MPLAB Code Configurator is a user-friendly free plugin tool used in the MPLAB® X integrated development environment (IDE), providing drivers and GUI that control and drive peripherals within PIC microcontrollers using simple yet clearly documented driver APIs. This configurator tool, which simplifies software development, leverages an intuitive GUI for peripheral configuration to further reduce development time for 8-bit and 16-bit PIC microcontroller-based designs. Additionally, it allows easy modification of peripheral settings in projects and simple addition or removal of peripherals. The generated code is highly stable and designed to efficiently utilize CPU and memory resources.

The new tool supports chip-level and tabular views, offering various useful features such as visual configuration for I/O pin management. When the system-level clock speed is set, it automatically calculates peripheral timer periods, duty cycles, and baud rates. With a simple drag-and-drop interface, the tool generates readable code including peripheral configuration settings, driver and pin mapping, thereby efficiently overcoming challenges inherent in application development. Developers can more easily address increasingly tight product development schedules and shrinking budgets through this convenient code development solution.

Joe Thomsen, Vice President of Microchip's MCU16 Product Business Unit, stated, "MPLAB Code Configurator not only reduces development effort but also shortens time-to-market," adding that "this tool currently supports the PIC24 product family and provides a simple graphical interface for device peripheral and pin configuration, enabling users to develop application code more quickly."

MPLAB Code Configurator is now available and can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.microchip.com/MPLABCodeConfig-Page-012615a. The new tool supports more than 50 16-bit PIC MCU products, including PIC24FJ128GA310, PIC24F16KM204, PIC24FJ128GC010, PIC24FJ128GB204, PIC24FJ64GB004, and PIC24FJ64GA104 product families. Additionally, the product supports more than 140 8-bit PIC MCU products including the newly added PIC16LF155X, PIC16F161X, PIC16F17XX, and PIC18F14K22 product families.