2.1 Microchip Studio, START, and Software Content

MCC is a web-based software configuration tool for various software frameworks, which helps you get started with MCU development. Starting from either a new project or an example project, MCC allows you to select and configure software components (from ASF4 and AVR Code), such as drivers and middleware, to tailor your embedded application in a usable and optimized manner. Once an optimized software configuration is done, you can download the generated code project and open it in the IDE of your choice, including Studio 7, IAR Embedded Workbench®, Keil® μVision®, or generate a makefile.

MCC enables you to:

• Get help with selecting an MCU, based on both software and hardware requirements
• Find and develop examples for your board
• Configure drivers, middleware, and example projects
• Get help with setting up a valid PINMUX layout
• Configure system clock settings

Advanced Software Framework (ASF)

ASF, Advanced Software Framework, provides a rich set of proven drivers and code modules developed by experts to reduce customer design time. It simplifies the usage of microcontrollers by providing an abstraction to the hardware through drivers and high-value middlewares. ASF is a free and open-source code library designed to be used for evaluation, prototyping, design, and production phases.

ASF4, supporting the SAM product line, is the fourth major generation of ASF. It represents a complete redesign and -implementation of the whole framework to improve the memory footprint, code performance, and integration with the MCC web user interface. ASF4 must be used in conjunction with MCC, which replaces the ASF Wizard of ASF2 and 3.

microchip.com: ASF Product Page

AVR® Code

The AVR Code, supporting the AVR product line, is a simple AVR 8-bit MCU firmware framework equivalent to Foundation Services, which supports 8- and 16-bit PIC® MCUs. The AVR Code is optimized for code size and -speed and simplicity, and readability of code. MCC configures the AVR code.

An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is used to develop an application (or further develop an example application) based on the software components, such as drivers and middlewares, configured in and exported from MCC. MCC supports a range of IDEs, including Microchip Studio, IAR Embedded Workbench®, Keil® μVision®.

Microchip Studio is the integrated development platform (IDP) for developing and debugging all AVR and SAM microcontroller applications. The Microchip Studio IDP gives you a seamless and easy-to-use environment to write, build, and debug your applications written in C/C++ or assembly code. It also connects seamlessly to the debuggers, programmers, and development kits that support AVR and SAM devices. The development experience between Atmel START and Microchip Studio is optimized. Iterative development of START-based projects in Microchip Studio is supported through re-configured and merged functionality.

This Getting Started training for Microchip Studio 7 will guide you through all the main features of the IDE. It is designed as a video series with accompanying hands-on. Each section starts with a video, which covers that section.