Free software customizes application code

Microchip Technology has recently introduced the Application Maestro, a software tool that customizes firmware modules for Microchip's PIC16 and PIC18 microcontrollers. Available for free from Microchip's Web site, the Application Maestro software manages a library of modules and allows users to configure their design parameters before generating code files for their projects. Users interact with the Application Maestro through a graphical interface to configure one or more of the available prewritten firmware modules with design parameters, such as baud rate or receiving-buffer size.

The Application Maestro automatically generates the customized code that users can then incorporate into their projects using a compatible development environment. Initially, the tool's modules include a UART, an ADC, a CAN (controller-area-network) boot loader, a CAN driver, a real-time clock, and modules supporting the SPI and I²C interfaces. Future modules will include an ADC module, PWM, capture, compare and PWM module, external LCD, external EEPROM, a TCP/IP stack, DeviceNet, a local-interconnect network, a DTMF (dual-tone multifrequency) tone generator, and decoding. The Application Maestro software is available from Microchip's Web site at www.microchip.com/applicationmaestro.

Microchip Technology, 1-480-792-7668, www.microchip.com.