1.3.6 MPLAB Content Manager (CM) and Code Configurator (MCC)

MCC Content Manager

The MCC Content Manager allows users to download versions of supported drivers and libraries for a selected device.

Table 1-10. Launching MCC Content Manager
MPLAB X IDEMPLAB Tools for VS Code

MPLAB X IDE users can open the Content Manager before launching MCC by using:

  • The Tools menu,

  • The Window menu, or

  • Clicking the CM icon on the IDE toolbar

The MCC Content Manager can also be opened from within MCC. However, the stand-alone Content Manager cannot be opened while MCC is already running, as this may result in unexpected or corrupted content.

Figure 1-31. Content Manager in MPLAB X IDE

For VS Code users, the MCC Content Manager can only be opened from within the MCC’s Resources Panel. Refer to the next section on how to launch MCC.

Figure 1-32. Content Manager in MPLAB Tools for VS Code

MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC)

The MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) is a free graphical programming environment that generates seamless, easy-to-understand C code. MCC has content libraries that support different sets of microcontroller families.

Figure 1-33. MPLAB Code Configurator Content Libraries
Table 1-11. Launching MCC
MPLAB X IDEMPLAB Tools for VS Code

Launch MCC by using:

  • The Window menu, or

  • The MCC icon on the IDE toolbar

Figure 1-34. Launching MCC in MPLAB X IDE
Figure 1-35. MCC Window in MPLAB X IDE

Launch MCC by typing >MPLAB MCC: Launch in the VS Code command palette.

Figure 1-36. Launching MCC in MPLAB Tools for VS Code

For VS Code, users can also name the MCC configuration. By default, MCC uses My_MCC_Config as the default name.

Figure 1-37. New MCC Configuration in MPLAB Tools for VS Code

Refer to these videos for tutorials on how to use MCC in VS Code:

Figure 1-38. MCC Window in MPLAB Tools for VS Code

Generated File Structure

The generated file and folder structure differs between MCC Melody and Harmony, as well as between MPLAB X IDE and VS Code MPLAB extensions.

MCC Melody

Table 1-12. MCC File Structure
MPLAB X IDE MPLAB Tools for VS Code

MCC Melody source and header files are generated inside a folder named mcc_generated_files, within the project folder.

Figure 1-39. MCC Melody Files in MPLAB X IDE

Inside the project folder, MCC generates a folder named after the MCC configuration (e.g., My_MCC_Config) that contains another folder named mcc.

MCC Melody generates both the mcc_generated_files folder and the MCC configuration metadata inside the mcc folder.

Figure 1-40. MCC Melody Files in MPLAB Tools for VS Code

MPLAB Harmony

Table 1-13. MPLAB Harmony Structure
MPLAB X IDE MPLAB Tools for VS Code

MPLAB Harmony source and header files are generated inside a folder named src, located outside of the project folder.

Figure 1-41. MPLAB Harmony Files in MPLAB X IDE
Note: MPLAB Harmony warns users if it detects an existing src folder outside the project folder. If this src folder belongs to a different Harmony project, move the current project folder into another folder before generating.
Figure 1-42. MPLAB Harmony Warning for an Existing src Folder

MPLAB Harmony generates the src folder inside the MCC configuration folder (e.g., My_MCC_Config), and the configuration metadata inside the mcc folder.

Figure 1-43. MPLAB Harmony Files in MPLAB Tools for VS Code