MPLAB

MPLAB is a proprietary freeware integrated development environment for the development of embedded applications on PIC and dsPIC microcontrollers, and is developed by Microchip Technology.[https://books.google.com/books?id=RFLtu4fej00C&dq=mplab&pg=PA238 Embedded C Programming and the Microchip PIC], Cengage Learning, 2004[https://books.google.com/books?id=dVW-PpvUcsgC&dq=mplab&pg=PA86 Designing Embedded Systems with PIC Microcontrollers], Newnes, 07-Nov-2009[https://books.google.com/books?id=nXRfbT0rAiIC&dq=mplab&pg=PA385 Programming 16-Bit PIC Microcontrollers in C], Elsevier, 2011[https://books.google.com/books?id=s8DBXs-jIRQC&dq=mplab&pg=PA737 PIC Microcontrollers: Know It All], Newnes, 30-Jul-2007[https://books.google.com/books?id=RlVVBQAAQBAJ&dq=mplab&pg=PA213 Mechatronics with Experiments], John Wiley & Sons, 27-Jan-2015[https://books.google.com/books?id=pdbf2HuMzREC&dq=mplab&pg=PA185 PIC Microcontrollers: An Introduction to Microelectronics], Elsevier, 2011[https://books.google.com/books?id=VBLNBQAAQBAJ&dq=mplab&pg=PA165 Microcontroller Programming: The Microchip PIC], CRC Press, 19-Dec-2006[https://books.google.com/books?id=feuxKpjOszwC&dq=mplab&pg=PA5 Implementing 802.11 with Microcontrollers], Newnes, 18-Oct-2005

MPLAB Extensions for Visual Studio Code and MPLAB X for NetBeans platform are the latest editions of MPLAB,{{Cite web |date=2024-06-24 |title=MPLAB Extensions for Visual Studio Code Extension Pack |url=https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Microchip.mplab-extension-pack |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Visual Studio Marketplace}}[https://books.google.com/books?id=xQajAgAAQBAJ&dq=mplab&pg=PA29 PIC Microcontroller Projects in C: Basic to Advanced], Newnes, 08-Apr-2014[https://books.google.com/books?id=O4XNBQAAQBAJ&dq=mplab&pg=PA89 Microcontrollers: High-Performance Systems and Programming], CRC Press, 28-Oct-2013 including support for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems.

MPLAB and MPLAB X support project management, code editing, debugging and programming of Microchip 8-bit PIC and AVR (including ATMEGA) microcontrollers, 16-bit PIC24 and dsPIC microcontrollers, as well as 32-bit SAM[https://www.microchip.com/en-us/products/microcontrollers-and-microprocessors/32-bit-mcus/sam-32-bit-mcus SAM family of 32-bit microcontrollers based on ARM Cortex-M cores] and PIC32[https://www.microchip.com/en-us/products/microcontrollers-and-microprocessors/32-bit-mcus/pic32-32-bit-mcus PIC32 family of 32-bit PIC microcontrollers (MCUs)] microcontrollers by Microchip Technology.[http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/MPLAB%20Snap%20In-Circuit%20Debugger%20IS%20DS50002787A.pdf MPLAB SNAP In-Circuit Debugger (DS50002787A)], Microchip, 2018[https://books.google.com/books?id=gvQDE6YNNL4C&dq=mplab&pg=PA443 Designing Embedded Systems with 32-Bit PIC], Newnes, 22-Aug-2013[https://books.google.com/books?id=PTcNpClUH1QC&dq=mplab&pg=PR25 Programming 32-bit Microcontrollers in C: Exploring the PIC32], Newnes, 08-Apr-2011

MPLAB X

{{Infobox software

| name = MPLAB X IDE

| logo = 150px

| caption =

| developer = Microchip Technology

| latest_release_version = 6.25[https://www.microchip.com/mplab/mplab-x-ide MPLAB X Home Page], Microchip

| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2025|03|04}}

| programming language = Java (programming language)

| operating_system = Microsoft Windows >7, Mac OS X, Linux

| license = Proprietary EULA

| website = [http://www.microchip.com/mplabx MPLAB X Homepage]

}}

MPLAB X is the latest version of the MPLAB IDE built by Microchip Technology,[https://www.microchip.com/en-us/tools-resources/develop/mplab-x-ide MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE)] and is based on the open-source NetBeans platform. It replaced the older MPLAB 8.x series, which had its final release (version 8.92) on July 23, 2013.

