Development Tools
MCU/MPU Development Tools
Journey through the various stages of embedded design with our easy-to-use portfolio of hardware and software development tools. You can discover, configure, develop, debug, qualify and go to market quickly using our development tools for PIC®, AVR® and SAM microcontrollers (MCUs), SAM microprocessors (MPUs) and dsPIC® Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs). We have integrated our entire line of embedded software development tools with our embedded hardware development tools so you can harness the full capabilities of the MPLAB® development ecosystem to get a best-in-class experience. Our line of third-party tools rounds out our comprehensive development tool offering.
What Are Development Tools?
Development and debugging tools help you evaluate the best silicon device (MCUs, MPUs and DSCs) for your embedded application. Our MPLAB and Atmel Studio development ecosystems provide a variety of embedded design tools that support multiple devices and architectures. MPLAB development tools are compatible with Windows®, Linux® and macOS® operating systems while Atmel Studio tools are compatible with the Windows operating system. Use the chart below to help you find the right tools for your next design.
| AVR® MCU | PIC® MCU | dsPIC® DSC | SAM MCU | xEC* MCU | MPU | $ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEs | MPLAB X IDE | • | • | • | • | • | • | FREE |
| MPLAB Xpress | • | • | • | |||||
| Atmel Studio | • | • | ||||||
| Compilers | MPLAB XC** | • | • | • | • | • | • | FREE |
| AVR GCC | • | |||||||
| ARM GCC | • | • | ||||||
| Configurators | MPLAB Code Configurator | • | • | • | FREE | |||
| MPLAB Harmony | •*** | • | • | |||||
| Atmel Start | • | • | ||||||
| Programmers/ Debuggers | MPLAB REAL ICE™ | • | • | $ | ||||
| MPLAB ICD 4 | • | • | • | • | ||||
| MPLAB PICkit™ 4 | • | • | • | • | • | |||
| MPLAB Snap | • | • | • | • | • | |||
| Atmel-ICE | • | • | ||||||
| J-32 Debug Probe | •*** | • | • | |||||
| Power Debugger | • | • | ||||||
| Production | MPLAB IPE | • | • | • | • | FREE IPE | ||
| MPLAB PM3**** | • | • | ||||||
* xEC is the CEC/MEC families of devices
** PRO Compiler license available, including subscriptions
*** 32-bit MCUs and MPUs only
**** The MPLAB PM3 also supports Microchip's memory devices
In-Circuit Emulator and Debugger Features
Microchip offers a wide variety of debugger solutions to fit any performance requirements and budget.
Development Boards and Kits
Microchip has over 2,000 development boards and kits spanning hundreds of applications. Reference designs and sample projects are available to help you get started at lightening speed.