I was checking the Microchip's website today (just to kill some minutes) and I read their latest XC32 compiler (v1.40) doesn't contain PLIB anymore!!!
The release notes section for the v1.40 didn't mention anything about the removal of PLIB. On the notes of the v1.32, I saw the link to get the PLIB libraries as separate installer.
http://www.microchip.com/pic32_peripheral_libNow, on the PLIB download page I can see the following statement:
Peripheral libraries for PIC32MX products are not needed for Harmony development. Microchip recommends using MPLAB Harmony for new projects. To download MPLAB Harmony, click here.No Harmony, please!
When coming to 32-bit MCUs, I used both ARMs (from CM0 to CM4) and MIPS (PIC32MX). When using the PIC32MX, PLIB was good for hiding away some of the gory details of the MIPS core.
I tried Harmony with on opened mind but it is simply too cumbersome, poorly documented and I don't think I would start using it too soon unless it improves. And I am starting to hate it already ...
It seems Microchip wants to push their PIC32 customers to use Harmony even in its poor shape as it is today. If in the future they won't offer PLIB for new parts anymore, I'll forget about PIC32s altogether.