MPLAB X is the first version of the IDE to include cross-platform support for macOS and Linux operating systems, in addition to Microsoft Windows. It supports editing, very buggy debugging and programming of Microchip 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit PIC microcontrollers. It supports automatic code generation with the MPLAB Code Configurator and the MPLAB Harmony[https://www.microchip.com/en-us/tools-resources/configure/mplab-harmony MPLAB Harmony v3, the Embedded Software Development Framework for 32-bit Microcontrollers and Microprocessors] Configurator plugins.

MPLAB X supports the following compilers:

  • MPLAB XC8 — C compiler for 8-bit PIC and AVR devices[http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/MPLAB%20Snap%20In-Circuit%20Debugger%20IS%20DS50002787A.pdf MPLAB SNAP In-Circuit Debugger (DS50002787A)], Microchip, 2018[https://www.microchip.com/mplab/compilers MPLAB® XC Compilers], Microchip
  • MPLAB XC16 — C compiler for 16-bit PIC devices
  • MPLAB [https://www.microchip.com/en-us/tools-resources/develop/mplab-xc-compilers/xc-dsc XC-DSC] - C compiler for dsPIC family of devices
  • MPLAB XC32 — C/C++ compiler for 32-bit MIPS-based PIC32 and ARM-based SAM devices [http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/MPLAB%20Snap%20In-Circuit%20Debugger%20IS%20DS50002787A.pdf MPLAB SNAP In-Circuit Debugger (DS50002787A)], Microchip, 2018
  • HI-TECH C — C compiler for 8-bit PIC devices (discontinued)[http://www.microchip.com/Developmenttools/ProductDetails.aspx?PartNO=SW500010 HI-TECH C compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCUs (PRO)], Microchip
  • SDCC — open-source 8-bit C compiler[https://sites.google.com/site/rmaalmeida/mplabx-sdcc-toolchain Setting up the free compiler SDCC at MPLABX], Google Sites{{cite web |url=http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/|title=SDCC - Small Device C Compiler|author=|access-date=2013-01-20}}

Debugger bugs:

  • Memory view crashes the whole IDE when searching for an address
  • Step over sometimes steps in and step out doesn't work
  • Disassembler view is buggy showing incorrect instructions
  • Phantom breakpoints that can't be cleared
  • Automatic firmware update sometimes fail requiring full erase of SNAP

MPLAB 8.x

{{Infobox software

| name = MPLAB IDE

| logo = 150px

| caption =

| developer = Microchip Technology

| latest_release_version = 8.92[http://www.microchip.com/pagehandler/en-us/devtools/dev-tools-parts.html MPLAB IDE Archives], Microchip

| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2013|07|23}}

| discontinued = yes

| programming language = C++

| operating_system = Microsoft Windows

| license = Proprietary EULA

| website =

}}

MPLAB 8.x is the discontinued version of the legacy MPLAB IDE technology, custom built by Microchip Technology in Microsoft Visual C++. MPLAB supports project management, editing, debugging and programming of Microchip 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit PIC microcontrollers. MPLAB only works on Microsoft Windows. MPLAB is still available from Microchip's archives, but is not recommended for new projects. It is designed to work with MPLAB-certified devices such as the MPLAB ICD 3 and MPLAB REAL ICE, for programming and debugging PIC microcontrollers using a personal computer. PICKit programmers are also supported by MPLAB.

MPLAB supports the following compilers:

  • MPLAB MPASM Assembler
  • MPLAB ASM30 Assembler
  • MPLAB C Compiler for PIC18
  • MPLAB C Compiler for PIC24 and dsPIC DSCs
  • MPLAB C Compiler for PIC32
  • HI-TECH C

References