MPLAB® Tools for VS Code®
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You'll love the move to MPLAB® Tools for Microsoft® Visual Studio Code (VS Code) because it delivers the full Microchip toolchain inside the world’s most popular code editor. Installs are lightweight, updates come automatically and startup is fast with no more heavy IDE overhead. You’ll work in a modern editing environment powered by LSP-based code intelligence, which brings real-time error checking, go-to-definition, smart code navigation and context-aware auto completion. Debugging is smoother and faster too, with MPLAB PICkit™ 5, MPLAB ICD 5 and SNAP programmers/debuggers and CMSIS-DAP tools integrated into the native VS Code debug toolbar.
Use Our Development Tools Within the Popular VS Code Source Code Editor
MPLAB Tools for VS Code is a collection of VS Code extensions that combines the power of the MPLAB development ecosystem with the versatility of VS Code. Whether you are a new or existing client, MPLAB Extensions for VS Code provides you with a seamless, flexible and efficient development environment with comprehensive support for designs based on our devices.
If you are new to VS Code and are familiar with MPLAB X IDE, we have created a comparison guide to help you get started with MPLAB Extensions for VS Code. You can also check out our blog post for more details.
You can download these extensions via the Extensions Marketplace available within VS Code or you can search for them online in the Visual Studio Marketplace.
MPLAB Tools Available for VS Code
MPLAB® AI Coding Assistant
This extension is a free, customized version of the Continue extension from Microsoft® Visual Studio Code (VS Code®) Marketplace, one of the leading open-source AI code assistants on the market today. This tool is tailored specifically for our products and facilitates the development of the features, new slash commands, shortcuts and common use cases specific to our products.
MPLAB Data Visualizer
This extension is a debugging tool that graphically displays run-time variables in an embedded application to enable easy troubleshooting of your code’s run-time behavior.
MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC)
This powerful extension brings the same intuitive, graphical programming environment you know and love to the versatile VS Code platform. With MCC in VS Code, you can effortlessly generate seamless, easy-to-understand C code tailored to your project needs. The user-friendly interface allows you to configure a comprehensive set of peripherals and functions specific to your application.
MPLAB XC Compilers
MPLAB XC Compilers are available as free, unrestricted-use downloads, providing comprehensive solutions for your project’s software development.
Seamless Integration Between MPLAB Development Ecosystem and VS Code
Dive into a development experience that effortlessly merges the robust capabilities of the MPLAB development ecosystem with the dynamic features of VS Code. Our extensions enable you to develop with MPLAB X IDE projects, MPLAB in-circuit debuggers/programmers and MPLAB XC compilers within the VS Code environment. Whether you’re importing projects, developing, debugging or programming, our extensions enable you to continue working in the widely adopted VS Code with full support for all our devices and toolset.
Some of our extensions are currently released under an early access program, which will allow users to try them out and provide us with community feedback. Your recommendations will help us refine the extensions to better suit your development needs. Please use this online form, which you can also access in the description of any MPLAB Tool, to send us your feedback and let us know which extensions or features you have tried out, what your user experience was like and what new features or capabilities you would like to see incorporated in a future update.
- Create new projects or import an existing MPLAB X IDE project
- Simple user interface for project settings
- Generate CMake files for building
- Programming and basic debugging, with support for current MPLAB in-circuit debuggers/programmers
- Works with any supported Microchip devices
- Supports MPLAB XC8, XC32 and XC-DSC compilers
- Supports MPLAB Data Visualizer
- Added views to assist with embedded target debugging functionalities:
- Memory view
- I/O view
- Development kit/evaluation board views
- Disassembly view
- Supports MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC)
We are dedicated to meeting developers in their environment of choice with more accessible and flexible tools. The introduction of these MPLAB Tools for VS Code is just the beginning of our broader integration with the VS Code community. Look for future updates about new extensions and additional features that will be available, participate in the early access program for these tools and provide your feedback to help us refine the extensions to fit your development needs.
These Extensions Are Coming Soon
Getting Started with MPLAB® Tools for VS Code®
Discover the basics of VS Code with this playlist of Dev Tool Bits videos dedicated to MPLAB Tools for VS Code. These short but informative videos will guide you through installation, importing a project, starting up MPLAB Data Visualizer and more.
Need Some Help?
We are here to support you. Contact our Client Success Team to get assistance with your design.
