MPLAB X IDE vs nRF Connect for VS Code

MPLAB X IDE is a free desktop environment for discovering, configuring, developing, debugging, and qualifying embedded designs for most Microchip microcontrollers and digital signal controllers. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, supporting 64-bit Intel or AMD computers and Arm-based Apple silicon. During debugging, I/O View can display and manipulate target registers. A single action can build a project, connect to a hardware tool, program the target, and begin debugging or execution. Data Visualizer displays real-time streaming data, and MPLAB Integrated Programming Environment supports production-level programming. The IDE supports open-source AVR and SAM MCU GCC and can work with MPLAB XC compilers. Projects and tools such as Code Configurator and Data Visualizer are also supported in Microsoft Visual Studio Code. Source control configuration options and a plug-in manager, including support for NetBeans plugins, extend the environment. The listed 6.35 release supports Windows, Linux, and macOS. Version 6.20 was the last release supporting PICkit 3, MPLAB ICD 3, and MPLAB REAL ICE. Supported targets include PIC, dsPIC, AVR, SAM, PIC32, and other Microchip MCU, DSC, and MPU families.

nRF Connect for VS Code is a free extension for developing, building, and debugging applications based on the nRF Connect SDK. It supports nRF91, nRF70, nRF53, and nRF52 Series devices, with interfaces to the compiler and linker and an RTOS-aware debugger. Configuration tools include a DeviceTree Visual Editor and a Create New Board wizard. The environment includes a built-in terminal and both command-line and graphical interfaces, with integrated flashing listed. The product consists of four Nordic extensions: nRF Connect for VS Code, nRF DeviceTree, nRF Kconfig, and nRF Terminal. Nordic says all four must be installed and used together for the product to work correctly with supported SDKs and provide all features. The main extension is available through the Visual Studio Code Marketplace; Nordic documentation also lists the extensions in the Open VSX Registry for VSIX-compatible editors. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Nordic identifies nRF Connect for Desktop and nRF Command Line Tools as additional desktop tools, and recommends its nRF Connect SDK Fundamentals course for getting started. Nordic Semiconductor is headquartered in Trondheim, Norway, and was established in 1983.