Quick Debug/Program Reference

The following table is a quick reference for using the MPLAB PICkit 4 In-Circuit Debugger as either a debugging or programming tool.

Attention: MPLAB PICkit 4 does not support debug headers.

Table 1. Debug vs. Program Operation
Item	Debug	Program
Needed Hardware	A computer and target application (Microchip demo board or your own design).
	Debugger, USB cable, and power supply (if needed).
	Device with on-board debug circuitry.	Device (with or without on-board debug circuitry).
MPLAB X IDE  selection	Project Properties, ICD 4 as Hardware Tool.
MPLAB X IDE  selection	Debug Main Project icon .	Make and Program Device icon .
Program Operation	Programs application code into the device. Depending on the selections on the Project Properties dialog, this can be any range of program memory. In addition, a small debug executive is placed in program memory and other debug resources are reserved.	Programs application code into the device. Depending on the selections on the Project Properties dialog, this can be any range of program memory.
Debug Features  Available	All for device – breakpoints, etc.	N/A
Serial Quick-Time  Programming (SQTP)	N/A	Use the MPLAB IPE to generate the SQTP file.
Command-line Operation	Use MDB command line utility, found by default in: `C:\Program Files (x86)\Microchip\ MPLABX\vx.xx\mplab_platform\bin\mdb.bat`	Use IPECMD, found by default in: `C:\Program Files (x86)\Microchip\ MPLABX\<vx.xx\mplab_platform\mplab_ipe\ipecmd.exe` .
Programmer-To-Go	N/A	Programs application code stored on a microSDHC card inserted in the MPLAB PICkit 4 into the device.