Newer versions increasingly feature online license validation and "telemetry" pings. v5.35 is completely offline-friendly—perfect for secure lab environments or remote field locations.
Unlike some vendors who scrub older versions from the internet, Microchip maintains a very useful archive. You do need to use shady third-party download sites. download mplab x ide v5.35
Included improved firmware management for hardware tools. offering wider compatibility. That said
Unlike newer versions that are 64-bit only, 5.35 can be installed on 32-bit systems, offering wider compatibility. v5.35 remains a robust
That said, v5.35 remains a robust, battle-tested workhorse. Thousands of developers keep a copy on a USB stick, a network drive, or a backup hard disk. It will compile C code for a PIC16F877 just as elegantly today as it did in 2020.