The development of Auto-generated code

for Programming PIC16F877

Microcontroller
Hilario A. Calinao Jr.1 , Nasher G. Jimenez2 , and Oliver R. Mariano3

1-3
Bulacan State Univesit Brgy. Guinhawa City of Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines 3000

Abstract
Developing an embedded system using the PIC16F877 microcontroller requires
a combination of software programming and hardware development skills, making it
a complex undertaking. In the field of Electronics Engineering, Microprocessor Sys-
tems is a subject that specifically focuses on embedded system development. This study
aimed to create the Auto-Generated Code for Programming PIC16F877 (AGCPIC) sys-
tem, which encompasses both software and hardware components, to assist students in
building embedded systems with the PIC16F877 microcontroller. The software com-
ponent was developed using the Visual Basic 2010 programming platform and utilized
a combination of textual and visual programming techniques for the microcontroller.
To facilitate real-time response testing of the generated source code, an AGCPIC hard-
ware development board was constructed. Thorough testing was conducted to ensure
the reliability of the system, including the successful completion of unit testing (100%
passed), integration testing (100% passed), and dependable systems testing. The over-
all testing results confirm the system’s reliability. Moreover, based on the assessment
summary, the AGCPIC system achieved an overall acceptability rating of 4.72, indi-
cating a high level of acceptability. The statistical t-test results demonstrate the signif-
icance of the AGCPIC system’s functionality, usability, efficiency, and subject matter
content with a 95% confidence level.

Keywords: embedded system, microcontroller system, visual programming, IO

devices

1 Introduction
The process of building an embedded system project is an essential
requirement in the field of electronics engineering. Embedded systems
involve a combination of hardware and software that enables the process-
ing of input signals to perform specific tasks. In this course, students
are tasked with creating programs that can be run on microcontrollers or
microprocessors using low-level and high-level programming languages
with cross-compilation techniques (CHED, 2018). Based on data gath-
ered from electronics engineering students at Bulacan State University
during the 2013-2014 school year, it was found that 76% of 124 stu-
dents utilized microcontroller-based projects, with 60% of them using

1
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

the PIC16F877 microcontroller. The data also revealed that 67.74% of

students agreed that writing codes presented a challenge in developing an
embedded system, while 29.84% agreed that testing the program source
code and 29.03% agreed that interfacing with external components were
challenging aspects.

Flowcharting knowledge plays a crucial role in the development of an

embedded system project as it helps visualize the program algorithm’s
flow. Analyzing the flow of the program allows students to make nec-
essary adjustments based on program requirements. Creating a program
flowchart enables programmers to communicate their complex plans ef-
fectively before writing the actual program source code (Lehman, 2000).
Neglecting the use of flowcharts can lead to disorganized program flow.

Additionally, it is important for students to possess the skills to cre-

ate schematic diagrams before building and testing the program using
actual hardware (Bayliss & Hardy, 2012). In the process of building an
embedded system program, students must have the knowledge to create
flowcharts, convert them into hardcode programs, compile the program
for deployment on actual hardware, create schematic diagrams for the sys-
tem, interface input and output components, and validate the codes based
on actual hardware responses. These skills are crucial for students to suc-
cessfully complete the electronics engineering course.

When combined with text-based programming, visual programming

techniques simplify and enhance the development of embedded system
programming and improve 53 students’ computational thinking abilities
(Wu & Su, 2021). A study conducted on a group of students in Jordan
demonstrated an improvement in performance and attitude towards pro-
gramming when using 3D visual programming tools (Al-Tahat, 2019).
Software tools such as MATLAB and LabView utilize graphical pro-
gramming and provide a high-level programming language with graphical
matrix and environment for data analysis, computation, and visualization
during programming and simulation. Another software, Flowcode, de-
veloped by Matrix Multimedia Inc., uses flowchart symbols to create pro-
gram source code. While this study aims to develop a visual programming
software specifically for students working on embedded system projects,
it focuses on simplifying programming by creating flowcharts, aiding stu-
dents in visualizing the interface between specific input and output de-
vices, and validating program responses using a hardware system.

Overall, this study aims to develop visual programming software that

University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

will facilitate the process of building embedded system projects for stu-
dents. It will simplify programming tasks by allowing the creation of
flowcharts to represent program flow, aid in visualizing device interface
configurations, and validate program responses using real-world scenar-
ios with the help of hardware components.

2 Materials and Methods

This study utilized a combined descriptive and applied research which
uses surveys and interviews to gather information from the respondents
and it also applies the scientific knowledge as a solution to the problem.
This study develops a new system and methods to solve the challenges in
building an embedded system project using PIC16F877 microcontroller.
To ascertain the requirements of this study, the respondents are required
to provide answers to the following questions: (1) Have you utilized a
microcontroller-based project? (2) Which type of microcontroller did you
use? (3) What were the most challenging phases you encountered during
the construction of your project?

