Newbie having trouble getting started...

[eq]

Hello, I just received my BMD-200 eval board today and cannot get any of the examples working. I started out trying to get blinky to work using GCC and the make files provided. I am able to successfully build the projects. The _build directory has the .hex files. It is not clear what the next step should be here. make soft_device seems to just load the Soft Device so how does the example get loaded in this paradigm? What dictates where in memory it gets loaded in the GCC paradigm? Is this important?

After many attempts, I gave up on the above method and tried using nrfGo Studio. I loaded the 110 Soft Device (I am on the latest SDK version 8), and then loaded several peripheral examples. None of them run.

I gave up on this method and downloaded the Keil tools. I followed the instructions in the manual by first using nrfGo Studio to load the 110 Soft Device, and then moved over to the Keil tool. Made all of the configuration modifcations, downloaded custom_board.h, and the project builds successfully. It even seems to download to Flash successfully but it won't run. blinky does not blink and none of the ble peripheral examples advertise, so I know its not working.

I'm not sure what to try next. Can you please let me know what I am doing wrong based on the above. I don't care which method I use; I just need one that works.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Ernest

[Nguyen Hoan Hoang]

I suggest that you check the chip revision as well. Chip rev 1 may not work with SDK8.

[eq]

Yes I have downloaded SDK 7.0 and SDK 7.2 and am trying to use them now instead of 8. Unfortunately I am getting the following error now when I try to make -f makefile on blinky:

Compiling file: system_nrf51.c
The system cannot find the path specified
make: *** [_build/system_nrf51.o] Error 1

Not sure how to get past this one as I'm not sure whats causing it. The same makefile works fine in SDK 8 and the file structures/hierarchy seem identicle.

[Nguyen Hoan Hoang]

The file structures are different from SDK7 to SDK8. You need to base on the makefile of SDK7. There are many differences in both source path and include path.

[eq]

Thanks for the advise. I have started with the SDK 7 Makefile but cant get past this error:

make[1]: *** No rule to make target _build/V', needed bynrf51822_xxaa'. Stop.

I'm sure its something simple, but I'm not very familiar with Makefile syntax. MAkefile below:

PROJECT_NAME := blinky_s110_pca10028

export OUTPUT_FILENAME
#MAKEFILE_NAME := $(CURDIR)/$(word $(words $(MAKEFILE_LIST)),$(MAKEFILE_LIST))
MAKEFILE_NAME := $(MAKEFILE_LIST)
MAKEFILE_DIR := $(dir $(MAKEFILE_NAME) ) 

TEMPLATE_PATH = ../../../../../../components/toolchain/gcc
ifeq ($(OS),Windows_NT)
include $(TEMPLATE_PATH)/Makefile.windows
else
include $(TEMPLATE_PATH)/Makefile.posix
endif

MK := mkdir
RM := rm -rf

#echo suspend
ifeq ("$(VERBOSE)","1")
NO_ECHO := 
else
NO_ECHO := @
endif

# Toolchain commands
CC       		:= "$(GNU_INSTALL_ROOT)/bin/$(GNU_PREFIX)-gcc"
AS       		:= "$(GNU_INSTALL_ROOT)/bin/$(GNU_PREFIX)-as"
AR       		:= "$(GNU_INSTALL_ROOT)/bin/$(GNU_PREFIX)-ar" -r
LD       		:= "$(GNU_INSTALL_ROOT)/bin/$(GNU_PREFIX)-ld"
NM       		:= "$(GNU_INSTALL_ROOT)/bin/$(GNU_PREFIX)-nm"
OBJDUMP  		:= "$(GNU_INSTALL_ROOT)/bin/$(GNU_PREFIX)-objdump"
OBJCOPY  		:= "$(GNU_INSTALL_ROOT)/bin/$(GNU_PREFIX)-objcopy"
SIZE    		:= "$(GNU_INSTALL_ROOT)/bin/$(GNU_PREFIX)-size"

#function for removing duplicates in a list
remduplicates = $(strip $(if $1,$(firstword $1) $(call remduplicates,$(filter-out $(firstword $1),$1))))

