Is it important to use bootloader in PIC

[snishanth512]

What does a bootloader do ?

Why do I download it to PIC microcontroller ?

Can I have many bootloaders in single PIC microcontroller ?

Does it slow down the PIC microcontroller ?

 

[wp100]

Hi,

There are two ways to get your User program into a micro.

Direct programming where you use some form of hardware programmer like a Pickit2 or Pickit3 etc to write the code into memory.

The Bootloader method is a small program that first has to be programmed into the chip with a hardware programmer as above.

Once the bootloader program is in the Pic, it allows you to download your user programs via its serial port direct from the PC; no hardware programmer is required.

Some development board makers put bootloaders into the Pic chip they supply so the users does not need an expensive hardware programmer.
The Arduino boards all use the bootloader method.

A bootloader has little impact on the user program running.