Microchip Technology MA240017 Data Sheet

 2008-2011 Microchip Technology Inc.

DS39927C-page 203

The PIC

®

 microcontrollers and dsPIC

®

 digital signal

controllers are supported with a full range of software
and hardware development tools:
• Integrated Development Environment

- MPLAB

®

 IDE Software

• Compilers/Assemblers/Linkers

- MPLAB C Compiler for Various Device

Families

- HI-TECH C

®

 for Various Device Families

- MPASM

TM

 Assembler

- MPLINK

TM

 Object Linker/

MPLIB

TM

 Object Librarian

- MPLAB Assembler/Linker/Librarian for

Various Device Families

• Simulators

- MPLAB SIM Software Simulator

• Emulators

- MPLAB REAL ICE™ In-Circuit Emulator

• In-Circuit Debuggers

- MPLAB ICD 3
- PICkit™ 3 Debug Express

• Device Programmers

- PICkit™ 2 Programmer
- MPLAB PM3 Device Programmer

• Low-Cost Demonstration/Development Boards, 

Evaluation Kits, and Starter Kits

The MPLAB IDE software brings an ease of software
development previously unseen in the 8/16/32-bit
microcontroller market. The MPLAB IDE is a Windows

®

operating system-based application that contains:
• A single graphical interface to all debugging tools

- Simulator
- Programmer (sold separately)
- In-Circuit Emulator (sold separately)
- In-Circuit Debugger (sold separately)

• A full-featured editor with color-coded context
• A multiple project manager
• Customizable data windows with direct edit of 

contents

• High-level source code debugging
• Mouse over variable inspection
• Drag and drop variables from source to watch 

windows

• Extensive on-line help
• Integration of select third party tools, such as 

IAR C Compilers

The MPLAB IDE allows you to:
• Edit your source files (either C or assembly)
• One-touch compile or assemble, and download to 

emulator and simulator tools (automatically 
updates all project information)

• Debug using:

- Source files (C or assembly)
- Mixed C and assembly
- Machine code

MPLAB IDE supports multiple debugging tools in a
single development paradigm, from the cost-effective
simulators, through low-cost in-circuit debuggers, to
full-featured emulators. This eliminates the learning
curve when upgrading to tools with increased flexibility
and power.