ApeHexLoader

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

Good day Peeps,

I recently started development with Uno chip. I had the need to upload the flash from the chip and load a hex at the same time. I have created an app called ApeHexloader which can do this. Please visit my site at www.apecoder.co.za and provide me feed back via twitter on whether this app was useful to you or not.

Thanks

2

Can't find the server: www.apecoder.co.za

3

@John, Hi yes for some reason the URL was not pointed correctly, I have now fixed this error. Please try again.

Also I missed to remove the dependency of of the mingwm10.dll, I will fix this within the week hopefully and release another version on my site.

4

New version up, with a tutorial link to youtube. For clarity I have been using this on a chip with the optiboot bootloader burnt on a 328p. I am guessing this means that the app should work on any chip that implements a stk500 protocol.

Why would you want to use this App?

  • for one there is no installation required and I have removed all dependencies on dll files
  • You may your customer to update the firmware on a chip you have sold them
  • You have the need to extract the flash memory and burn it on to another chip
5

Why would you want to use this App?

Do you intended for this to be open source (or are you otherwise going to release source code?)
In its current form it makes me very nervous: Why would I trust an EXE download from a nameless newbie with no track record of ... anything?
(And you know, source for a mingw-based PC app that talks to arduinos would be moderately interesting as an example, too...)

6

@WestF

Well I guess it can be a bit risky downloading an exe from any website so I see your point.

As far as the code goes, the app simply implements the STK500 protocol which is not difficult to implement. As you would know being one of the contributors to opitboot.c

7

Good day,

I have received feedback of several incompatibility issues which I am addressing, for now I suggest that users having a prolific usb interface consider using the app only.

I may not work with other usb interfaces (max232, ftdi ...).

I am working on getting it compatible.

8

the app simply implements the STK500 protocol

Actually, I was hoping to look at "how to deal with the serial port from a mingw app", but that seems to be the part you're having trouble with too?
(because dealing with the windows environment is more complicated than dealing with the arduino/protocol specifics. And less familiar.)

9

Good day,

On the previous release I as given feedback of incompatibility with original Uno chips and others, I have released a new version which I have tested with both an original Uno and a similar board to the Uno (china), the app has proven to work from my side. Hope you will try the new release and feedback.

New Version release is V1.04

  • Tested on original Uno Board
  • Tested on Prolific serial interface
  • Tested with Max232 serial interface

........Keep an eye for future releases, upcoming feature

  • Save flash memory as txt file or (.hex) for later use, currently extracted flash remains in application.

Hope you guys try it out.

Thanks

10

westfw:
Actually, I was hoping to look at "how to deal with the serial port from a mingw app", but that seems to be the part you're having trouble with too?
(because dealing with the windows environment is more complicated than dealing with the arduino/protocol specifics. And less familiar.)

@WestF, what makes you say that I am struggling with this? Have you tried the app yet? I must admit I did not anticipate various issues such as the different serial interface chips (ftdi, max232, prolific ... who knows what else) would have on my app with the first release, I have now created a more robust send serial and recieve serial protocol of STK500 in my app which would cater for majority of hardware out there.

11

For those who managed to download the Apehexloader hope it continues to help in the future. I will be taking the site off since I see that there isnt much interest in it.