Free online IDE for PIC MCUs is offered by Microchip
Called MPLAB Xpress IDE, it is offered as the "easiest way to get started with PIC MCUs." It allows users do a considerable amount of work on a project without even registering ("no downloads, sign-in or setup required to start"). It is an online, cloud-based development environment, the only one, Microchip says, with an integrated Code Configurator.
Users can pair it with hardware in the form of existing Microchip MPLAB boards, or with any PC plus the new MPLAB Xpress Evaluation Board – numbers of these (see below) are going to be in circulation via free hand-outs at the forthcoming Embedded World Show, or a separate distribution, and available for under $10.
The platform gives access to the entire family of PIC MCUs – initially, all 8-bit variants, with 16- parts to follow later in 2016. The "first encounter" is a free login to the site; that gives access to examples, code libraries and compilation – and to a code configurator (code generator) to set up a chosen target and its peripherals. A free account setup allows users to save work to the cloud, with the option of making work "open" or visible to a community.
One of the key points of the offering, Microchip says, is ease of transition to a full professional (subscription) environment. The free compiler does not have all of the optimizations available with the subscription version – but both run when you invoke the free version and the tools tell you how much there is to gain by adding the optimizations. The subscription version is $29.95 per month, and you can use it on an as-needed basis.
Designers can, therefore, create an application, simulate, compile code, program and debug an MCU in this cloud-based toolset which inherits the most popular features of the MPLAB X IDE. MPLAB Xpress offers a comprehensive feature set, including a library of Microchip-validated code examples, interface to MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) 3.0 for GUI-based MCU peripheral setup and automatic code generation, integrated MPLAB XC compilers, support for programmer/debugger hardware, and 10 GB of secure online storage with a myMicrochip account.
Users can easily migrate their projects to the full, downloadable MPLAB X IDE. A new MPLAB Xpress Community enables developers to share their code, design ideas and knowledge.
Cloud-based hardware development is supported by connecting any USB-enabled PC, laptop or tablet to tools such as the MPLAB Xpress Evaluation Board. This development board features an integrated programmer, a PIC16F18855 MCU and a mikroBUS header for system expansion with MikroElektronika’s more than 180 Click boards.
The MPLAB Xpress IDE also supports Microchip’s Curiosity Development Board ($20.00), with integrated programmer and debugger, as well as expansion options for add-on boards and external connectivity. The online IDE can be used with Microchip’s PICkit 3 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer ($47.95), which provides programming and debugging capabilities for over 1,000 PIC MCUs.
The Web-based MPLAB Xpress reduces installation time to zero while enabling users to build an entire application within minutes. Users can open a browser and quickly generate code via the integrated MPLAB Code Configurator which integrates with MPLAB Xpress: this is a feature which Microchip says is not available with any other cloud-based IDE. Users can then test that code with the included simulator, compile the code and then programme and debug their target MCU.
The MPLAB Xpress Community allows users to get their project started quickly, solve problems, and, "inspire others by sharing ideas and knowledge." The "Examples" section provides searchable access to MCU code developed and validated by Microchip engineers, such as setup, basic functions and advanced projects. Designers can add to this knowledge base by making any of their stored projects accessible to the rest of the user community. To facilitate further discussion and collaboration, a dedicated MPLAB Xpress User Forum and Wiki are also available.
Micrchip says it will have a stock of MPLAB Xpress evaluation boards to give away at the Embedded World exhibition; or, the first 2000 users to register at mplabexpress.microchip.com will receive one free.
The company adds that it will be monitoring feedback to direct development of the platform in "whatever way its users most need"; for example, all high level language development and compilation at introduction is in C. Does the community Microchip seeks to address need, say, Python? "We don’t know, for sure; that’s just one of many possible avenues of development."
MPLAB Xpress Cloud-based IDE information page
Microchip; www.microchip.com
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