developing code for a mass production nrf52840 base board

[AndrewR]

Hello,

I'm currently developing on a Adafruit nrf52840 express. I'm working under the impression I need to develop the code in C in order to use my code in mass production boards. I have been trying it in Segger and flashing via the Jlink-SWD connection and it is incredibly difficult. So I just want to make sure that easier coding options like Arduino IDE, Micropython and circuit python are off the table for production use.

Also I was potential looking at other development board like Particle Argon or the NRF9160-DK depending on desire for Wifi and and Cellular. Would the code I develop be interchangeable between these board as the are all NRF52840 based boards.

If C code is the only production viable solution. Can anyone recommend resources to help get started? I have been messing around with the Nordic SDK and have been able to get all the examples Ive tried compiled and downloaded (flashed) to the board but nothing that it should be doing is happening. I cant even get the blinky example to work. I assume it is due to the LED being on a different Pin but cant find any reference to pin location.

Any help is appreciated.

[awneil]

AndrewR said:

I'm working under the impression I need to develop the code in C in order to use my code in mass production boards

It is the most common option, but you don't need to.

AndrewR said:

trying it in Segger and flashing via the Jlink-SWD connection and it is incredibly difficult.

What, exactly, do you find so difficult?

AndrewR said:

Arduino IDE, Micropython and circuit python are off the table for production use

Not necessarily.

You'd have to check licence terms - especially with regard to Open Source - but there's  essential reason why not

AndrewR said:

NRF9160-DK depending on desire for Wifi and and Cellular. Would the code I develop be interchangeable between these board as the are all NRF52840 based

No - the nRF91 is a completely different beast from nRF52!

[AndrewR]

awneil said:

What, exactly, do you find so difficult?

getting code working via Arduino IDE was very quick and intuitive. I was able to get the board connected via usb  and recognized  then code working buttons and LEDs in under an hour. Get the board to be recognized and connected via J link took quite a while. I was able to print to the debug screen (not the RTT viewer, not sure if that is better) But I have yet to get buttons or LED to work. In Arduino IDE I would just declare the pin and put them to high. I'm thinking I have to change something in the board definitions file but I haven't found where yet.

awneil said:

No - the nRF91 is a completely different beast from nRF52!

but since the NRF9160-DK has a nrf52840 onboard some should be able to port over correct?

[awneil]

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/50086/beginnner-ble-programming-guide-for-nrf52840-ble-client/199710#199710

[AndrewR]

It looks like there is some useful stuff there thank you for the link.

[Samir]

I can understand your pain of dealing with the limitations of Arduino. I am also not a great fan of it. I just wrote a article about it after seeing that there is not an appropriate article about it.  Please see my article on how to connect the particle debugger using Openocd to particle argon in SES. https://genxnext.com/debug-particle-argon-with-segger-embedded-studio/

You can connect the Adafruit in the exact same manner as both particle and particle argon shares the same architecture for the NRF52 on PCB.

Let me know any suggestions points you want me to include in the article.