how to modify a custom board after creation

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

Priyanka — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 08:56:54 GMT

Yes, running the env.cmd will do the trick 🙂

-Priyanka

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

PingISTL — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 17:03:46 GMT

Thanks, Priyanka

Run the env.cmd seems working, I hope I only need to run it once, is that right?

I am lost in the link you gave, sorry.

Regards!

Ping

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

Priyanka — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:16:15 GMT

Hi,

You can check this link for setting west tool to your project folder. You can also run the file v1.9.0\toolchain\cmd\env.cmd from the command line that you are going to use.

-Priyanka

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

PingISTL — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 17:00:23 GMT

Thanks for reply, Priyanka

It looks like VS Code is only used as an editor here, not use as IDE etc. like build, create a particular build for a board, and flash etc.

But I noticed it needs to change the cMakeLists.txt if the board file is outside the tree, - adding an APPEND etc.

And I am fully use VS code for now, and it requires my own project outside of Zephyr tree, so the west tool won't work there - not sure how to set this? is there a way to let west tool work in my own project folder? - outside the nrf connect installation.

The video I referred is here - https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Development-tools/nRF-Connect-for-VS-Code/Tutorials, it create board at custom location, the author modified a few LEDs in .dts file, but did not go through other important changes it needs to let the custom LED working, and I found that it only works when I don't need to use any board specific features like LEDs etc. A bit misleading as I spent ages try to do it that way.

Regards!

Ping

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

Priyanka — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:31:12 GMT

Hi,

I believe this is possible. Did you refer to this video tutorial? It shows how the custom development works in VS Code too.

-Priyanka

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

PingISTL — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:06:39 GMT

Hi, Priyanka

I followed the guide and copy, paste and modified a board under Zephyr tree to be my Fanstel one, and LEDs and Buttons are now working. This is much easier than create a custom board outside Zephyr tree as the video tutorial does, but it doesn't have an complete example to run through, so a bit misleading as the later part might be hard.

Now my question is , may I manually copy the custom board I put under Zephyr tree to be somewhere else outside the tree and will it be still recognised by VS Code? I want to leave the Zephyr tree alone.

Regards!

Ping

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

PingISTL — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 17:00:05 GMT

Thanks, where shall I create a device struct please? is it the .yaml file I need to create? could you please give an example? it is just for the blinky example, hope that is not complicated. I am sorry, it is seem snot easy as i use VS code IDE, not directly form command line.

Regards!

Ping

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

Priyanka — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:10:36 GMT

Hi,

No problem at all 🙂. This could be because you have not created a device struct. Details regarding this has also been covered in the Tutorial that I have linked earlier. You could take a look at the Board Porting Guide and also at the Device Driver Model.

-Priyanka

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

PingISTL — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 15:33:58 GMT

Hello, Priyanka

Thanks for reply, I am only trying the blinky sample, try to do it on a custom board - the Fanstel one, I copied the gpio-leds and aliases part into the device tree file *.dts when I created the board, and build seems fine, but it doesn't run. When I debug it, the device_get_binding() function returns 0, what else do I need to do in order to run that on my custom board please. I created the board under myMroject folder. And use VS Code for IDE.

Regards! I am sorry to bother you, I am new to Zephyr and Nordic.

Ping

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

Priyanka — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:29:48 GMT

Yes, the overlay file has the same effect as modifying the dts file, but modifying the dts file each time can be hectic, which is why using an overlay file can be helpful.

-Priyanka

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

PingISTL — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:19:14 GMT

Hi, Priyanka

Thanks, if I modify customBoard.dts after it is created and then do a Pristine build, will be be taking effect? As an overlay does?

Regards!

Ping

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

Priyanka — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:05:21 GMT

Hi,

you can create an overlay file for this "<board_name>.overlay" and changes in here will be implemented when you build again. You don't have to delete the build, and board and re-create from scratch. Details regarding this might be found in the Tutorial series.

-Priyanka

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

PingISTL — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 16:39:58 GMT

Hi, Priyanka

Thanks for reply! I will try to read link you sent.

I generated board use VS IDE by modifying the customBoard.dts file before the build is added , is there an easy way to do it in VS? I am currently doing it by delete the build and also the board and then re-create from scratch, is there a better way to do it?

Regards!

Ping

RE: how to modify a custom board after creation

Priyanka — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 15:57:02 GMT

Hi,

You could take a look at our Getting Started Guide for the nRF Connect SDK, where there are explanations for custom boards, modifications etc.

The Guide was written for a previous version, but the implementations remain similar and there are 4 parts of the Guide.

Regards,

Priyanka