• Support for 500+ AVR and SAM devices
• MPLAB^® XC8 compiler support 
• Vast source code library including drivers, communication stacks, 1,600+ project examples with source code, graphic services and touch functionality through Advanced Software Framework (ASF)
• IDE extensions through Microchip Gallery, the online app store for development tools and embedded software from Microchip and third parties
• QTouch^® Composer to tune capacitive touch designs, validate system performance, monitor power consumption and graph data and trace data in real time 
• Wireless Composer to configure and test the performance of wireless designs 
• Integrated compiler to write and debug C/C++ and assembly code 
• Advanced debugging features including complex data breakpoints, nonintrusive trace support (SAM3 and SAM4 devices), statistical code profiling, interrupt trace/monitoring, polled data tracing (Arm^® Cortex^®-M0+ based devices), real-time variable tracking with optional timestamping
• Integrated editor with visual assist
• Project wizard that allows projects to be created from scratch or from a large library of design examples
• In-system programming and debugging that provides an interface to all Microchip in-circuit programmers and debuggers
• Transparent debug views into CPU and peripherals for easy code development and debugging
• Full-chip simulation for an accurate model of CPU, interrupts, peripherals and external stimuli

The Data Visualizer plug-in captures and displays run-time power data from your application when used with the Power Debugger or a supported Xplained PRO board. You can profile the power usage of your application as part of a standard debug session. You can also correlate power spikes with the code that caused them by sampling the program counter during power measurements.

Microchip Studio features one-click importing of projects created in the Arduino development environment. Your sketch, including any libraries it references, will be imported into Studio as a C++ project. Once the sketch is imported, you can leverage the full capabilities of Studio to fine tune and debug your design. Microchip Studio fully supports the powerful embedded debugger on the Arduino Zero board. Shield adapters that expose debug connectors are available for other Arduino boards, or you can switch to one of the many available Xplained Mini or Xplained PRO boards to fully leverage our ecosystem of hardware tools. Regardless of which option you choose, you will surely make something amazing.

The Help system in Microchip Studio supports online as well as offline access. This means that you will always get the latest documentation when you are connected and that it will stay with you when you are mobile. Device-aware context sensitivity and an I/O view are available in the editor, allowing you to look up your device’s register-specific information from its data sheet without leaving the editor. The AVR-libc documentation further enhances the context-sensitive Help system, allowing you to easily look up function definitions. 

Microchip Studio is free of charge and is integrated with Advanced Software Framework (ASF), which is a large library of free source code with 1,600 project examples. ASF strengthens Studio by providing access to ready-to-use code in the same environment to minimize much of the low-level design required for projects. Standard IDEs are useful for creating new software for a microcontroller (MCU) project. Microchip Studio IDP also:

• Facilitates the reuse of existing software to enable design differentiation
• Supports the product development process with easy access to integrated tools and software extensions in Microchip Gallery
• Reduces time to market by providing advanced features, an extensible software ecosystem and powerful debug integration

You don’t need to leave Microchip Studio to search for a solution when you discover you need a tool or some basic source code in the middle of your development process. The Microchip Gallery app store provides development tools and embedded software for MCU-based application design. You can download and securely purchase both Microchip and third-party compilers, advanced debugging tools, real-time operating systems, communication systems and other extensions and plug-ins straight from the Microchip Studio development platform via gallery.microchip.com.