Information

Introduction
Microchip produces approximately 900 different development tools, of which only a selection are featured in this
document. For the full listing of Microchip's development tools, please visit the online Development Tool Selector at
www.microchip.com/dts or visit our application sites on www.microchip.com.
MPLAB X IDE
MPLAB X IDE is the latest generation of Microchip’s free integrated development environment. Incorporating a powerful and
highly functional set of features, it allows you to easily develop applications for Microchip’s PIC® microcontrollers and dsPIC®
digital signal controllers. It is based on the NetBeans IDE from Oracle and runs on Windows®, Linux® and Mac OS X®. Its
unified graphical user interface (GUI) helps to integrate software and hardware development tools from Microchip and third party
sources to give you high-performance application development and extensive debugging capabilities.
The flexible and customizable interface allows you to have multiple debug tools connected to your computer at the same time.
You can select any tool you desire for a specific project or configuration within a project. With complete project management,
visual call graphs, a configurable watch window and a feature-rich editor that includes code-completion and hyperlink navigation,
MPLAB X IDE is fully equipped to meet the needs of experienced users while remaining flexible and user-friendly for even those
who are new to the IDE.
MPLAB® X IDE and Software Tools
MPLAB X IDE Features
Feature-Rich Editor
■ Color syntax highlighting
■ Smart code completion makes suggestions and
provides hints as you type
■ Automatic code formatting based on user-defined rules
■ Refactoring tools to intelligently restructure code
■ Live parsing
User-Friendly, Customizable Interface
■ Fully customizable interface: toolbars, toolbar buttons,
windows, window placement, etc.
■ Call graph window
■ Plug-in feature extensions
Navigation Features
■ Powerful navigation tools:
• Go to file, Go to type, Go to symbol, Go to header,
Go to declaration, hyperlinks using 'Ctrl + mouse over'
■ Tasks navigator with user-defined bookmarks
• e.g. //TODO, //FIXME
■ Project-based workspaces:
• Multiple projects, tools and configurations
• Simultaneous debugging sessions
File History and Bug Tracking
■ Local file history feature
• NetBean plug-ins for revision control systems
also available
■ Built-in support for Bugzilla issue tracker
• Integrated with editor for ease-of-navigation issues
MPLAB X IDE Plug-Ins
MPLAB Code Configurator
The MPLAB Code Configurator generates seamless, easy-
to-understand C code that is inserted into your project.
It enables, configures and utilizes peripherals across a
select list of devices. It it integrated into MPLAB X IDE
to provide a very powerful and extremely easy-to-use
development platform.
■ Faster time to market
• Leverage drivers and graphical user interface to
reduce development time
■ Simple, clearly documented driver APIs in the form of
code that can be easily modified and debugged
■ Reliable, small footprint and efficient
• Generated code is reliable and designed for efficient
use of CPU and memory resources
Development Tools Selector
Microchip's Development Tools Selector (DTS) is
an online/offline application that allows you to view
development tools through a graphical user interface
(GUI) with filter and search capabilities to easily find
development tools associated with Microchip products.
Just enter a development tool or Microchip device in
the search box and the DTS quickly displays all related
tools and devices. Updated after every MPLAB X IDE
release, the DTS is available online and offline at:
www.microchip.com/dts.
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Quick Guide to Microchip Development Tools