You need to keep MPLABX updated to support newer chips. You can choose to install just the IPE and that should get you newer part support for programming. MPLABX allows you to install multiple versions so you can always keep v2.35 around too.
Installing the IPE should get you the command-line tools.
confirmed . I bit the bullet and installed ide/ipe ver 3.55 and version 2.35 still works [yeah]
and the pk3 can pgm the new chips from mcspx.

the pbp toolchain does not work with mplabx 3.55 as suspected [for me anyway],code will still compile though.

for reference the icsp (no connector fitted) port on the "Curiosity Board" will not actually work as programmer ,I guess the pkob interferes with the process ,making mplabx pkob the only programmer that works but only for ide versions that the pbp3 plugins don't function in . would have been nice to use the board with pbp3 easily.


progress is over rated