • TPROG001

In-Circuit Debugger Features Comparison

Feature
(Clickable Links)		 PIC10F
PIC12F
PIC16F

PIC16F1x

PIC18F

dsPIC30F

PIC24F
PIC24H
dsPIC33F

PIC32MX


PICkit 3


ICD 3


Real ICE
Trace Data & Program Flow ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✔
Runtime Watch ✘ ✔ ✔* ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✔
Software Breakpoints ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔
Break on Address or Data Match ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔
Break on Data Fetch or Write ✘ ✔* ✔* ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔
Pass Counter ✘ ✔* ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔
Stopwatch ✘ ✔* ✔* ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔
WDT Overflow ✘ ✔* ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔
Run, Halt ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Single Step ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Hardware Breakpoints 1 1-3 1-3 1-4 1-6 1-6 1-6 ✔ ✔ ✔
Peripheral Freeze on Halt ✔* ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

* Does not apply to all members of family
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