Various low cost and Free PIC Programmers
Note:
Sometimes you will find that one hardware design, will work with multiple software programmer ppplications, most notably the Tait hardware designs. When looking for programmer software do check this. If the recommended programmer schematic is not included there will be a link to it.
Amiga PIC programmers
EPIC programmer for the Amiga (PIC16C84 support only)
EMPIC for the Amiga (PIC 16C/F84 supported)
Minipic@ Aminet, Amiga 12C508 programmer.
Devpic info to add. Devpic @ Aminet UK
Apic info and Apic1812.lha @ Aminet UK
PP16F84 programmer @ Aminet, based upon the ‘Tait’ programmer.
Apple Mac PIC programmers
I found this JAVA programmer which should work on the Mac (that has a serial port)
http://llk.media.mit.edu/projects/picdev/
This is a compiler, simulator and programming tool for Mac’s pre OS X.
PC Programmers
PICKIT 4/5
I recently (in 2023) upgraded from the PICKIT 2 to the PICKIT 4, after waiting ages for it to come back in stock, less than 6 months later it was being made obsolete for the PICKIT 5. The device support is impressive and it now supports a range of Atmel (now Microchip) AVR devices, handy as it allows recovery of bricked Atmega 328 and Attiny 85 devices, with high voltage programming
It uses a USB interface so is better suited to newer legacy free PCs that do not have parallel or serial ports.
You can either user MPLAB to debug and program your device or use the standalone programmer application to flash your device. The programmer application supports a wider range of devices than MPLAB and also support serial EEPROMs
IC-Prog (http://www.ic-prog.com)
I have not personally tested this software
The software works with a number of different hardware designs, see the site for full details (the Tait programmers work).
Whilst the list of devices supported by the software is extensive, check that it works with the programmer you have.
Supported devices:
12C508, 12C508A, 12C509, 12C509A, 12CE518, 12CE519
12C671, 12C672, 12CE673, 12CE674,12F629, 12F675, 16C433
16C54, 16C56, 16C58, 16C61, 16C62A, 16C62B, 16C63, 16C63A, 16C64A, 16C65A, 16C65B, 16C66, 16C67, 16C71, 16C72, 16C72A, 16C73A, 16C73B, 16C74A, 16C74B, 16C76, 16C77, 16F73, 16F74, 16F76, 16F77
16C84, 16F83, 16F84, 16F84A, 16C505
16C620, 16C620A, 16C621, 16C621A, 16C622, 16C622A
16CE623, 16CE624, 16CE625, 16F627, 16F628, 16F630, 16F676
16C710, 16C711, 16C712, 16C715, 16C716, 16C717, 16C745, 16C765
16C770, 16C771, 16C773, 16C774, 16C781, 16C782, 16F818, 16F819
16F870, 16F871, 16F872, 16F873, 16F874, 16F876, 16F877
16F873A, 16F874A, 16F876A, 16F877A,16C923, 16C924, 18F242, 18F248, 18F252, 18F258, 18F442, 18F448, 18F452, 18F458 18F1320, 18F2330, 18F4320, 18F6620, 18F6720, 18F8620, 18F8720
The software also supports a wide variety of EEPROMs, worth checking out.
WinpicProg (http://www.winpicprog.co.uk)
This works with the P16PRO40 and the Ozipic programmers, full details of these designs are on the website.
Supported devices:
12C508, 12C509, 12C671, 12C672, 12F629, 12F675, 16C505, 16C621A, 16C622A, 16C745, 16C84, 16F627, 16F627A, 16F628, 16F628A, 16F630, 16F648A, 16F676, 16F73, 16F74, 16F76, 16F77, 16F818, 16F819, 16F83, 16F84, 16F84A, 16F872, 16F873, 16F873A, 16F874, 16F874A, 16F876, 16F876A, 16F877, 16F877A, 18F242, 18F248, 18F252, 18F258, 18F442, 18F448, 18F452, 18F458.
There are support forums and tutorials on the website, worth checking out.
Linux Programmers
Rather than copy a list of links, check the GNUPIC (http://www.gnupic.org) page out.