Install the MPLAB® Harmony 3 Launcher Plugin

Introduction

This training is for the embedded systems software developer who wishes to use the MPLAB® Harmony 3 Software Framework with Microchip Technology’s 32-bit Microprocessor Units (MPUs) (SAM9x60, SAMA5D2). No prior knowledge of Harmony or MPUs is assumed.

In this training topic, you will install the MPLAB Harmony 3 Launcher plugin to the MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The Launcher will install the MPLAB Harmony 3 Content Manager (MHCM) and MPLAB Harmony 3 Configurator (MHC) into MPLAB X IDE as integrated tools (Tools > Embedded).

MPLAB Harmony 3 Content Manager

The MPLAB Harmony 3 Content Manager (MHCM) is a graphical tool for selecting, downloading, and maintaining MPLAB Harmony 3 software packages (also known as libraries or modules) from the MPLAB Harmony 3 GitHub repository. The MHCM is available as a plugin for the MPLAB X IDE or as a standalone application.

h3_content_manager.png
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Instructions on how to download and run the Content Manager in stand-alone mode are available in the GitHub Pages.

GitHub Repository
GitHub Pages

Once the software libraries are downloaded to the host computer, the developer can select a device, libraries, configure the device and peripherals, and generate source code using the MPLAB Harmony 3 Configurator.

MPLAB Harmony 3 Configurator

The MPLAB Harmony 3 Configurator (MHC) is a graphical tool for the selection, configuration, and source code generation for a MPLAB Harmony 3 project. The MHC is available as a plugin for the MPLAB X IDE or as a standalone application.

h3_configurator.png
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Instructions on how to download and run the Configurator in stand-alone mode are available in the GitHub Pages.

GitHub Repository
GitHub Pages

Subjects covered in this topic:

Prerequisites

MPLAB Harmony 3 Software Framework

MPLAB® Development Tools

If you have not already done so, please install the MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and MPLAB XC32 Compiler.

MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Microchip’s award-winning MPLAB X IDE is an expandable, highly configurable software program that incorporates powerful tools to help the developer to configure, develop, debug and qualify embedded designs for Microchip’s MPUs and MCUs. MPLAB X IDE works seamlessly with MPLAB Harmony 3 Software Framework software libraries and tools.

MPLAB XC32 Compiler

Microchip’s award-winning MPLAB XC C Compilers are comprehensive solutions for a developers’ embedded design. When combined with the MPLAB X IDE, the fully graphical frontend provides:

  • Editing errors and breakpoints that match corresponding lines in the source code.
  • Single stepping through C and C++ (C++ only available in MPLAB XC32++ compilers) source code to inspect variables and structures at critical points.
  • Data structures with defined data types, including floating point, display in watch windows.

The MPLAB XC32 Compiler is available for free and unrestricted use. Pro licenses can be purchased to provide priority technical support and increase optimization levels to reduce code size and optimize speed.

Install MPLAB Harmony 3 Launcher Plugin

In this section, you will install the MPLAB Harmony 3 Launcher plugin to the MPLAB X IDE.

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The examples shown are made using the Windows® version of MPLAB X IDE. The Mac OS® and Linux® versions operate in a similar manner.

1

From the MPLAB X IDE menu bar select Tools > Plugins from the drop-down menu. A Plugins window will open.

install_harmony_launcher_01.png

2

From the Plugins window, select the Available Plugins tab, check the box beside the MPLAB® Harmony 3 Launcher plugin, and click on Install. A Plugin Installer window will open.

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Be sure to select the MPLAB® Harmony 3 Launcher plugin. Do not select the MPLAB Harmony Configurator as this plugin is for version 2 of the Harmony Embedded Software Framework.

install_harmony_launcher_02.png

3

From the Plugin Installer window, click Next. Please read and accept the terms of the license agreement. Click on Install, and Finish. MPLAB X IDE will restart.

install_harmony_launcher_03.png
install_harmony_launcher_04.png
install_harmony_launcher_05.png

4

To verify that the MPLAB Harmony 3 Launcher plugin is installed correctly, from the MPLAB X IDE menu bar select Tools > Embedded from the drop-down menu. Observe that MPLAB Harmony 3 Content Manager and MPLAB Harmony 3 Configurator are displayed.

install_harmony_launcher_06.png

You have successfully installed the MPLAB Harmony 3 Content Manager and MPLAB Harmony 3 Configurator as integrated tools within MPLAB X IDE (Tools > Embedded).

Summary

In this training topic, you installed the MPLAB Harmony 3 Launcher plugin to the MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The plugin installed the MPLAB Harmony 3 Content Manager and Configurator and are now available as integrated tools within MPLAB X IDE (Tools > Embedded).

What’s Next?

If you would like to jump right in and get started with MPU Development with MPLAB Harmony 3 Software Framework:

Are you a MCU developer new to MPUs?

Learn more about the MPLAB ecosystem in the following topics:

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