The development process of auto-generated code for programming

the PIC16F877 microcontroller involves both software and hardware com-
ponents. In this study, the Visual Basic 10 Programming language is used
to create a graphical user interface (GUI) for the software. The software
component has a hierarchical structure depicted in Figure 1, which con-
sists of four main options: file, tools, databases, and instantiate. Addition-
ally, there is an additional help function available. Each of these options
includes sub-options that provide the necessary functions for developing
the source code and schematic diagram of the embedded system using the
software.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

Figure 1. Hierarchical structure of the AGCPIC software

AGCPIC software. The graphical user interface (GUI) of the AGCPIC

software Figure 2. The software shows the optional tab for schematic di-
agram, generated code tab and all files tab. It has an option to display
the flowchart created by the user when programming using the software.
The schematic diagram provided by the software can be used by the user
to visualize the hardware equivalent of embedded system project. The
sample schematic diagram in programming LED matrix with pushbutton
is shown in Figure 2 below.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

Figure 2. Sample schematic diagrams using the AGCPIC software.

The software allows users to create flowcharts and schematic dia-

grams, which can be exported as image files. Each symbol used in the
flowchart corresponds to a programming code. The software supports
dataflow, input and output configuration, device properties editing, and
schematic diagram editing, all of which can be translated into code. Once
the microcontroller is visually programmed, users have the option to gen-
erate the source code as a text document for testing purposes. The flowchart
creation process involves dragging and dropping symbols, which are color-
coded to represent their functions and labeled with their corresponding
programming code. An example programming flowchart is depicted in
Figure 3. However, the source code cannot be directly used by the hard-
ware system. It needs to be compiled using cross-compiler software like
MikroBASIC to generate the machine language file (HEX file). Finally,
the Microchip PICkit2 hardware downloader is used to burn or upload
the compiled source code into the actual hardware system for testing and
evaluating the program’s real-world response.

Figure 3. Sample Program Flowchart Using AGCPIC Software

AGCPIC hardware. The block diagram in Figure 4 illustrates the

hardware components and parts of the AGCPIC development system board.
The development board can be powered by various power sources and fea-
tures different input-output devices for simulating program responses. It
also includes a small breadboard for prototyping purposes and provides
communication ports and Arduino slots for hardware expansion.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

To test and simulate the source code generated using the AGCPIC
software, a specialized development board called the Development Board
for PIC16F877 is utilized. This board is specifically designed to work
with the AGCPIC software, mirroring the input and output devices present
in the software. Figure 5 showcases the physical hardware that can be
used to verify the accuracy of the generated code.

Developing an embedded system using the AGCPIC system entails

several requirements. Users must possess a fundamental understanding
of the AGCPIC software, MikroBASIC compiler, and PICKit2 hardware
downloader. Additionally, knowledge of the PIC16F877 microcontroller
and various input-output (IO) devices is necessary to fulfill both software
and hardware prerequisites. Proficiency in creating schematic diagrams
and flowcharting is also essential.

Figure 4. Block diagram of AGCPIC hardware development board

University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

Figure 5. Actual hardware development board

When undertaking an embedded system project, users must follow

specific steps to apply basic programming methods. These steps include:
1) Defining the problem, 2) Creating a schematic diagram, 3) Developing
a flowchart, and 4) Conducting project testing (Alciatore, 2018). Figure
6 presents a comprehensive illustration of the processes involved in pro-
gramming using the AGCPIC software and hardware development. The
output of this system encompasses the schematic diagram, flowchart, and
source code of the embedded system. Furthermore, the physical hardware
development board enables the observation of the actual system response.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

Figure 6. Input-process-output diagram of using the AGCPIC system.

Reliability of AGCPIC. Testing at various levels is essential in assessing

the system’s reliability. The reliability of AGCPIC refers to its ability to
execute its anticipated functions with no error (ISO/IEC, 2001). The sys-
tem underwent unit testing to ensure the functionality of individual com-
ponents. Successful completion led to integration testing, where these
components were combined with others. The systems testing was also
conducted to check the overall reliability of system.

