General Information on MDKs.

[Jeff4BLE]

I am working on an older project that was developed using SDK 11.0.0, SD S132 2.0.1, and "Eclipse  2018-9." No MDK appears to be being used.

I understand that the MDKs are a very important part of our software packages. And that we typically encourage customers to use the latest MDKs.

1) Is there an "Eclipse" MDK application applicable for this project? If there is, where do I find it?

2) Is it possible the project includes an MDK and I haven't found it?

3) I know that MDK's often address bug fixes. With that in mind, I assume one would ALWAYS want to use the latest MDK. Is this accurate? If not, why not?

4) It's my understanding that MDK's are compiler and not SDK or SD specific. Is this correct? Let's assume I am using SDK11.0.0, SD S132 2.0.1, Keil IDE, and the Keil MDK that was released with SDK11.0.0 (i.e 8.5). Should I install MDK 8.17? In this case, would I potentially need to update the compiler to take advantage of the new MDK?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Sigurd]

Hi Jeff,

We provide 4 different versions of the MDK. One for GCC (GNU), IAR Systems, Keil and one for SES(from MDK v8.15).

1) With Eclipse they are likely using GCC as the compiler, and they then need to use the GCC version of the MDK. You can find it at this link.

2) Yes. The nRF MDK provides device support in the form of register header files and startup code, they will need that if they are doing any kind of development for our chips.

3) Yes, that is correct. Most of the time the MDK is adding support for new devices, but sometimes its add important workaround for errata’s.

4) That is correct. Usually the SDK comes "bundled together" with the latest version of the MDK.

Let's assume the customer is using SDK11.0.0, SD S132 2.0.1, Keil IDE, and the Keil MDK that was released with SDK11.0.0 (i.e 8.5). Should a customer install MDK 8.17? In this case, would a customer potentially need to update is compiler to take advantage of the new MDK?

Yes, they should. MDK version 8.5(The MDK version that SDK 11 uses by default) is ~3 years old, and several errata’s have been discovered since then. E.g. workaround for Errata 108 was added in MDK version 8.9.0, this is a workaround they definitely need.

Best regards,

Sigurd

[Jeff4BLE]

Thanks Sigurd,

This is good information and I have altered the question to make it acceptable for a public posting.

That said, the question about the potential need to update the compiler was not answered. Do you have comment on that?

Cheers,

Jeff

[Sigurd]

Hi Scott,

would I potentially need to update is compiler to take advantage of the new MDK?

No, you don't need to update the compiler to take advantage of the new MDK.

Best regards,

Sigurd

[Jeff4BLE]

Thank you