PIXIE - A command line programmer for the Ludi Programmer and the PIC16F84
by John Hansen

For some time I have wanted to have a command line programmer that 
would work with the extremely inexpensive Ludi-style serial port programmer.
Having found nothing that met my needs, I wrote PIXIE.

Pixie is extremely easy to use.  The syntax is simply:

PIXIE COMx filename

Where COMx is the serial port you wish to use (e.g., COM1) and filename is the name
of the hex file you want to program.  For example:

PIXIE COM1 pic.hex

The reason that I wanted to have a command line programmer is that I wanted to 
use it with MPLAB, so that I could program chips from within Microchip's IDE.

Here's how to do that.  First, create a batch file that has one line in it:

PIXIE COMx %1

where COMx again is the serial port you have the Ludi hooked to.

I've named my batch file PIXI.BAT (a copy is included in this package.

Now, from within MPLAB, when you want to program a chip, hit the F11 key.  

You will be presented with a dialog box.  In the first field "Command" type:

pixi pic.hex

(if you named your batch file pixi.bat and if the file you want to program is called
pic.hex, otherwise substitute your own names).

You will only have to enter this command the first time you use it, afterwards, MPLAB
will remember your filename.

This program has been tested with MPLAB 3.99.

Comments to

John Hansen  john@hansen.net

