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Package Manager in NECTO Studio

The Package Manager in NECTO Studio serves as the central hub for managing all software components and packages required for embedded development — including Click board™ libraries, board support files, compiler tools, and complete example projects. It ensures your environment is always up to date and tailored to the specific hardware and software setup you are working on.

Overview

The Package Manager provides an intuitive interface that allows you to browse, install, update, and manage packages directly from within NECTO Studio. It organizes all available software into well-defined categories, enabling engineers to quickly access the exact resources they need — from Click board™ libraries to MCU-specific toolchains.

Accessing the Package Manager

  1. Open NECTO Studio.
  2. From the landing page, navitage to Libraries & Examples (the text on the central part of NECTO Studio IDE).

  3. The main window displays a categorized list of all available packages.

  4. 📌 Reference Image: Package Manager

Searching for Packages

At the top of the Package Manager window, there is a search bar. Simply start typing a package name, such as “LTE IoT Click” or “STM32,” and NECTO Studio will dynamically display relevant results.

You can click Install next to any package to download and add it to your environment. Once installed, packages automatically integrate into NECTO’s project creation workflow, making them immediately available for use in your applications.

Using Filters

The Filters tab allows you to narrow down visible packages based on three key dimensions:

1. Package Type

Select or deselect specific package types to display only what you need:

  • Click board™ Libraries & Examples Provides driver libraries and example projects for individual Click boards.
  • MCU Core Packages Contain compiler and core definitions for supported MCUs.
  • Board Support Packages (BSPs) Include hardware definitions, pin mappings, and peripheral configurations for development boards.
  • mikroSDK Updates Core framework updates and improvements for software development.
  • Programmer & Debugger Tools Adds support for various programming/debugging hardware.
  • Application Projects Complete, ready-to-run example projects demonstrating real applications.
  • MCU Card Support Packages Support files and definitions for MCU Cards.
  • Compilers GCC, Clang, and mikroC toolchains for supported architectures.
  • mikroC PRO Libraries Precompiled libraries available for mikroC compilers.

  • MCU Programmer & Debugger Support Communication layers and configuration files for MCU flashing tools.

  • 📌 Reference Image: Filter Types

2. Package Status

You can also filter packages by their installation state:

  • Installed – shows packages currently available in your NECTO environment.
  • Waiting for Update – shows packages with a newer version available for download.

3. Package Category

This filter corresponds primarily to Click board™ categories. It allows you to focus on a specific domain — such as Sensors, Wireless Connectivity, Audio, Power Management, or Interface Modules.

Given the large number of available Click boards™, this filter helps streamline browsing and quickly locate desired hardware-specific libraries and examples.

Installing and Opening Packages

Once you find a desired package:

  1. Click the Install button.
  2. Wait until the installation completes — NECTO Studio will automatically handle all dependencies.

  3. You can then open an example project directly from the Package Manager by:

  4. Clicking Open Example, and

  5. Selecting the appropriate hardware setup (TFT, dev board, MCU card, etc.).

  6. 📌 Reference Image: Installing Package

Package Update Management

NECTO Studio automatically checks for available updates for installed packages. When a package update exists, it will appear under the “Waiting for Update” filter. You can update it directly from the list by pressing the Update button.

This ensures you always have access to the latest libraries, bug fixes, and example improvements.

Practical Example

Suppose you’re developing a project using the Magneto 13 Click board:

  1. Open Package Manager.
  2. In the search bar, type “Magneto 13 Click”.
  3. Click Install.
  4. Once installed, open the included example project.
  5. Choose your hardware setup (e.g., Curiosity, Fusion, Clicker board).

  6. The complete source code and example logic are automatically loaded into your workspace — ready to build and run.

  7. 📌 Reference Image: Installed Package

Best Practices

  • Regularly check for updates to ensure optimal compatibility with new board revisions or SDK improvements.
  • Use filters to reduce visual clutter when browsing a large number of packages.
  • Install only necessary packages to keep your development environment lightweight and efficient.
  • Before starting a new project, verify that the required Click board™ and MCU package are both installed.

Summary

The Package Manager in NECTO Studio is your one-stop solution for managing all software dependencies and hardware libraries. It simplifies the development workflow, reduces setup time, and ensures you always have access to the most up-to-date tools for your embedded projects.

📌 Reference Images:

  • 📌 Reference Image: Package Manager
  • 📌 Reference Image: Filter Types
  • 📌 Reference Image: Installing Package
  • 📌 Reference Image: Installed Package