Trying to get my firmware working on other devices

[coolerkid]

I wrote some firmware that I got working with the Nordic nRF52840 Dongle. It acts as a USB device, you can see under the device manager on a computer when you plug it in. Now I want to get this working with some other dongles, such as the Raytac MDBT50Q-CX-40, Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 Sense, and nRF52840 MDK USB Dongle. Should my firmware work without any modifications on these other devices too, or do I have to make any changes to the code or config files? 

I started with the Raytac. I compiled it with raytac_mdbt50q_db_40/nrf52840 and flashed it to the device, but it does not mount. I use screen /dev/tty.usbmodem to view the debug messages, so if it doesn't mount I am unable to figure out what's going on. 

Any insight on what's going on and what needs to be done? Thanks! 

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi,

You will typically need to make some adjustments to run your firmware on other boards.

1. All SDK examples assume a 32.768 kHz crystall oscillator. Many other boards does not have that, and if so, you must rebuild your firmware to use LFRC instead.
2. If it depend on external cuircuirtry suchs as LEDs or buttons and these are connnected to other pins, you need to adjust your firmware for that.

[coolerkid]

Even if I I don't use the clock or LEDs in my code? Wouldn't recompiling for the correct board be enough in this case? Thanks 

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi,

If you do not use any GPIOs and you build with board files for the new board, that should be good. But if you are making the board files yourself, make sure you have the correct 32.768 kHz source in the board files. Also, make sure you do not enable the DCDC if the module do not have the optional inductors needed for the DCDC. If things still does not work, the next step is to debug to see what is actually happening on the device.