MCUXpresso Suite of Software and Tools

Q: How do I get started with MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code?

MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is currently in beta test with lead customers and partners. It will be available to everyone from July 2023 – please mark your calendar and check back here then. Once released, MCUXpresso for VS Code will be provided as an extension via Microsoft’s marketplace and also via a new installer from NXP, called the MCUXpresso Installer, which will make set up for all developers, including Zephyr and other open-source developers, much easier than ever before.

The MCUXpresso SDK, IDEs, secure provisioning and configuration tools help speed up development time with high-quality software and tools for general purpose, crossover and wireless Arm^® Cortex^®- M-based MCUs from NXP.

Tools
Software
FAQs
MCUXpresso Application Software

Design Resources
Additional Documents

MCUXpresso Tools

MCUXpresso encompasses a range of IDE choices, supported by powerful configuration and debug tools. Secure deployment of your application is simplified with NXP’s secure programming and provisioning tools.

IDE Options	Description
MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code (VS Code)	VS Code with extension from NXP to enable fast, flexible development.
MCUXpresso IDE	Customized, Eclipse-based, IDE for NXP MCUs, optimized for ease-of-use.
IAR Embedded Workbench	Safety certified, highly optimizing compiler and development environment for C/C++.
Arm Keil MDK	uVision IDE and Arm Compiler with extensive middleware.

Configuration Tools
MCUXpresso Configuration Tools	Suite of configuration tools that enable you to rapidly configure pins, clocks, security, memory and drivers, enabling quicker understanding of NXP devices and easier migration to custom hardware designs.

Programming and Provisioning
MCUXpresso SEC Secure Provisioning Tool	GUI-based application to simplify use of security features to generate and program secured bootable executables and enable secure provisioning.
Secure Provisioning SDK (SPSDK)	Secure Provisioning SDK (SPSDK) is an open-source development kit, providing all the low-level utilities utilized by the MCUXpresso SEC tool.

Debug Tools
MCU-Link	Unified debug probe architecture for NXP's general-purpose Arm Cortex-M based MCUs.
FreeMASTER	Real-time debug monitor and data visualization tool that enables runtime configuration and tuning of embedded software applications.
P & E Micro	P and E Micro’s debug probes support a wide range of NXP products. Most Multilink probes are fully supported by MCUXpresso IDE and MCUXpresso for VS Code.
SEGGER	The J-Link debug probes with their outstanding performance, robustness and ease of use and are one of the most popular in the market. J-Link probes are fully supported by MCUXpresso IDE and MCUXpresso for VS Code.

New MCUXpresso Toolset for Embedded Applications

Next-generation MCUXpresso Toolset streamlines software development for complex embedded applications on Arm Cortex M microcontrollers.

Watch the video

MCUXpresso Software Delivery

MCUXpresso Software Development Kit (SDK) is a comprehensive software enablement package designed to simplify and accelerate application development with Arm^® Cortex^®-M devices.

SDK Builder

Customize and download an SDK specific to your processor or evaluation board selections.

NXP GitHub

Access to MCUXpresso SDK and application examples and open source projects.

Open-CMSIS-Packs

Access to MCUXpresso SDK using an open standard delivery mechanism. IDEs import packs to add support for devices, boards and middleware.

MCUXpresso Software Hubs

Interactive dashboards that provide filters to quickly locate software based on applications or expansion boards

Application Code Hub (ACH)

Customize and download an SDK specific to your processor or evaluation board selections.

Expansion Board Hub (EBH)

Access to MCUXpresso SDK and application examples and open source projects.

MCUXpresso Application Software

NXP provides drivers and middleware with extensive examples and support for a range of RTOS choices and a broad selection of compatible middleware from our partner ecosystem.

Audio

USB enablement, essential audio processing and partner solutions for developing state-of-the-art low power audio products.

Cloud Connectivity

Integrated support for cloud services including Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure IoT integrated with NXP’s Edgelock2Go services, plus device management solutions from other specialist partners.

Cloud Connectivity on General Purpose NXP Microcontrollers

Functional Safety

Libraries to enable functional safety standards.

