| name | minipro |
| description | Guides use of the minipro CLI with XGecu/TL866 programmers, especially T48 over USB. Load before explaining or running minipro commands for chip selection, connection checks, EEPROM/EPROM reads, binary writes, verification, readback comparison, and checksum confirmation. Includes AT28C64B, 27C64, Motronic 8 KB ROM, Intel HEX, raw binary, erase, blank-check, and pin/contact checks. |
minipro CLI
Use this skill for safe, evidence-led chip programming with minipro and XGecu programmers such as the T48, T56, TL866II+, and TL866A/CS.
Retrieval Rules
Load references/command-recipes.md before giving detailed command sequences, especially for T48 USB connection, writes, verifies, readback checksums, or Motronic/AT28C64B EEPROM workflows.
FIRST: Verify Installation And Programmer
Run these before write/erase operations. For read-only identification, prefer non-mutating commands first.
minipro --version
minipro -Q
minipro -k
Interpretation:
| Result | Meaning | Next action |
|---|
Supported programmers includes T48 | CLI supports the programmer | Continue |
minipro -k reports a T48 | USB connection is working | Continue |
No programmer found | Programmer not visible over USB | Check USB cable, power, hub, OS permissions, and that no other XGecu software has the device open |
Core Rules
- Ask for explicit confirmation before write, erase, or other chip-mutating operations unless the user already clearly authorized the exact operation.
- Treat
-p as the chip/device name, not the programmer model.
- Let
minipro auto-detect the USB programmer; do not pass T48 as the chip.
- Quote device names containing
@, for example -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28'.
- Prefer raw
.bin for EEPROM/EPROM images unless the user explicitly has Intel HEX or S-record input.
- Verify file size before writing. For Motronic 28-pin 8 KB images, require exactly
8192 bytes.
- Run erase and blank-check before writing EEPROMs unless the chip/device workflow says otherwise.
- Do not use lowercase
-e when the intent is erase; lowercase -e means skip erase. Use uppercase -E for erase-only.
- Keep verification enabled. Do not use
-v unless the user explicitly asks to skip verify.
- Before overwriting a chip, read and save the original contents when possible.
- Confirm important writes by reading back the chip and comparing/checksumming the readback file.
- Warn that successful programming only proves bytes were written; it does not prove a tune is safe.
Quick Reference
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Show version/support | minipro --version |
| List supported programmers | minipro -Q |
| Check connected programmer | minipro -k |
| Search devices for T48 | minipro -q T48 -L AT28C64B |
| Show chip info/pin placement | minipro -d 'AT28C64B@DIP28' |
| Read chip ID only | minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -D |
| Pin/contact check | minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -z |
| Erase chip | minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -E |
| Blank check | minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -b |
| Write binary | minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -w 'image.bin' |
| Verify file against chip | minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -m 'image.bin' |
| Read chip to binary | minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -r 'readback.bin' |
| Compare files | cmp 'image.bin' 'readback.bin' |
| SHA-256 checksum | shasum -a 256 'image.bin' |
Standard Write Workflow
Use this sequence for a normal binary write:
minipro -k
minipro -q T48 -L AT28C64B
minipro -d 'AT28C64B@DIP28'
stat -f%z 'image.bin'
shasum -a 256 'image.bin'
minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -z
minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -r 'original-backup.bin'
shasum -a 256 'original-backup.bin'
minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -E
minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -b
minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -w 'image.bin'
minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -m 'image.bin'
minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -r 'readback.bin'
cmp 'image.bin' 'readback.bin'
shasum -a 256 'image.bin' 'readback.bin'
On Linux, replace stat -f%z 'image.bin' with stat -c%s 'image.bin'.
File Formats
minipro auto-detects input format when writing. Raw binary is the default when reading without -f.
| File type | Write command |
|---|
| Raw binary | minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -w 'image.bin' |
| Intel HEX | minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -w 'image.hex' |
| S-record | minipro -p 'AT28C64B@DIP28' -w 'image.srec' |
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Check |
|---|
No programmer found | USB/data cable, hub, permissions, device busy | minipro -k, System Information/USB, close XGecu app |
| Device name not found | Wrong chip spelling or package | minipro -q T48 -L <part> |
| ID mismatch | Wrong chip selected, unsupported ID, counterfeit/variant chip | Recheck markings and minipro -d; use -y only with evidence |
| Verify fails | Bad contact, wrong chip, wrong voltage/algorithm, bad EEPROM | Reseat chip, run -z, clean pins, lower SPI speed only for SPI parts |
| Size mismatch | File size differs from selected chip capacity | Verify intended chip capacity; use -s only when intentionally padding/truncating externally |
Motronic Notes
- For Porsche 911 3.2 28-pin Motronic work, an 8 KB ROM image should be
8192 bytes.
AT28C64B-15P usually maps to AT28C64B@DIP28; confirm with minipro -q T48 -L AT28C64B.
- Readback equality means the EEPROM contents match the binary. It does not validate fuel, ignition, checksum behavior, or engine safety.
- Before using a modified chip in an engine, validate AFR, timing, temperature, octane, and knock/head-temperature risk under controlled conditions.