MPLAB X IDE supports AVR microcontrollers
Unifying Microchip’s development platform across multiple operating systems (OS), the company has announced that MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) version 5.05 beta supports the majority of AVR microcontrollers (MCUs). This release will allow designers who traditionally use PIC MCUs and the MPLAB ecosystem to easily evaluate and incorporate AVR MCUs into their applications.
MPLAB X IDE version 5.05 provides a unified, scalable, development offering that is compatible with Windows, MacOS and Linux OS. The tool chain has been enhanced with support for Microchip’s code configuration tool, MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC), enabling developers to configure software components and device settings such as clocks, peripherals and pin layout with the tool’s menu-driven interface. MCC can also generate code for specific development boards, such as Microchip’s Curiosity ATMega4809 Nano (DM320115) development board and existing AVR Xplained development boards.
More compiler choices and debugger/programmer options are available when compiling and programming AVR MCUs using MPLAB X IDE 5.05. Compiler choices include the AVR MCU GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) or the MPLAB XC8 C Compiler, providing additional software optimisation techniques to reduce code size. Designers can also accelerate debugging and programming using MPLAB PICkit 4 programmer/debugger tool or the newly released MPLAB Snap programmer/debugger tool, says Microchip.
The majority of development boards available to evaluate and programme AVR MCUs are supported by the MPLAB ecosystem and MCC. Xplained development boards are compatible with Start and are now with MPLAB X IDE. Xplained development boards are targeted at first-time users and makers for rapid prototyping. The Xplained platform includes an integrated programmer/debugger and requires no additional hardware to get started.
MPLAB X IDE version 5.05, MPLAB XC8 C Compiler and AVR MCU GCC are available on Microchip’s website, for free of charge.
Support for additional AVR MCUs and enhancements will be added in future MPLAB versions. AVR support will continue to be added to Atmel Studio 7 and Atmel Start for current and future AVR devices.