#source common to all targets
C_SOURCE_FILES += \
C:\Rigado\V 7.2.0\components\toolchain\system_nrf51.c \
C:\Rigado\V 7.2.0\examples\peripheral\blinky\main.c \
C:\Rigado\V 7.2.0\components\drivers_nrf\hal\nrf_delay.c \

#../../../../../../components/toolchain/system_nrf51.c \
#../../../main.c \
#../../../../../../components/drivers_nrf/hal/nrf_delay.c \

#assembly files common to all targets
#ASM_SOURCE_FILES  = ../../../../../../components/toolchain/gcc/gcc_startup_nrf51.s

ASM_SOURCE_FILES  = C:\Rigado\V 7.2.0\components\toolchain\gcc\gcc_startup_nrf51.s

#includes common to all targets

INC_PATHS  = -I.C:\Rigado\V 7.2.0\components\toolchain\gcc
INC_PATHS += -IC:\Rigado\V 7.2.0\components\toolchain
INC_PATHS += -IC:\Rigado\V 7.2.0\components\softdevice\s110/headers
INC_PATHS += -I../../..
INC_PATHS += -IC:\Rigado\V 7.2.0\examples\bsp
INC_PATHS += -IC:\Rigado\V 7.2.0\components\device
INC_PATHS += -IC:\Rigado\V 7.2.0\components\drivers_nrf\hal

#INC_PATHS  = -I../../../../../../components/toolchain/gcc
#INC_PATHS += -I../../../../../../components/toolchain
#INC_PATHS += -I../../../../../../components/softdevice/s110/headers
#INC_PATHS += -I../../..
#INC_PATHS += -I../../../../../bsp
#INC_PATHS += -I../../../../../../components/device
#INC_PATHS += -I../../../../../../components/drivers_nrf/hal

OBJECT_DIRECTORY = _build
LISTING_DIRECTORY = $(OBJECT_DIRECTORY)
OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY = $(OBJECT_DIRECTORY)

# Sorting removes duplicates
BUILD_DIRECTORIES := $(sort $(OBJECT_DIRECTORY) $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY) $(LISTING_DIRECTORY) )

#flags common to all targets
#CFLAGS  = -DBOARD_PCA10028

CFLAGS  = -DBOARD_CUSTOM
CFLAGS += -DSOFTDEVICE_PRESENT
CFLAGS += -DNRF51
CFLAGS += -DS110
CFLAGS += -DBLE_STACK_SUPPORT_REQD
CFLAGS += -DBSP_DEFINES_ONLY
CFLAGS += -mcpu=cortex-m0
CFLAGS += -mthumb -mabi=aapcs --std=gnu99
CFLAGS += -Wall -Werror -O3
CFLAGS += -mfloat-abi=soft
# keep every function in separate section. This will allow linker to dump unused functions
CFLAGS += -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-strict-aliasing
CFLAGS += -fno-builtin --short-enums
CFLAGS += -Wno-error

# keep every function in separate section. This will allow linker to dump unused functions
LDFLAGS += -Xlinker -Map=$(LISTING_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).map
LDFLAGS += -mthumb -mabi=aapcs -L $(TEMPLATE_PATH) -T$(LINKER_SCRIPT)
LDFLAGS += -mcpu=cortex-m0
# let linker to dump unused sections
LDFLAGS += -Wl,--gc-sections
# use newlib in nano version
LDFLAGS += --specs=nano.specs -lc -lnosys

# Assembler flags
ASMFLAGS += -x assembler-with-cpp
#ASMFLAGS += -DBOARD_PCA10028

ASMFLAGS += -DBOARD_CUSTOM

ASMFLAGS += -DSOFTDEVICE_PRESENT
ASMFLAGS += -DNRF51
ASMFLAGS += -DS110
ASMFLAGS += -DBLE_STACK_SUPPORT_REQD
ASMFLAGS += -DBSP_DEFINES_ONLY
#default target - first one defined
default: clean nrf51822_xxaa

