MPLAB® Code Configurator Overview with MPLAB Harmony Content

Last modified by Microchip on 2024/06/24 06:31

Warning

Warning: This training is for people using older versions of the MPLAB® X IDE. The MCC plugin now comes pre-installed with newer versions of the IDE. 

This page will show you how to install the MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) plugin and how to download MPLAB Harmony framework. It also provides a brief overview of the MCC user interface.

MPLAB Code Configurator enables, configures and utilizes a rich set of peripherals across a select list of devices. It’s integrated into MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to provide a very powerful and extremely easy-to-use development platform. The MPLAB Code Configurator plugin includes the MCC Content Manager Wizard. The MCC Content Manager Wizard is used to download and update the Harmony 3 framework on your local machine. You should install MPLAB Code Configurator before downloading the framework.

  1. Install MPLAB Code Configurator
  2. Download MPLAB Harmony Framework

MCC is a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the MPLAB Harmony framework. It dramatically simplifies 32-bit (SAM and PIC®) core and peripheral configuration. It also allows you to enable and configure any of the specific Harmony framework libraries (e.g., device drivers, system services, USB, TCP/IP, graphics, AI/ML, etc.) you may need for your project.

MCC is available as a plugin extension to MPLAB X IDE.

You must install the following tools to use MPLAB Code Configurator with MPLAB X IDE:

Install MPLAB Code Configurator

Open MPLAB X IDE and select Tools > Plugins.

tools - plugins

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The Plugins window will open. Click on the Available Plugins tab, check the MPLAB Code Configurator box, and click the Install button.

MCC in plugin list

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Click Next, accept the license terms, and click Install.

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Click Finish to restart the IDE.

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Select Tools > Embedded to verify that MPLAB Code Configurator is displayed in the list.

tools - embedded list

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Create a New MCC Harmony Project

Your computer is ready to use MPLAB Code Configurator. You can create a new MCC Harmony project from scratch. For more details on how to create one, visit Create a New MPLAB® Harmony v3 Project

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Open an Existing MCC Harmony Project

You can open one of the many demonstration application projects that are included in the Harmony framework (see the apps folder in each repository). For more information, visit Open an MPLAB® Harmony v3 Example Application Project.

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MPLAB Code Configurator Overview

The MCC plugin’s main window for the project will be displayed.

MCC window descriptions

  • Resource Manager has two sections: one is Project Resources and another one is Device Resources.
  • Project Resources: the project resources area displays all of the peripherals currently configured for the project. For example, (CMSIS and Device Family Packs (DFP)). Select a peripheral here, and the peripheral is ready to be configured in the Composer area. In the Project Resource area, the System module is always present. The System module simplifies the setting of configuration bits and configures the system clock.
  • Device Resources: The Device Resources area displays available peripherals for the device. Click on the peripheral you want to add to your project. The peripheral moves to the MCC Project Resources area and is ready to be configured to your project's requirements. For example, Harmony Peripheral Libraries (PLIBs) for your device.
  • Versions: shows MPLAB Code Configurator Plugin version information as well as different libraries and their version. For example, the supported Harmony v3 library.
  • Project Graph: shows the instantiated components. You can instantiate available components by double-clicking on the component in the Device Resources panel. After successful component instantiation, you can see the instantiated components under the Project Resources panel.
  • Configuration Options: displays the tree view of the selected component under the Project Graph Area. You can configure the selected component in this section.

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