The Donkey is not dead.

With MP2 now stalled waiting for firmware, I've turned my attention back to DonkeyProg. Interestingly, the site for this little application had over 300 hits last week - and that's not a terribly unusual number!
As far as I'm aware, DonkeyProg is the only freely available alternative to the "official" Protocol 18 - and the only freely available application software that supports devices NOT covered by said P18. Certainly there are other alternatives to MicroPro, but they don't really "add value" the way DP does (if you discount cross-platform operation that is - worthy enough, but I don't personally give a stuff about MacOSX or Linux).

So we've got something here. Sure, it's flaky. That just means that it can stand some improvement! The original DonkeyProg was written with VC6/MFC4.2 (I think... MS still haven't got VC/MFC numbers to match up!) and considering the original intention, this was absolutely the right decision. I wrote DP in a single week. I say that not to boast (I'm NOT the programmers answer to Michael Schumacher!), but to try to emphasize just what a godawful hack it actually is. I wrote it to satisfy an urgent business need for a field programmer to handle 18F2520/18F4520 devices with K149B/C hardware - something it did very well. So I released it as-is, figuring that other folks might as well get some use out of it too.

And that's how it stands, aside from some minor modifications made at the beginning - Thanks to Bruce, Pete and others for providing suggestions and even nailing down some of the problems themselves.

Now we stand at a crossroads. On the left, we have MP2/P19. On the right, we have paid-for third party solutions. Straight across, we have... DonkeyProg 2.0???

Now let's get one thing cleared up right away. I'm not a wealthy man despite my other activities and probably never will be, and obviously I'd like to make some money out of this - just a little. But... I won't ever charge for software or firmware to this particular market (after all, I'd be the one of the first to kick up a stink about that particular sharp practice), I think it's just morally wrong. I'd like a sense of what the readership think in that respect. Consider: DIY's programmers are a little behind the times, particularly when the recent programming specifications from Microchip call for very different Vpp levels between different chip families - how is a K149 to cope with that? The main question is, would there be any mileage in redesigning the programmer? How many of you would like a "production" grade programmer with variable Vdd, variable Vpp, capability for ICSP using normal Vpp or LVP and so on, for a price of around 60UKP/85EUR/100USD or possibly slightly less? Let me know please, as it CAN be done, even without resorting to Chinese manufacture. This sort of thing is my speciality.

DonkeyProg 2.0 would (will?) of course be compatible with any of my new programmers, as well as being backward compatible with DIY units. The DIY units may require an add-on module (~15UKP/20EUR/25USD) for the new firmware. I don't think firmware of the complexity of P19 is going to fit a 16F628A, or even a 648A. My add on board will most likely use an 18F2520.

EDIT: Sorry about the rather tatty ending: My excuse is that I was in considerable pain from a back condition - high powered painkillers have their own peculiar effects! A day in bed has worked wonders...
Whatever happens, I will see MP2 through. At the moment DP2.0 is just an idea that I'm kicking about as a possible way of improving things. DP will remain free of charge, again I'm just testing the waters to see if there is a market for an improved programmer unit which might make the development worth my while.