SDK for developing on nRF5340

[NewtoM]

Hi there,

in my passion to keep up with technological advances, I ordered the nRF5340 PDK. I was hoping to pave the way of moving our nRF52832 and nRF52840 based projects onto the new platform. I am fairly familiar with the nRF52 ecosystem and I have been a big fan of the NordicSemi-style documentation and handling of resources. This includes the simple but neat https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/, where I can click through very quickly to the information I need, but also the simple way of getting and setting up the SDK over http://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF5_SDK/.

Now, with the nRF5340 I seem to face a problem. I went as far as to install nRF Connect to be able to get the SDK. And now I am reading all the necessary steps:

• install Chocolatey and enable some features
• install cmake
• install Git
• install python
• install ninja
• install DTC
• install GPerf
• install GNU ARM Embedded toolchain

... I am baffled. Is that really the only way to have a working development framework for the nRF53??? Or am I missing something?

I really do want an "old-fashioned" solution, where

• I download the SDK (from which I only keep parts I need),
• I create a project in Segger Embedded Studio (based on a sample project from the SDK) and
• I code on.

This is still the most efficient way I can think of. And that is why we use Nordic products.

I know that most embedded suppliers today go the way of becoming more "modern" and "colorful", but that also makes simple solutions blown-up and complicated. Please do not make that same mistake!

So, here my questions:

1. Is above "old-fashioned" development approach possible for the nRF5340? If yes, please tell me how to start.
2. If not, please tell me when it will be possible.
3. If never, please tell me why.

Thanks in advance!

Tamas

[Sven]

I am going through the same hurdle. But all of this is partly because of the secure world addition in Cortex M33 platform. Google a little about TrustZone etc, every platform has some dependency that handles the dark side. For now I suggest to make use of this tool https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/gs_assistant.html Assistant simply verifies if everything has been correctly setup. As of now, I cannot build anything for nRF53 PDK yet (Errors when importing in SES) but I hope I will soon. Also I suggest to take a look at this - https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/ug_nrf5340.html#

[NewtoM]

Thanks Sven, I will give it a try at some point. But right now I don't have the time to be the pioneer. I will need to wait and see again when the nRF5340 ecosystem has become more mature. I hope it will. 

[Sven]

I am not defending indeed this is frustrating, but every new thing/approach needs some time to settle. I remember the times when I was refreshing blog daily to get new tips on how to import Keil project to SES for nRF51, ahhh good old times. Finally we had support out of the box on nRF5 SDK.

[Matt]

The "frustration" would certainly be less severe if you have been working on the nRF9160 development in the last 8 months. The setup (west, zephyr, SES for nRF special edition) is the same for 9160 and 5340.

[NewtoM]

Thanks, Matt! That's good to know, but won't help me now.