Low-Power Design

Microchip Unveils Open-Source Integrated Development Environment With Cross-Platform Support for Linux, Mac OS and Windows Users

New MPLAB X IDE Adds Multiple Simultaneous Debugging Sessions, Advanced Editor and Code Completion; Remains Only Universal IDE for an Entire 8/16/32-bit MCU Portfolio

CHANDLER, Ariz., May 2, 2011 - Microchip Technology Inc. today announced from the Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, Calif. its next-generation, open-source integrated development environment—the MPLAB X IDE—with cross-platform support for Linux, Mac OS and Windows operating systems. A host of high-performance features have been added to the new IDE, including the ability to manage multiple projects and tools with simultaneous debugging, an advanced editor, visual call graphs and code completion. And, MPLAB X is unique in the industry with its support for an entire portfolio of 8, 16 and 32-bit microcontrollers—including all 800+ PIC microcontrollers, dsPIC digital signal controllers and memory devices.

The designers of today’s leading-edge embedded applications are demanding an IDE that provides a solid foundation for high-performance, user-friendly and flexible development. They also want it to be compatible with a wide range of development tools for a broad and reliable microcontroller portfolio with easy migration, to decrease the learning curve and protect their tool and code investments. MPLAB X provides a single, unified graphical interface for Microchip and third-party tools, including the MPLAB ICD 3, PICkit 3 and MPLAB REAL ICE debugger/programmers.

“By combining the feature-rich MPLAB X IDE with the high-performance and migration-friendly PIC MCU portfolio, Microchip is taking its industry-leading development support to the next level,” said Derek Carlson, Microchip’s vice president of Development Systems. “Now more than ever, Microchip provides embedded designers with the world’s most universal, flexible and easy to use microcontroller development platform.”

MPLAB X is based on the Oracle Sponsored open-source NetBeans platform, which has an active user community that can contribute a wide range of enhancements and third-party plug-ins. In fact, Microchip customers can take advantage of a host of free NetBeans software components and plug-ins that exist today. Additionally, the NetBeans platform allows MPLAB X users to customize the IDE to suit their individual development needs.

“Microchip has built upon the flexible and open-source NetBeans platform to significantly advance their MPLAB X IDE,” said Duncan Mills, senior director Product Management, Oracle. “MPLAB X maintains the core benefits of NetBeans, enabling developers to quickly and easily deploy optimized embedded applications.”

“Microchip is once again living up to its well-earned reputation for providing low-cost yet powerful embedded development platforms for its highly functional and peripheral-rich PIC microcontrollers,” said Harold Foster, chief engineer, Accompli Electronic Controls. “In fact, Microchip provides the kind of support that is unattainable for its competitors. By moving to an open-source, cross-platform environment with the new MPLAB X IDE, Microchip has raised the bar even higher.”

Availability
Explore the MPLAB X IDE today, via a free download from http://www.microchip.com/get/D413. For additional information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip’s Web site at http://www.microchip.com/get/D413. Microchip invites your feedback via the MPLAB X Users’ Forum at http://www.microchip.com/get/M6RA. Engineering time is crucial, so Microchip is continuing to support the current MPLAB 8 environment to help ensure that there are no disruptions on active projects.

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