Use of test harness sets, checklists, and reference verification points
Providing an open structured method for 'Harmony Compatible' certification

Microchip Technology announced the MPLAB® Harmony ecosystem program for embedded middleware and operating system developers seeking new business opportunities for Microchip’s 32-bit PIC32 MCU customers.

Ecosystem partners can quickly and easily access the full set of MPLAB Harmony tools currently available. MPLAB Harmony is the industry's most comprehensive 32-bit microcontroller firmware development framework, which includes licensing and resale rights and supports middleware, drivers, libraries, and real-time operating systems from Microchip and its partners.

The Ecosystem Program provides an open, structured method for obtaining 'Harmony Compatible' certification using test harness sets, checklists, and reference verification points. Developers stated that when developing high-value-added free software, they can access this extensive code-compatible ecosystem to reduce risks and overall costs while accelerating time-to-market, and promote business growth by increasing market penetration to thousands of PIC32 MPLAB Harmony users.

Rod Drake, Vice President of Microchip’s MCU32 business unit, stated, “Customers need more software solutions to extend the capabilities of embedded applications while reducing overall risk and accelerating time-to-market,” adding, “Microchip is significantly expanding the MPLAB Harmony Partner Program to provide benefits to developers and customers in the embedded microcontroller industry and to supply a diverse range of products with the highest level of integration.”

Reduce development time by at least 20–35%


As applications become increasingly sophisticated, embedded developers must bring complex solutions to market more quickly. Microchip’s MPLAB Harmony framework for PIC32 MCUs can reduce project development time by at least 20–35% by providing a single, integrated, abstract, and flexible source consisting of tested and debugged interoperable code.

In addition, MPLAB Harmony provides a modular architecture that efficiently integrates multiple drivers, middleware, and libraries while offering an environment independent of the RTOS. Furthermore, pre-verification and integration can accelerate development and expand reusability. In terms of hardware, the MPLAB Harmony framework makes code portability easier, allowing for simple transitions to any of Microchip's 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers and enabling the implementation of profitable, multi-stage end devices with minimized code redevelopment. Middleware and operating system developers utilizing Microchip's ecosystem development program can provide superior solutions to customers through the efficiency and stability that are the strengths of MPLAB Harmony.

Development is supported by the MPLAB Harmony Integrated Software Framework through Microchip’s free MPLAB Harmony Configurator and MPLAB XC32 Compiler v1.40, all of which run within Microchip’s MPLAB X IDE (Integrated Development Environment) and are currently available for free download. Additionally, low-cost development boards for MPLAB Harmony and PIC32 are available through the microchipDIRECT site or official Microchip distributors. Further information on Microchip’s extensive portfolio of 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers and development tools, as well as its rich partner ecosystem, can be found at http://www.microchip.com/PIC32-120715a.

MPLAB Harmony is available for immediate use, and the basic framework is free. After downloading, you can view the modular menu for free and premium software options. The list of provided extensions includes RTOSs such as FreeRTOS from Real Time Engineers Ltd. (RTE) and OpenRTOS from Wittenstein High Integrity Systems (WHIS), as well as the TCP/IP stack from InterNiche Technologies (INT), the embedded SSL/TLS library from wolfSSL, and IoT support features from PubNub. Various other software from Micrium, SEGGER, and Express Logic is also provided. Downloads and more detailed information can be found at http://www.microchip.com/Harmony-120715a.