Development Tools Design Advisory

Last modified by Microchip on 2025/09/22 14:33

This advisory applies to the following development tools:

  • MPLAB® PICkit™ Basic In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer
  • MPLAB Snap In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer
  • MPLAB PICkit 5 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer
  • MPLAB PICkit 4 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer
  • PICkit 3 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer
  • MPLAB ICD 5 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer
  • MPLAB ICD 4 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer
  • MPLAB ICD 3 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer
  • MPLAB ICE 4 In-Circuit Emulator/Programmer
  • MPLAB REAL ICE™ In-Circuit Emulator/Programmer
  • MPLAB PM3 Universal Device Programmer

Development Tools Overview

All development tools that apply to this advisory can program a device using In-Circuit Serial Programming™ (ICSP™) programming capability. All except the MPLAB PM3 dedicated programmer can perform in-circuit debugging on a target device. The MPLAB ICE 4 and MPLAB REAL ICE in-circuit emulators can debug a device as well as perform advanced functions such as trace, which is why they are called emulators, not debuggers.

Advisory Contents

For applications where you intend to use these tools, you should consider the guidelines and implementation considerations discussed in this advisory for proper interfacing.