#building all targets
all: clean
	$(NO_ECHO)$(MAKE) -f $(MAKEFILE_NAME) -C $(MAKEFILE_DIR) -e cleanobj
	$(NO_ECHO)$(MAKE) -f $(MAKEFILE_NAME) -C $(MAKEFILE_DIR) -e nrf51822_xxaa 

#target for printing all targets
help:
	@echo following targets are available:
	@echo 	nrf51822_xxaa


C_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES = $(notdir $(C_SOURCE_FILES))
C_PATHS = $(call remduplicates, $(dir $(C_SOURCE_FILES) ) )
C_OBJECTS = $(addprefix $(OBJECT_DIRECTORY)/, $(C_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES:.c=.o) )

ASM_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES = $(notdir $(ASM_SOURCE_FILES))
ASM_PATHS = $(call remduplicates, $(dir $(ASM_SOURCE_FILES) ))
ASM_OBJECTS = $(addprefix $(OBJECT_DIRECTORY)/, $(ASM_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES:.s=.o) )

vpath %.c $(C_PATHS)
vpath %.s $(ASM_PATHS)

OBJECTS = $(C_OBJECTS) $(ASM_OBJECTS)

nrf51822_xxaa: OUTPUT_FILENAME := nrf51822_xxaa
nrf51822_xxaa: LINKER_SCRIPT=blinky_gcc_nrf51.ld
nrf51822_xxaa: $(BUILD_DIRECTORIES) $(OBJECTS)
	@echo Linking target: $(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out
	$(NO_ECHO)$(CC) $(LDFLAGS) $(OBJECTS) $(LIBS) -o $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out
	$(NO_ECHO)$(MAKE) -f $(MAKEFILE_NAME) -C $(MAKEFILE_DIR) -e finalize

## Create build directories
$(BUILD_DIRECTORIES):
	echo $(MAKEFILE_NAME)
	$(MK) $@

# Create objects from C SRC files
$(OBJECT_DIRECTORY)/%.o: %.c
	@echo Compiling file: $(notdir $<)
	$(NO_ECHO)$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(INC_PATHS) -c -o $@ $<

# Assemble files
$(OBJECT_DIRECTORY)/%.o: %.s
	@echo Compiling file: $(notdir $<)
	$(NO_ECHO)$(CC) $(ASMFLAGS) $(INC_PATHS) -c -o $@ $<


# Link
$(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out: $(BUILD_DIRECTORIES) $(OBJECTS)
	@echo Linking target: $(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out
	$(NO_ECHO)$(CC) $(LDFLAGS) $(OBJECTS) $(LIBS) -o $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out


## Create binary .bin file from the .out file
$(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).bin: $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out
	@echo Preparing: $(OUTPUT_FILENAME).bin
	$(NO_ECHO)$(OBJCOPY) -O binary $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).bin

## Create binary .hex file from the .out file
$(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).hex: $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out
	@echo Preparing: $(OUTPUT_FILENAME).hex
	$(NO_ECHO)$(OBJCOPY) -O ihex $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).hex

finalize: genbin genhex echosize

genbin:
	@echo Preparing: $(OUTPUT_FILENAME).bin
	$(NO_ECHO)$(OBJCOPY) -O binary $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).bin

## Create binary .hex file from the .out file
genhex: 
	@echo Preparing: $(OUTPUT_FILENAME).hex
	$(NO_ECHO)$(OBJCOPY) -O ihex $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).hex

echosize:
	-@echo ""
	$(NO_ECHO)$(SIZE) $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$(OUTPUT_FILENAME).out
	-@echo ""

clean:
	-del $(BUILD_DIRECTORIES)

cleanobj:
	-del $(BUILD_DIRECTORIES)/*.o

flash: $(MAKECMDGOALS)
	@echo Flashing: $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$<.hex
	nrfjprog --reset --program $(OUTPUT_BINARY_DIRECTORY)/$<.hex

## Flash softdevice

[Nguyen Hoan Hoang]

Could it be related to the '' that you are using instead of '/' ?

[eq]

Actually putting those absolute paths in fixed the first errors that I had. I'm on a windows machine so i think that should be ok.