Microchip Technology has made a major announcement for embedded developers. The company is now offering its MPLAB® XC Pro Compilers and MPLAB Machine Learning (ML) Development Suite at no cost. The roll out removes upfront licensing barriers and opens up professional?grade optimization and embedded ML workflows to a much wider base of users.
Previously locked behind paid tiers, MPLAB XC Pro Compilers bring advanced optimization techniques that shrink code size, reduce memory footprint and improve execution speed, while generating highly efficient, architecture-optimized code.
These tools support designs across Microchip’s 8-, 16- and 32-bit MCU and MPU portfolio, making them a central part of the company’s embedded ecosystem.
On the AI and IoT front, Microchip is also offering the MPLAB Machine Learning Development Suite Model Builder at no cost. Available as a plug-in for MPLAB or Microsoft® Visual Studio® Code (VS Code®), it generates optimized AI and sensor recognition code, allowing developers to build and deploy end-to-end embedded machine learning solutions on resource-constrained devices.
By bringing MPLAB ML into VS Code, Microchip is clearly leaning into developer choice and familiar toolchains to make adoption easier.
The shift to free tools also covers Microchip’s MPLAB XC Functional Safety Compilers. These TÜV SÜD-certified compilers target safety-critical applications and support compliance with functional safety standards. While certification documentation and support remain paid offerings, developers can now download and start safety-oriented design work without any license fees, paying only when formal certification is required.
Microchip is backing this change with ongoing updates and priority technical support for compiler-related questions at no additional cost. For teams standardizing on VS Code, the company is pointing developers to its broader ecosystem of VS Code extensions, positioning the tools as a cohesive, modern development stack for embedded and edge AI projects.
Leadership Comment
“Our focus is on optimizing the development experience for engineers using Microchip devices,” said Greg Robinson, corporate vice president of Microchip’s development tools, MCU and wireless business units. “By eliminating license fees and providing high-performance tools at no cost, we’re removing barriers to innovation. Customers can now take advantage of our optimized compilers and integrated machine learning capabilities to move efficiently from design through deployment.”
Pricing and Availability
MPLAB XC Compilers and the MPLAB Machine Learning Development Suite are available at no cost. For more information, contact a Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor.
