MathWorks Plugs into Microchip MPLAB IDE

Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, announced that, through its close collaboration with The MathWorks, Inc., a leading developer of technical computing and Model-Based Design software, Microchip's popular MPLAB(R) Integrated Development Environment (IDE) now features a free plug-in for The MathWorks MATLAB(R), Simulink(R) and Real-Time Workshop(R) Embedded Coder modeling and code-generation programs.

MATLAB is a high-level technical computing language and interactive environment for algorithm development, data visualization, data analysis, and numeric computation. Simulink is a platform for multi-domain simulation and Model-Based Design of dynamic systems. With Simulink, designers can quickly create, model and maintain a detailed block diagram of the system, using a comprehensive set of predefined blocks. MATLAB and Simulink are used by engineers and scientists in industry, government and education.

The MPLAB IDE is a free, feature-rich, integrated toolset for the development of embedded applications employing Microchip's PIC(R) microcontrollers and dsPIC(R) digital signal controllers. The MPLAB IDE runs as a 32-bit application on the Microsoft Windows(R) operation system, is easy to use, and includes a host of free software components for fast application development and super-charged debugging. The MPLAB IDE also serves as a single, unified graphical user interface for additional Microchip and third party software and hardware development tools. MATLAB and Simulink plug-ins debut in the current version of the MPLAB IDE, version 7.51, and enable designers to select Simulink software models, automatically generate source code, and include the files in MPLAB IDE projects for compilation and build, all within the familiar, easy-to-use MPLAB IDE graphical user interface.

"The integration between MATLAB, Simulink and the MPLAB IDE will dramatically increase the productivity of production organizations using Model-Based Design with Microchip's hardware," said Tom Erkkinen, Embedded Applications manager of The MathWorks, Inc. "With push-button automation, engineers can now generate code from their executable specification models, compile it, and download the code to their embedded processor for on-target rapid prototyping or production deployment."

"Wielding the power of MATLAB and Simulink from the MPLAB IDE desktop further empowers the designer of embedded designs using Microchip devices." said Derek Carlson, vice president of Microchip Development Tools. "This collaboration is a significant addition to our tool suite for Microchip's 16-bit microcontrollers, and sets the stage for future cooperative efforts."