# mcbootflash
[](https://bessman.github.io/mcbootflash/)
[](https://pypi.org/project/mcbootflash/)
[](https://mit-license.org/)
## What
Mcbootflash is a Python tool for flashing firmware to 16-bit Microchip MCUs and DSCs
from the PIC24 and dsPIC33 families of devices, which are running a
[bootloader](https://www.microchip.com/en-us/software-library/16-bit-bootloader)
generated by the MPLAB Code Configurator tool.
Mcbootflash is intended to be a drop-in replacement for Microchip's official tool, the
Unified Bootloader Host Application (UBHA).
## Why
Mcbootflash is:
### Scriptable
As a command-line application, mcbootflash is easily scriptable.
### Extensible
In addition to its command-line interface, mcbootflash can be used as a library by
applications wanting to implement firmware flashing as part of a larger suite of
features.
### Free and Open Source
Mcbootflash is distributed under the MIT license.
## Installation
`pip install mcbootflash`
## Usage
Mcbootflash can be used as both a command-line application and a library.
### Command-line
```shellsession
$ mcbootflash --help
usage: mcbootflash [-h] -p PORT -b BAUDRATE [-t TIMEOUT] [-v] [-q] [--version] hexfile
Flash firmware over serial connection to a device running Microchip's 16-bit bootloader.
positional arguments:
hexfile an Intel HEX file containing application firmware
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-p PORT, --port PORT serial port connected to the device you want to flash
-b BAUDRATE, --baudrate BAUDRATE
symbol rate of device's serial bus
-t TIMEOUT, --timeout TIMEOUT
try to read data from the bus for this many seconds before giving up
-v, --verbose print debug messages
-q, --quiet suppress output
--version show program's version number and exit
```
#### Example
```shellsession
$ mcbootflash --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baudrate 460800 firmware.hex
Connecting to bootloader...
Connected
Existing application detected, erasing...
Application erased
Flashing firmware.hex
100% 88.7 KiB |########################################| Elapsed Time: 0:00:05
Self verify OK
```
### Library
When using mcbootflash as a library, typical workflow looks something like this:
``` py
import mcbootflash as bf
import serial
# Connect to a device in bootloader mode.
connection = serial.Serial(port=<PORT>, baudrate=<BAUDRATE>, timeout=<TIMEOUT>)
# Query its attributes.
bootattrs = bf.get_boot_attrs(connection)
# Load the firmware image and split it into chunks.
total_bytes, chunks = bf.chunked(hexfile=<HEXFILE_PATH_STRING>, bootattrs)
# Erase the device's program memory area.
bf.erase_flash(connection, bootattrs.memory_range, bootattrs.erase_size)
# Write the firmware chunks to the bootloader in a loop.
for chunk in chunks:
bf.write_flash(connection, chunk)
# Optionally, check that the write is OK by checksumming.
if bootattrs.has_checksum:
bf.checksum(connection, chunk)
# At this point, you may want to give an indication of the flashing progress,
# like updating a progress bar.
# Verify that the new application is detected.
bf.self_verify(connection)
```
See also the [API Reference](https://bessman.github.io/mcbootflash/api/).
Raw data
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"description": "# mcbootflash\n\n\n[](https://bessman.github.io/mcbootflash/)\n[](https://pypi.org/project/mcbootflash/)\n[](https://mit-license.org/)\n\n## What\n\nMcbootflash is a Python tool for flashing firmware to 16-bit Microchip MCUs and DSCs\nfrom the PIC24 and dsPIC33 families of devices, which are running a\n[bootloader](https://www.microchip.com/en-us/software-library/16-bit-bootloader)\ngenerated by the MPLAB Code Configurator tool.\n\nMcbootflash is intended to be a drop-in replacement for Microchip's official tool, the\nUnified Bootloader Host Application (UBHA).\n\n## Why\n\nMcbootflash is:\n\n### Scriptable\n\nAs a command-line application, mcbootflash is easily scriptable.\n\n### Extensible\n\nIn addition to its command-line interface, mcbootflash can be used as a library by\napplications wanting to implement firmware flashing as part of a larger suite of\nfeatures.\n\n### Free and Open Source\n\nMcbootflash is distributed under the MIT license.\n\n## Installation\n\n`pip install mcbootflash`\n\n## Usage\n\nMcbootflash can be used as both a command-line application and a library.\n\n### Command-line\n\n```shellsession\n$ mcbootflash --help\nusage: mcbootflash [-h] -p PORT -b BAUDRATE [-t TIMEOUT] [-v] [-q] [--version] hexfile\n\nFlash firmware over serial connection to a device running Microchip's 16-bit bootloader.\n\npositional arguments:\n hexfile an Intel HEX file containing application firmware\n\noptional arguments:\n -h, --help show this help message and exit\n -p PORT, --port PORT serial port connected to the device you want to flash\n -b BAUDRATE, --baudrate BAUDRATE\n symbol rate of device's serial bus\n -t TIMEOUT, --timeout TIMEOUT\n try to read data from the bus for this many seconds before giving up\n -v, --verbose print debug messages\n -q, --quiet suppress output\n --version show program's version number and exit\n```\n\n#### Example\n\n```shellsession\n$ mcbootflash --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baudrate 460800 firmware.hex\nConnecting to bootloader...\nConnected\nExisting application detected, erasing...\nApplication erased\nFlashing firmware.hex\n100% 88.7 KiB |########################################| Elapsed Time: 0:00:05\nSelf verify OK\n```\n\n### Library\n\nWhen using mcbootflash as a library, typical workflow looks something like this:\n\n``` py\nimport mcbootflash as bf\nimport serial\n\n\n# Connect to a device in bootloader mode.\nconnection = serial.Serial(port=<PORT>, baudrate=<BAUDRATE>, timeout=<TIMEOUT>)\n# Query its attributes.\nbootattrs = bf.get_boot_attrs(connection)\n# Load the firmware image and split it into chunks.\ntotal_bytes, chunks = bf.chunked(hexfile=<HEXFILE_PATH_STRING>, bootattrs)\n# Erase the device's program memory area.\nbf.erase_flash(connection, bootattrs.memory_range, bootattrs.erase_size)\n\n# Write the firmware chunks to the bootloader in a loop.\nfor chunk in chunks:\n bf.write_flash(connection, chunk)\n\n # Optionally, check that the write is OK by checksumming.\n if bootattrs.has_checksum:\n bf.checksum(connection, chunk)\n\n # At this point, you may want to give an indication of the flashing progress,\n # like updating a progress bar.\n\n# Verify that the new application is detected.\nbf.self_verify(connection)\n```\n\nSee also the [API Reference](https://bessman.github.io/mcbootflash/api/).",
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