CNanoKit

Compile, program and talk to Microchip's PIC18F56Q71 Curiosity Nano (EV01G21A) with one key – from Positron Studio, Proton IDE or VS Code. No MPLAB X, no programmer, no wires, no bootloader.

⬇ Download CNanoKit 💬 Forum topic Quick start Videos

What it does

One key

Compiles with Positron8, then writes, verifies and resets the kit through the kit's own on-board debugger (Microchip's free pymcuprog).

Safe

Checks that the PIC on the kit matches your Device = line before it writes anything.

CNano Monitor

Serial monitor for the kit's USB port: Text / HEX view and send, quick buttons, Reset PIC, log file, English / Turkish.

No wires

Your program uses UART2 (RB4 = TX, RB5 = RX), already connected inside the kit to its USB port.

Three examples

HELLO (text + LED), HELLO_NOLED (text only), KOMUT (the PIC obeys commands from the PC).

Not included

Breakpoint debugging (use MPLAB X for that). Only the 18F56Q71 kit is tested.

What your PC needs (tested versions)

ItemTested version
Windows 10 / 11, 64-bitWindows 11 Pro
Positron8 compiler4.0.6.4
One IDEPositron Studio 2.1.0.4 · Proton IDE 2.0.3.3 · VS Code 1.140 + “Positron” extension by atomix 2.9.0
Python 3, 64-bit (tick “Add python.exe to PATH”)3.14.7
Installed once by the setup (internet)Microchip pymcuprog 3.19 · Microchip PIC18F-Q device pack 1.31
The kit + a USB data cable (Micro-B)EV01G21A

Not needed: MPLAB X / IPE, a PICkit, wires, a bootloader, any driver (Windows recognises the kit by itself).

Quick start

  1. Download the zip. Before unzipping: right-click → Properties → tick Unblock → OK.
  2. Unzip to C:\CNanoKit.
  3. Close your IDEs and double-click CNanoProg_Setup.bat (internet needed once).
  4. Plug in the kit. A drive called CURIOSITY and a “Curiosity Virtual COM Port” appear.
  5. Open C:\CNanoKit\examples\CNANO_HELLO_56Q71.bas, compile + program (see the keys below).
  6. Open the monitor, click Connect: “Hello/Merhaba n” lines arrive every 500 ms.

Full guide inside the zip: docs\INSTALL_EN_*.md · new PC step by step: docs\NEW_PC_SETUP_EN_*.md

Keys and buttons

IDECompile + programMonitor
Positron StudioF10Tools → CNano Monitor
Proton IDE“Program (CNanoProg)” button“Monitor (CNanoMonitor)” button
VS CodeCtrl+Alt+M – or Ctrl+Alt+C then Ctrl+Alt+P (P alone does not compile)Ctrl+Alt+N

Videos (English captions)

Positron Studio

HELLO – one key (F10)

Positron Studio

HELLO_NOLED – text only

Positron Studio

KOMUT – control the PIC from the PC

Proton IDE

HELLO – Program and Monitor buttons

Proton IDE

HELLO_NOLED

Proton IDE

KOMUT

VS Code

HELLO – compile, program, monitor

VS Code

HELLO_NOLED

VS Code

KOMUT

Tool

CNano Monitor tour

JonW's mwboot bootloader on this kit

JonW's free FREELOADER / mwboot bootloader also runs on this kit – separate from CNanoKit, with two wires (RC6 → RB4, RB5 → RC7). Get his files only from his forum topic: protoncompiler.com – FREELOADER.

Wiring for JonW's mwboot: RC6 to RB4, RB5 to RC7

Wiring diagram (Turkish labels): wire 1 = RC6 → RB4, wire 2 = RB5 → RC7, holes counted from the USB end. Pinout: Microchip (DS50003481A); wires added by okmn.

The two wires on the kit

The two wires on a real kit. Fit or remove them with USB unplugged.

Status: the bootloader works on a real PIC18F56Q71 (upload, verify, full read-back). FREELOADER.exe 1.1 cannot connect through the kit's USB port yet, because the kit passes data only while DTR is on – JonW will add an option for that.

Part 1 – Upload through the bootloader

Part 2 – Reading the whole chip back

Part 3 – FREELOADER 1.1 and DTR

Part 4 – The test app on its own

FAQ

Ctrl+Alt+M does nothing in VS Code. Another program may own that key. Use Ctrl+Alt+C (compile), then Ctrl+Alt+P (program).

“hex is older than the .bas”. You programmed without compiling. Compile first.

The monitor shows nothing. Click Connect, keep “DTR on” ticked (the kit needs it), and make sure your program uses UART2 (RB4/RB5).

Does programming erase my bootloader? Yes – normal programming erases the whole chip.

Türkçe

CNanoKit, Microchip PIC18F56Q71 Curiosity Nano kitini Positron8 ile Positron Studio (F10), Proton IDE (Program düğmesi) veya VS Code (Ctrl+Alt+M) üzerinden tek tuşla derleyip programlamanızı ve CNano Monitor ile USB üzerinden konuşmanızı sağlar. MPLAB X, programlayıcı, kablo ve bootloader gerekmez. Türkçe kılavuzlar zip içinde: docs\KURULUM_TR_*.md, docs\YENI_PC_KURULUM_TR_*.md.