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Module 6: Importing an Existing MPLAB® X IDE Project

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

Overview

In this lesson, you will practice migrating real-world projects by importing an existing MPLAB® X IDE project into the VS Code® environment. The focus is on understanding how project structure, configuration, and build processes differ, rather than re-learning embedded development fundamentals.

Next, you will build and debug the imported project on hardware and gain confidence that existing codebases can be successfully transitioned to the new toolchain and workflow.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Import an MPLAB X IDE project into VS Code
  • Understand project structure differences
  • Build and debug the imported project

Activity

Successfully import and run an existing MPLAB X IDE project on hardware.

Importing an Existing MPLAB X IDE Project

Open the MPLAB X IDE project folder (project.X) in VS Code. If you are using the Welcome walkthrough:

  • Click Create or Import MPLAB Project
  • Select Open MPLAB X Project Folder

Otherwise, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + K Ctrl + O to locate and open the project folder.

Follow any notifications that appear after the folder opens in VS Code. MPLAB for VS Code Extensions will detect the imported MPLAB X IDE project and configure the workspace.

Dev Tool Bits: The Ease of Importing Projects From MPLAB X IDE Into VS Code®

Importing an Existing PIC32CM MC00 Project Into VS Code

Go to the "MPLAB Discover" website. In the search bar, enter "PIC32CM MC00 Curiosity Nano".

Discover website search

Select Getting Started Application on PIC32CM MC00 Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit.

Discover Select Code Example

The example page will open with documentation content, project details, and links to source.

Acquire the project using one of the following methods:

  • Click Open with GitHub® to clone the repository
  • Click Download to save the project to your PC

Discover Code Example page

 

Open the MPLAB X IDE project folder (pic32cmmc_getting_started\firmware\pic32cm_mc_cnano.X) in VS Code and follow any import prompts. For this project, use the XC32 v6.00 compiler.

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Reference Application Information

Information

Description: This application demonstrates an LED (LED0) toggle on a timeout basis and prints the LED toggling rate on the serial terminal. The timeout changes from 500 ms to 1s, 2 s, 4s, and back to 500 ms whenever the user presses switch SW0 on the PIC32CM MC00 Curiosity Nano evaluation kit.

For more information about this application, refer to the "MPLAB® Harmony 3 Reference Applications for PIC32CM MCUs" page, section "3.12.1 Getting Started Application on PIC32CM MC00 Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit".

Getting Started Application on PIC32CM MC00 Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit

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Understanding Project Structure Differences

In MPLAB X IDE, the project’s logical structure is visible in the Projects tab, while the physical file structure is visible in the Files tab. MPLAB X IDE uses virtual (logical) folders, so the displayed organization may not match the actual folder structure on disk.

In MPLAB for VS Code Extensions, the project structure is shown in the Explorer tab. The folders shown in the Explorer are physical folders on the file system. Multiple projects may also appear when using a multi-root workspace.

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