Microchip Graphics Suite (MGS) Harmony User Guide

Last modified by Microchip on 2024/05/30 16:26

Introduction

This user guide provides comprehensive information on using the Microchip Graphics Suite (MGS) Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs).

Important: For optimal utilization of this user guide, it is essential to have a good understanding of MPLAB^® X IDE, MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC), and MPLAB Harmony.

Getting Started with MGS Harmony

New to MGS for MPLAB Harmony?

This section provides an introduction to MGS Harmony, and a description of the general development workflow when developing embedded applications with MGS Harmony.

This section also provides tutorials on how to quickly get started with designing a basic GUI using the MGS for MPLAB Harmony tools.

MGS Harmony Composer User Guide

MGS Harmony Composer is a software tool that helps users create and manage GUI elements for their applications. It is part of MGS, which is a comprehensive, easy-to-use set of graphics tools for developing GUIs for Microchip's 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) and microprocessors (MPUs).

This section provides a basic overview of the features of MGS Harmony Composer.

Designing an Application with MGS Harmony

In most cases, the GUI is just one part of the application that is being developed. The application will have other software subsystems like communication stacks, and operating systems/Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) that will run and share system resources with the GUI. These subsystems may need to communicate with the GUI to display system information on the screen or to receive user input.

This chapter provides guidelines and recommendations on best practices for designing such applications with MGS Harmony Library.

MGS Harmony Widgets Guide

Microchip Graphics Widgets are software components that are used to create and manage graphical interface elements in a user interface. These widgets are part of the Microchip Graphics Library (MGL), which is a software package that provides developers with a wide range of tools and resources for creating GUIs on Microchip MCUs.

This section provides detailed information about MGS Widgets and using the widget Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Usage examples for each widget are available here.

MGS Harmony Graphics Assets Guide

Graphic assets are visual elements that are used in marketing materials, websites, games, apps, and other platforms. They can include images, logos, icons, illustrations, animations, infographics, banners, backgrounds, and other visual components. These assets play a crucial role in creating an attractive and cohesive visual identity for a brand, product, or service.

MGS Harmony graphics assets include images, fonts, and strings. MGS Harmony provides users with tools to manage and configure these assets to optimize performance and memory usage.

MGS Harmony Simulator

MGS Harmony Simulator allows developers to prototype and debug graphics applications on a PC, before deploying them on the actual hardware. It emulates the graphics controller of an MCU, allowing you to see the output of your code in real-time.

This section provides detailed information on how to use these productivity tools to shorten development time and reduce the overall cost of your embedded GUI designs.

Optimizing an MGS Harmony Project

MGS is a versatile framework equipped with an array of tools designed to facilitate the development of embedded GUIs. It is scalable to accommodate a range of devices, from resource-restricted Arm^® Cortex^® M0+ MCUs to high-performance MPUs. To ensure optimal performance, an application utilizing MGS must be meticulously configured to align with the specifications of the target platform. This includes optimizing performance metrics, Flash footprint, RAM usage, and user experience.

This section provides comprehensive guidelines on tailoring an MGS application to the unique hardware platform for which it is being developed.

MGS Display Configuration and Drivers

This section offers detailed instructions and guidelines for setting up an MGS Harmony project to ensure compatibility and functionality with third-party display modules. This includes steps for integrating hardware drivers, adjusting settings, and customizing the software to communicate effectively with the external display units.

How-Tos and Special Topics

This section provides comprehensive guidelines and illustrative examples on the implementation of distinct GUI features and functionalities, utilizing the advanced capabilities of MGS.