nRF5_SDK_17.1.0_ddde560.zip

[spennebake]

I have download this .zip from the Nordic site. I am a beginning coder and I am using AI to help assist me on my project and learning C code. I seem to unzip the file correctly with no errors. I have ordered the DK and I am awaiting arrival. I am trying to setup an example "blinky" so when my DK comes i can run a test to see if I can get the LED to blink. When working with AI, it states that when I drill down this path, C:\Users\dropb\Desktop\nRF5 SDK\examples\peripheral\blinky\pca10040\blank, I should see main.c. I do not see this file. I see 5 folders. Those folders are:arm5_no_packs, armgcc, config, iar, and ses. I do see a main.c under blinky but not under blank. Is AI leading me on a wild goose chase or is there something that I am do wrong with my extraction of the zip file that I downloaded. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to give me a helping hand.

[rbmarcus]

If you're just starting out, you should probably use Zephyr + NCS rather than the deprecated nRF5 SDK. 

I don't recommend relying on LLMs for embedded programming, especially in niche sectors like embedded IoT with vendor-specific information that the models likely weren't trained on. Even if you're an experienced engineer in this field, AI is a crapshoot for maybe helping you find a bug or optimize a code snippet sometimes. It can't write the code for you.

[spennebake]

I whole heartedly agree with you. AI does though help me improve my learning curve. At the basic level that I am at, running the "blinky" example would be a great start. I have installed SES to use to write my new code while I learn. Should there be 'main.c' under the blank folder in the SDK download? Thank you very much for your response!

[rbmarcus]

It will not help you with the learning curve, as evidenced by the fact that you're here right now. GPT and Claude hallucinate egregiously when it comes to embedded questions. You will learn incorrect information and waste your time going down dead-end rabbit holes. Nordic is incredibly generous with their documentation, you have like 10 different tutorials that will all get you up-to-speed with a functional blinky project. You should at least attempt it with the provided resources before letting the glorified buzzword generators take the wheel, especially as a complete beginner.

With regard to your comment below, nRF Connect SDK is the current SDK for new designs. nRF5 SDK is the outdated one. Nordic migrated to Zephyr (their fork of Zephyr is what they refer to as nRF Connect SDK) a few years ago. 

[spennebake]

Thank you rbmarcus! I don't need to go down anymore rabbit holes, LOL. I will take your advice and start with the tutorials you mentioned. I appreciate your response!