rp2350-picotool

name	rp2350-picotool
description	Use picotool to talk to the RP2350 device, check boot mode, query info, reboot between BOOTSEL and APPLICATION, and load UF2 firmware.

Use this skill whenever working with the RP2350-based device attached to this project.

Device modes

The device has two important modes:

• BOOTSEL mode
  • firmware can be loaded
  • picotool info should work
  • picotool load <file.uf2> should work
• APPLICATION mode
  • normal firmware execution mode

Mode switching

Reboot the device into BOOTSEL mode with:

picotool reboot -u -F

Reboot the device into APPLICATION mode with:

picotool reboot -a -F

Notes:

• -F forces the operation without interactive confirmation.
• The current firmware exposes the Pico USB reset interface, so picotool reboot -u -F should work from APPLICATION mode.
• After a mode switch, allow a short delay and retry once if picotool info or picotool load races device re-enumeration.
• If picotool reboot -u -F fails to put the device into BOOTSEL mode, the device may be in a bad state.
• In that case, stop and prompt the user with exactly:

BOOTSEL PLZ?!

The user will then manually place the device into BOOTSEL mode.

BOOTSEL-only commands

These commands require the device to already be in BOOTSEL mode and will error otherwise:

picotool info
picotool load <firmware.uf2>

picotool load <firmware.uf2> reboots the device into APPLICATION mode when the load completes successfully.

Recommended workflows

Check device status / inspect firmware

1. Try to enter BOOTSEL mode:

picotool reboot -u -F

2. Query device info:

picotool info

If picotool info fails immediately after rebooting into BOOTSEL, wait briefly and retry once.

3. If step 1 fails or step 2 indicates the device is not in BOOTSEL, ask the user:

BOOTSEL PLZ?!

4. After the user intervenes, retry:

picotool info

Load new firmware

1. Put device in BOOTSEL mode:

picotool reboot -u -F

2. Load firmware:

picotool load <path-to-firmware.uf2>

If picotool load fails immediately after entering BOOTSEL, wait briefly and retry once.

3. If entering BOOTSEL fails, ask the user exactly:

BOOTSEL PLZ?!

Then retry the load.

Operational guidance

• Prefer picotool info to confirm the device is reachable in BOOTSEL mode before loading firmware.
• Do not assume picotool load can succeed from APPLICATION mode.
• A successful picotool load returns the device to APPLICATION mode automatically, so no extra reboot command is needed afterward.
• If a BOOTSEL transition just occurred, allow a short re-enumeration delay before deciding the command failed.
• When reporting status, mention which mode the device is believed to be in.
• Include the exact picotool command used when summarizing actions.