Acceptability of AGCPIC. The acceptability of the AGCPIC system was

determined by 149 conducting surveys on the students, faculty, and in-
dustry personnel. And it was conducted after 150 the AGCPIC software
and hardware system was completed. In the school year 2015-2016, 70
151 fifth-year electronics engineering students participated in the survey.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

There are also 8 faculty 152 members and 2 industry personnel who have
knowledge of programming who participated to 153 determine the ac-
ceptability of the AGCPIC system. Table 1 shows the tabulated respon-
dents 154 of the study. The evaluation is used to check the acceptability
of the system through its 155 functionality, usability, efficiency, and sub-
ject matter content of the AGCPIC system.

Table 1. Respondents of the study

Respondents Frequency Percentage
Students 70 87.5%
Faculty members 8 10%
Industry personnel 2 2.5%
TOTAL 80 100%
In this study, the user perspective was determined using the Likert
scale, consisting of several statements. Each statement had five response
alternatives, ranging from 5) Highly Acceptable to 1) Highly Unaccept-
able. To consolidate the collective response into a single value, the cen-
tral tendency, such as the mean or average, was employed. The weighted
mean formula was utilized to represent the individual measurements of
each respondent as a single number. The statements were evaluated on a
scale from 5 to 1, based on the perception of the respondents. The results
were then calculated to determine the weighted mean within the specified
range, and the interpretation can be found in Table 2.

Table 2. Likert scale

Scale Range Verbal Interpretation
5 4.51 – 5.0 Highly Acceptable
4 3.51 – 4.5 Moderately Acceptable
3 2.51 – 3.5 Neutral
2 1.51 – 2.5 Moderately Unacceptable
1 1.0 – 1.5 Highly Unacceptable
To further assess the acceptability of the study, a one-sample t-test is
utilized. This statistical test allows us to examine the gathered samples in
relation to a specific population (Al-kassab, 2022). The null hypothesis
(H0) is examined using a one-sample t-test with a 95% confidence level,
corresponding & Fagerland, 2015). In this study, the null hypotheses (Ho)
are as follows:
Ho1: The functionality of the AGCPIC system does not significantly
contribute to the development of an embedded system project.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

Ho2: The usability of the AGCPIC system does not significantly con-
tribute to the development of an embedded system project.

Ho3: The efficiency of the AGCPIC system does not significantly

contribute to the development of an embedded system project.

Ho4: The subject matter of the AGCPIC system does not significantly
contribute to the development of an embedded system project.

3 Results and Discussion

This study aims to develop an auto-generated code for programming
the PIC16F877 microcontroller. The software used Visual Basic 2010 as
the programming platform for creating this software. The study consists
of both software and hardware components, enabling users to create pro-
grams using a combination of textual and visual programming techniques.
To test the programs created using the software, users need to upload them
to the development hardware. The software employs the Beginners All-
purpose Symbolic Instruction Code (BASIC), specifically designed for
PIC microcontrollers, to generate the source code for users’ embedded
system projects. This source code is then transferred to a cross-compiler,
the MikroBASIC programming software, which generates the machine
language or HEX file required by the microcontroller. The Pickit2 hard-
ware downloading software is used to upload the compiled source code
to the microcontroller.

To observe the actual response of the user-created program, the AGCPIC

development board is used. The study’s results, including unit testing and
integration testing, can be found in Table 3. The testing results demon-
strate the reliability of the individual components and functions of the
AGCPIC development board, affirming its suitability for embedded sys-
tem project development.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

Table 3.Results of unit testing and the integration testing of the develop-
ment board.
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The system testing follows the processes listed on the figure 6 when
using the AGCPIC system. The sample schematic diagram and program
flowchart made by using the AGCPIC system graphical user interface
(GUI) is shown in figure 7.

In Table 4, the descriptive measures of the acceptability level of the

AGCPIC system are presented, specifically focusing on its functionality.
The evaluation of the system’s functionality encompasses various state-
ments that evaluate its capacity to fulfill the user’s implicit requirements.

Figure 7. Systems testing results for AGCPIC: (a) Sample schematic

diagram using the software; (b) Sample flowchart made using the soft-
ware; (c) Sample generated source code were successfully created using
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

the software; (d) The created machine language was successfully burned
in the PIC16F877 microcontroller using MicroChip PICkit2 hardware
programmer.

Table 5 presents the evaluation of the system’s usability comprises a

set of statements 212 aimed at assessing the system’s capacity to be com-
prehended, learned, and operated effectively, 213 as well as its overall
appeal to the user.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

Table 5. Descriptive measures of the level of acceptability of the

AGCPIC in terms of usability

Table 6 displays the evaluation of the respondents regarding the effi-

ciency of the AGCPIC system. The efficiency assessment of the system
consists of various statements that assess its ability to deliver appropriate
response times, processing times, and resource utilization when the soft-
ware is utilized.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

The evaluation of the subject matter pertaining to the AGCPIC sys-

tem is presented in Table 7. This evaluation involves multiple statements
aimed at assessing the system’s ability to enhance knowledge, understand-
ing of concepts, and skills related to the subject of microprocessor sys-
tems. Additionally, the subject matter evaluation will determine whether
the system is perceived as beneficial in the context of the microprocessor
system subject, based on the feedback provided by the respondents.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

Table 8 presents a summary assessment of the acceptability of the

auto-generated code 228 for programming PIC16F877A. The acceptabil-
ity assessment encompasses four dimensions: 229 functionality, usabil-
ity, efficiency, and subject matter content of the system.

