I noticed today that the printing on a couple of the PIC devices I use for experiments was starting to rub off.
This made me think of an article I'd read somewhere, some time ago
(I dont claim to have come up with this idea, but dont remember where I saw it).
Write the type of device on a small label and stick it on the underside of the device.
This is easy with the large 40 pin devices, but a bit tricky with smaller ones but can be done.
I know flowcode can ID most devices, but if you have several different chips it can be a pain having to keep using this function.