IEC 60730 Safety Standard for Household Appliances

Graphics

Graphics libraries and tools from multiple partners plus open source and other free solutions from NXP for developing embedded GUIs of all levels of complexity.

Machine Learning

NXP^® eIQ^® machine learning software development environment for ML applications such as reliability monitoring, safety and face recognition.

Overview of eIQ

Motor Control

MCUXpresso SDK includes Libraries for brushless DC, permanent magnet and AC induction motor solutions, complemented by tuning tools.

RTOS

MCUXpresso SDK includes FreeRTOS and Azure RTOS for most platforms, and support is also available for many of our MCUs in the Zephyr project. Other free and premium RTOS options are available from our partners.

Security

Solutions for secure programming and trust provisioning, plus run-time software support for bootloaders, OTA, communications and acceleration to enable robust and secure cloud-connected products.

Specialized Peripherals

Coprocessors, embedded programmable logic, accelerators and highly flexible peripherals.

Specialized Peripherals and Accelerators in NXP Microcontrollers

Voice Processing

A range of voice control and communication software and solutions from NXP, including free voice recognition technology.

Voice Processing Software for NXP Microcontrollers

Touch Sensing

Software libraries and tools to complement NXP’s IEC61000-4-6 certified and low cost capacitive touch solutions.

Touch Sensing on NXP Microcontrollers

Wired Connectivity

Wired communications stacks and libraries from NXP and select partners for USB, CANopen, plus networking stacks and protocols.

Wired Communications Middleware for NXP Microcontrollers

Wireless Connectivity

Wireless connectivity solutions to complement NXP’s general purpose Arm Cortex-M MCUs.

Wireless Connectivity Solutions for NXP Microcontrollers

MCUXpresso FAQs

What NXP products are supported by MCUXpresso software and tools?

The vast majority of general-purpose and wireless-enabled Arm^® Cortex^®-M based microcontrollers from NXP are supported by MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code, MCUXpresso IDE, IAR Embedded Workbench and Arm Keil IDEs. MCUXpresso SDK and configuration tools are available for most of these devices, including all those introduced from 2016. You can view a complete list on the NXP Community.

MCUXpresso for VS Code can be used with all devices that have MCUXpresso SDK 2.13 or later support.

MCUXpresso SDK and CFG tools are also available for some devices in NXP’s digital signal controller (DSC) devices. See the DSC Developer Resources page for details.

How do I get started with MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code (VS Code)?

MCUXpresso for VS Code is provided as an extension via Microsoft’s marketplace and also via a new installer from NXP, called the MCUXpresso Installer, which makes set up for all developers, including Zephyr and other open-source developers, much easier than before. Additional resources, training and instructions can be found on the MCUXpresso for VS Code Community.

What is the MCUXpresso Installer and what does it do?

The MCUXpresso Installer is an easy to use utility that greatly simplifies installation of tools that are used by MCUXpresso for VS Code. The Installer also includes options for set up of the various utilities needed for Zephyr project development. Additional resources, training and instructions can be found on the MCUXpresso for VS Code Community.

What are Open-CMSIS-Packs and how are they used?

A standard method of delivering software for use in popular development tools (IAR^®, Arm Keil^®, MCUXpresso IDE, MCUXpresso for VS Code). The software is delivered in “packs” specifically for middleware, boards and devices. The packs include details that the tools use to properly integrate the software. The packs can also include software examples to help developers get started. Learn more about Open-CMSIS-Packs on our software summary page.

How does NXP provide support for IAR Embedded Workbench and Arm Keil tools?

NXP includes example projects for IAR Embedded Workbench and Keil MDK as part of the standard MCUXpresso SDK packages. When using the SDK builder you can select the tools for which you want these examples to be included.

Which debug probe options do I have with MCUXpresso?

In addition to supporting LPC-Link2, MCU-Link, LPC11U35 based and OpenSDA debug probes from NXP, MCUXpresso IDE and MCUXpresso for VS Code support all SEGGER J-Link probes and most P and E Micro probes.