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From MPLAB® X IDE to VS Code®: Hands‑On Embedded Development With MPLAB for VS Code

Last modified by Microchip on 2026/10/12 13:10

Overview

You’ve unboxed your new Curiosity Nano board and launched VS Code®, but things don’t look or feel like MPLAB® X IDE anymore. Where are the projects? Where did the project configuration go? And how do you even start debugging?

MPLAB X to VS Code

In this hands‑on learning path, you’ll cross the bridge from the traditional MPLAB X IDE to the modern workflow of VS Code. Using the PIC32CM MC00 Curiosity Nano as your learning platform, you’ll install the MPLAB for VS Code extensions, create and build a project from scratch, and debug real firmware on real hardware. You’ll also learn how to import existing MPLAB X IDE projects and understand what’s changed—and what hasn’t—so you can move forward with confidence on new projects.

Major Learning Outcome

PIC32CM MC00 Curiosity Nano board

Using a PIC32CM MC00 Curiosity Nano board, you will be able to independently set up a firmware development environment in VS Code (using the MPLAB for VS Code Extensions) and successfully execute core embedded development workflows, including:

  • Creating, building, and debugging a simple embedded C project from scratch
  • Importing an existing MPLAB X IDE project and building and debugging it on target hardware

Key Learning Objectives

By the end of this learning path, you will be able to:

  • Explain how MPLAB for VS Code differs conceptually from MPLAB X IDE
  • Install and configure the required tools (VS Code, C Compiler, MPLAB for VS Code Extensions)
  • Create and manage a new embedded firmware project in VS Code
  • Build, program and debug firmware on a PIC32CM MC00 Curiosity Nano
  • Use core debugging features (breakpoints, stepping, registers, watches, memory)
  • Import an existing MPLAB X IDE project and run it successfully in VS Code
  • Identify which MPLAB X IDE features map directly to VS Code and which do not