Feature request: BLE DFU without additional device

[chrysn]

Using nrfutil to flash devices via BLE requires, as per `nrfutil dfu ble --help` a second device to be present, and an inordinate amount of additional dependencies which make the whole process prone to failure (cf. https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/pc-nrfutil/issues?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=is%3Aissue+ble-driver+install – can add my own error output, but it boils down to "lots of dependencies")

I suggest instead that firmware upload be implemented additionally by direct BLE connection from the PC. Firmware updates work from smart phones via the Thingy:52 app, so it stands to reason that any laptop's BLE stack should suffice for that task as well (given it can even be used through the browser, but https://developer.nordicsemi.com/thingy/52/environment & co lack the firmware update feature the app has).

(Filing this here as per the redirection from https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/pc-nrfutil/issues )

[Edvin]

I believe that the reason why it isn't included is because when nrfutil was initially developed BLE on computers wasn't that common, and I guess that it hasn't been added later because it takes times. Thank you for the feedback. I will report it to our developers team.

Best regards,

Edvin

[chrysn]

Thanks for the quick reply. My immediate need has gone away due to https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/54948/feature-request-ble-dfu-without-additional-device still being unresolved (meaning I'll be probably be using a different bootloader, given that the Thingy needs to be externally flashed anyway), but for general users I'm sure BLE from PC will be useful.