e. Programmer or bootloader?

QUESTION:

Is it worth to use a bootloader and preprogrammerd PICs that do not require a programmer?

ANSWER:

Yes, you may always use a bootloader instead of a programmer. But in this case, you need a bootloader preprogrammed chip to start with. I started programming PIC18 from scratch. It was enough for me to buy a MCP2200, a factory preprogrammed microcontroller (a version of PIC18F14K50)... First, I had made PIC18F2xJ50 programmer and when I had a working PIC18F24J50 with my FW with greaty extended functionalty, I used it to make a fast programmer for PIC18F2xJ50... There was actually no need for a bootloader. There is also another aspect of using a bootloader. It "burns" valuable memory resources, which you could use for your own programming. And there are also not so rare occasions, when a bootloader fails and you need a programmer to load it back onto the microcontroller. If you already own a fast programmer, there is actually no need to use a bootloader. You can also change programming "on the fly" using a programming connector - see PICkit3... You can also make your own programmer that acts a PICkit3... They can both work via SK9 connector on K8055N board...