Software development start nrf52840

[Dan Colob]

I am really struggling with getting started with software development of the nrf52840. I have looked at the SDK but I don't understand where I can find what SoftDevice I need since I am using bluetooth?

Also, I am having trouble finding scripts for setting up drivers like UART, I2C, etc. and where I can access all their handlers and link er scripts. Information of if I need to change linker scripts or MMIO mapping. 

[Jay Tyzzer]

Hi Dan,

In the SDK there is a component subdirectory.  In there is a softdevice directory too.  You will probably want to use the S140 softdevcie. 

[Jared]

Hi.

In addition to Jays comment I would like to add that you can find examples for the peripherals on the nRF52840 ( UART, ADC, I2C etc) under the directory path: SDK_ROOT\examples\peripheral\

You can find the documentation for the examples here. The projects are already configured for the development kit. You only have to chose the correct Board folder. The board ID of the nRF52840 development kit is PCA10056. 

regards

Jared

[Jared]

Well, then you would have to make a board file that maps the pins correctly for your custom board.

[Dan Colob]

For your peripheral examples, I can only see files with handlers definition. Can we not edit the register enable list? I do not see any file regarding the registers.

[Jared]

Hi,

Not quite sure what you're referring to. But our examples use drivers for the peripherals which again has low-level sections where it write directly to the registers.

[Dan Colob]

Ok so to summarize if I use the nrf52840 chip but not the development kit, I need to make a custom board matching my pin assignment. This means, I can't use any of the SDK default examples? What do I do about a soft device since I am intending to use Bluetooth?

Also, where can I find these files that have the low-level sections? I cannot find a .h file for any of the boards on which I can write a custom_board.h file

[Jared]

Dan Colob said:

Ok so to summarize if I use the nrf52840 chip but not the development kit, I need to make a custom board matching my pin assignment. This means, I can't use any of the SDK default examples?

 Well, yes, you would have to make a custom board file for your custom board. You don't need to change anything else in the example. 

 

Dan Colob said:

What do I do about a soft device since I am intending to use Bluetooth?

 The Softdevice is the BLE stack which you flash together with your application to your custom board. This is usually done auto if you use any of the SEGGER, KEIL, or IAR projects in the SDK. If you use GCC then you have to run the make command make flash_softdevice in addition to the make flash command ( see the makefile of the project). 

 

Dan Colob said:

Also, where can I find these files that have the low-level sections? I cannot find a .h file for any of the boards on which I can write a custom_board.h file

 The drivers are usually included indirectly in the main file of the project. For instance the UART example from the peripheral folder includes the high level app uart driver which again is dependent on the lower level uart driver. 

 

Dan Colob said:

I cannot find a .h file for any of the boards on which I can write a custom_board.h file