PX41CX

[agarza]

(06-07-2023 05:24 PM)goosnarrggh Wrote:  Perhaps you could come up with a scheme to allow those "plugged in" modules to be installed as hex file overlays, rather than being linked into the main application hex file?

When the device is first programmed from an erased state, the main hex file could be programmed in the main address rage, and all the "slots" for individual modules could be "blank" (all 0xFF's) which hopefully could be safely interpreted as meaning "unplugged".

When you want to "plug in" a module, you'd need to decide which "slot" you want to install it in, then modify the base address of its hex overlay to have the appropriate start address. Then use Microchip Studio to program that hex file into its selected slot *without* erasing the rest of the chip.

Rinse and repeat for each additional module you want to plug in.

Problems would arise, however, when the time came to "un-plug" a module after it was already installed. Because I don't think Microchip Studio's programming interface offers an option to selectively erase just one region of Flash memory, it's all or nothing. So I guess you'd have no choice but to erase the whole chip, re-program the main code again, and start over with installing your new selection of modules.

I have not studied the avr documentation regarding flashing, but would be nice if you could erase and flash only certain pages.