How many times may a bootloader be burn? [solved] Answer=150k

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I intend to use Arduino IDE (high level C++), Zerynth (Python) and Atmel Studio (low level C++, i.e. without Arduino layer, and assembler). This means 2 different bootloaders and no bootloader at all.

All this on the same MKR1000 board. I apparently managed to burn bootloaders without the need of ISP, probably works only or MKR boards (cf this thread). I write "apparently" because I'm only 99% sure of what happened, and I want to reproduce what I did to be completely sure.

Whatever, here are my questions :

  • Is the bootloader in the same memory than the sketches?
  • If no, how many times may we reflash a bootloader?

I think that the answer to (1) is "yes" and the answer to (2) is thus "a lot", but I'm a newbie in the field, so I'd rather know what I'm walking into.

2

The datasheet for the processor used in the MKR1000 board will have that inforamtion.

Look in the datasheet for something like 'flash endurance'

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  • Yes. The samd bootloader resides at the beginning of the same flash memory that your sketch uses.
  • Therefore, it has the same flash endurance. High, but not impossible to use up. 10,000 I think.
4

I think I found the information :

Arduino MKR1000, Tech Specs tab: Microcontroller SAMD21 Cortex-M0+ 32bit low power ARM MCU

Adafruit SAMD21, page 968, Table 36-40. Flash Endurance and Data Retention: typical cycle endurance = 150k (min = 25k).

Thanks for the help.