How to set up nrf52832 on mac os x?

[kunal]

Hi, 

I have started development on the nrf52832 development kit and i own a MacBook pro with mac os. I also have windows installed on my MacBook pro but since I do not have the complete keil license, the code limit is 32KB. I want to run SPI, I2C and ble mesh (fruity mesh) drivers on a single chip, and hence the code size may exceed over 32KB. 

Thus, I want to know how to set up an environment which will be as convenient as keil on the mac os. Specifically, I want to know about the following things :

1) What exactly happens when you write a C code and how does it get flashed onto the nordic 52832 development kit? What are the processes involved from the code going from a .c file to a collection of hex values which are stored on the nordic? 

2) On what memory locations are the programs stored in the nordic? (this is unrelated to the problem, but I was just curious) 

3) what are the different types of software that need to be installed on mac os x for this purpose? 

4) I have tried to follow a couple of links already present on the internet regarding the development using GCC and ECLIPSE, but I am unable to set the OS PATH to the gnu toolchain. https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/tutorials/b/getting-started/posts/development-with-gcc-and-eclipse (in the "before we begin section') . when I type 'which gcc' in my terminal window, it shows /usr/bin/gcc. Also on typing gcc --version, it shows : 

Kunals-MacBook-Pro:~ kunalg$ gcc --version
Configured with: --prefix=/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr --with-gxx-include-dir=/usr/include/c++/4.2.1
Apple LLVM version 8.0.0 (clang-800.0.42.1)
Target: x86_64-apple-darwin16.6.0

but I when I run

arm-none-eabi-gcc --version

it says the command not found.

What is the reason for this?
5) what is the difference between gnu arm toolchain, gcc and the command line (nrfjprog) tools? how do i use python to program the chip?
6) Ultimately, I want to know all the processes that keil does from compiling to debugging to flashing and want to add similar functionalities in MAC OS X, hence wanted to know all these details.

I appreciate the time  taken to read this, and would love to know the answers from experts. ( I am still a beginner in embedded programming)

Thanking you in advance.

[Sylvain]

I'm on OS X too and I use Segger - Embedded Studio. From the program, you can simply install the drivers for the nRF chip and if you have a segger programmer or a development kit from nordic you can also directly program the soC and use the debug ...

[ketil]

Hi,

I agree with Sylvain, SES is a great way to get started on OS X. We have a video tutorial series on how to use SES. You can use pynrfjprog to program the chips with Python.

Ketil

[Andrew Kohlsmith]

I don't use Keil. I have developed nrf51 and nrf52 code on OSX using the Redbear Labs' github repo: https://github.com/lab11/nrf5x-base

It's fantastic. No need for expensive, poorly supported IDEs and compilers from Keil. Use your favourite editor or development environment, whatever debugger tools and hardware you prefer. (I am using Segger's tools and Ozone primarily, but have also used OpenOCD with a variety of hardware and plain old gdb).

I only wish that I could have as good success with the nRF24LU1 and sdcc.