4.4 Adopting a development environment 4.4.1 Introducing MPLAB MPLAB is an IDE that can be downloaded free from Microchip’s web site [Ref. 1.2]. There is also a copy on the book’s companion website. It contains all the software tools necessary to write a program in Assembler, assemble it, simulate it, and then download it to a pro- grammer. The latter must be built, bought or designed into the target system. Further software tools can be bought and then integrated with MPLAB, both from Microchip and from other suppliers. This includes alternatives to what MPLAB already offers – e.g. as- semblers or simulators, as well as tools which offer much greater development power, like C compilers or emulator drivers. MPLAB is a continuously evolving package, with its own manuals [Refs. 4.1 and 4.2] and online help facility. Therefore this book does not aim to act as a full MPLAB manual. It will, however, aim to give a clear introduction to its use so that you can begin to apply it with confidence. Screen images from MPLAB Version 8.10 are used in this chapter and the next.