Table 8. Assessment summary for acceptability of AGCPIC system

Variables Mean Verbal Interpretation

Functionality 4.72 Highly Acceptable
Usability 4.76 Highly Acceptable
Efficiency 4.66 Highly Acceptable
Subject Matter Content 4.66 Highly Acceptable
OVERALL MEAN 4.72 Highly Acceptable
The overall mean score for acceptability is 4.72, indicating a ”highly
acceptable” rating. The evaluation demonstrates that the AGCPIC system
successfully meets the implied needs of the user.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

The one sample t-test result to evaluate the hypothesis of the study are
shown in table 9 and table 10. These results indicate that for all variables
(Functionality, Usability, Efficiency, and Subject Matter), the t-values are
significantly higher than the test value of 3.5. The p-values are all 0.000,
which is less than the typical significance level of 0.05, suggesting strong
evidence to reject the null hypothesis. The mean differences are all pos-
itive, indicating that the mean scores for each variable are significantly
higher than the test value. The 95% confidence intervals of the differ-
ence for each variable do not include the test value, further supporting
the conclusion of statistical significance of the test variables. Overall,
these results suggest that the respondents’ perceptions of functionality,
usability, efficiency, and subject matter are statistically significant in the
development of an embedded system project.

Table 9. One-Sample Statistics

N Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean

Functionality 80 4.7216 0.3140 0.0351
Usability 80 4.7571 0.3149 0.0352
Efficiency 80 4.7344 0.3498 0.0391
Subject Matter 80 4.6641 0.4064 0.0454
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

Table 10. One-Sample Test

The AGCPIC testing and evaluation results proves that it is compre-

hensible, easy to learn, operate, and beneficial for the user. Furthermore,
when applied in developing an embedded system project, the AGCPIC
system exhibits appropriate response times, processing efficiency, and
optimal resource utilization. The evaluation also highlights the system’s
effectiveness in aiding the development of embedded system projects and
contributing to the understanding of microprocessor system subjects. Be-
low are the shared experiences and impressions of the students who uti-
lized the AGCPIC system for programming the PIC16F877 microcon-
troller.

”It will provide a way for students to understand the microcontroller-

microprocessor design easily without having a hard time analyzing and
imagining every step” – R.A.P. Agda
”The programming method is more interactive and is easier to debug”
-R.L. Intal
”It is much easier to know what went wrong” – R. Evanghelista
”More concepts-ideas in inventing device rather than focusing on the
codes” – K. Gojo
”It will help the programmer to visualize the progress of the project” –
L. Bastez
”It boosts interest of the student to know more on how to program an
embedded system” – K. Falcutila

4 Conclusion
The primary goal of this study is achieved through the creation of au-
togenerated code for programming the PIC16F877 microcontroller, en-
compassing both the hardware and software components of the system.
The development of the AGCPIC system simplifies the programming and
testing processes involved in working with embedded systems. The study
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

encompasses various tests aimed at assessing the reliability of the sys-

tem. These tests include unit testing, which verifies the correct function-
ing of each individual component of the project. Integration testing is
conducted to ensure the continued reliability of the hardware once all the
components are assembled. Additionally, the project undergoes systems
testing to assess the overall reliability of the system, encompassing both
the software and hardware aspects. The software-generated program is
subjected to validation, wherein the AGCPIC development board is uti-
lized to observe the real-time response of the student’s embedded system
project. It is noteworthy that all the test scenarios conducted in this study
to evaluate reliability were successfully passed. The system assesses the
acceptability level of its functionality, usability, efficiency, and subject
matter content, all of which are determined to have a score of 4.72 which
is highly acceptable. The statistical test results shows that the functional-
ity, usability, efficiency, and subject matter content are significant in the
development of embedded system project with 95% confidence level. Ad-
ditionally, several students have provided positive feedback after utilizing
the system for embedded system programming.

5 Acknowledgement
The authors would like to acknowledge the ECE students, ECE fac-
ulty, industry personnel, and support from Bulacan State University.
University Journal Publication Volume II, Issue I Bulacan State University

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