MPLAB X IDE vs Wokwi

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.

Wokwi is a simulator for building and debugging firmware for simulated microcontrollers. It supports Arduino (C/C++), MicroPython, CircuitPython and Rust, with boards including Arduino Uno, Nano and Mega, ATtiny85, ESP32-family boards, several STM32 models and Raspberry Pi Pico. Supported protocols include WiFi, HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket, MQTT, NTP, CoAP, DNS, TCP, UDP, UART, I2C and SPI. The simulated targets are AVR, ESP32, STM32 and RP2040 microcontrollers; firmware can also be exported for Raspberry Pi Pico. Wokwi lists web, Linux, macOS and Windows platforms. Its free Community plan includes unlimited simulations, unlimited public projects and Virtual WiFi. Paid plans are billed annually: Hobby is €5.60 per month with 100 fast build minutes monthly; Hobby+ is €8.10 per month with 500; and Wokwi Pro is €20.00 per month with 1,000 fast build minutes and 2,000 CI minutes monthly.