Before I
had the EM100, I simply moved the flash chip back and forth by hand,
from the mainboard to a breadboard wired to a CJMCU FT2232HL mini
module (external programmer) and viceversa. I added another DIP8
socket between the flash chip and the mainboard's socket, so that I
could easily and quickly remove and replace the flash chip.
I've done this as well. A couple parts recommendations to make this easier:
- High quality DIP8 sockets with rounded legs such as
https://www.digikey.com/short/q0522m77. Those tend to be much easier to insert and remove into a motherboard's socket than flash chips which have flimsy legs and will help prevent damage to the mainboard socket when removing and inserting the chip repeatedly. And if you need to solder something, it's better to do it on one of these sockets than soldering to the motherboard or the chip itself.