Essential Software & Hardware Development Tools
All of Microchip’s MCU and DSC tools operate effortlessly under the MPLAB® IDE umbrella. You can get started using our 16-bit controllers with MPLAB® IDE, MPLAB® C30 Compiler Student Edition and MPLAB® ICD 2 for approximately US $160.

Essential Development Tool / Part Number / Free?
MPLAB® IDE Integrated Development Environment / SW007002 / Free
MPLAB® C30 ANSI C Compiler / SW006012 / Free Student Edition
MPLAB® ASM30 Assembler* / SW007002 / Free
MPLAB® SIM Software Simulator* / SW007002 / Free
MPLAB®VDI Visual Device Initializer* / SW007002 / Free
MPLAB® ICD 2 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer / DV164005 / Low Cost
MPLAB® REAL ICE In-Circuit Emulator [NEW] / DV244005 / Low Cost
MPLAB® PM3 Universal Device Programmer / DV007004 / Low Cost
MPLAB® PRO MATE® II Device Programmer*** / DV007003 / Low Cost

* Comes with no-cost MPLAB® IDE
*** If you are considering a new full-featured programmer, the MPLAB PM3 is recommended.

Hardware Tools
Development boards allow you to create a proof-of-concept for your design / application using our products. Development boards available for Microchip’s 16-bit PIC24 MCUs and dsPIC DSCs are available at the links below. Note that while some boards are general purpose development boards, others have been designed to incorporate certain aspects of your application, for instance Ethernet connectivity, PSTN interface, Voice recording and playback interface, Motor control feedback sensing etc.
Development Boards
Development Tool Selector (Find all development tools for your device)
Boundary Scan Description Language (BSDL) Files for JTAG
Plug-In Modules (See Below)

Check the details on your development board to see if these plug-in modules can be used to change the 16-bit PIC24 MCU or dsPIC DSC device on your board:

Plug-In Module / Use with Development Board
PIC24FJ128GA010 100L Plug-In Module (MA240011) / DM240001
dsPIC30F6014 80L Plug-In Module (MA300011) / DM30004-1, DM30004-2
dsPIC30F6012 64L Plug-In Module (MA300012)
dsPIC30F6010 80L Plug-In Module (MA300013) / DM300019, DM300020
dsPIC30F6014A 80L Plug-In Module (MA300014) / DM300014, DM300019
dsPIC30F6010A 80L Plug-In Module (MA300015) / DM300019, DM300020
dsPIC33FJ256GP710 100L Plug-In Module (MA330011) / DM240001
dsPIC33FJ256GP710 100-to-80L Plug-In Module (MA330012) / DM300019
dsPIC33FJ256MC710-I/PT PIM for Explorer16 Board (MA330013) / DM240001

Third Party Software

Third parties have extended their popular lines of embedded cross-compilers to cover Microchip’s 16-bit MCUs and DSCs:
IAR Embedded Workbench for dsPIC
HI-TECH ANSI C Compiler for dsPIC
CCS C Compiler for PIC24/dsPIC
CMX-MicroNet™ TCP/IP Connectivity and Protocol Support
CMX-RTX for PIC24/dsPIC Devices
CMX-Scheduler for PIC24/dsPIC Devices
CMX-Tiny+ for PIC24/dsPIC