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Docs › Build tools › Mbed CLI 2 › Use

Use

Currently, Mbed CLI 2 supports three boards: K64F, DISCO_L475VG_IOT01A and NRF52840_DK.

For help:

  • To get help for all commands, use:

    mbed-tools --help

  • To get help for a specific command, use mbed-tools <command> --help. For example, for helping with listing connected devices (the detect command):

    mbed-tools detect --help

Create a project

You can create a new project or create a local copy of one of our example applications.

Create a new project

To create a new Mbed OS project in a specified path:

  • To create the project and download a new copy of Mbed OS (latest official release):

    mbed-tools new <PATH>

    The path can be:

    • Absolute. new will create the folder if it doesn't exist.

    • Relative:

      • If you have already created a project folder, you can use .

      • If you want the new command to create a project folder, use .\<folder-name>.

  • To create a project without downloading a copy of Mbed OS (reuse an existing copy):

    mbed-tools new -c <PATH>

Use an example application

To create a local copy of an example application, use the import command with the example name listed below:

mbed-tools import <example> <PATH>

Use a specific Mbed program library

A Mbed program can use library dependencies at the revision specified in the ".lib" files. This ensures all dependencies are resolved and the versions are synchronised to the version specified in the library reference.

```
mbed-tools deploy <PATH>
```

- `<path>`: Path to the Mbed project [default: CWD]

  • To force overwrite local uncommitted changes of the library dependencies.

    mbed-tools deploy -f

Configure the project

Each project depends on two sets of configurations:

  • The project's environment variables. You can use the default values.
  • The Mbed OS configuration system. You must set up your target and toolchain.

(Optional) Project environment variables

Mbed CLI 2 has two environment variables that you can set for a project:

  • MBED_API_AUTH_TOKEN: Token to access private board information stored for a vendor team.
  • MBED_DATABASE_MODE: Use online or offline mode. Possible values:
    • AUTO: Search the offline database first; search the online database only if the board wasn't found offline. This is the default value.
    • ONLINE: Alway use the online database.
    • OFFLINE: Always use the offline database.

You can set these variables either directly, using environment variables, or indirectly using a .env file containing the variable definitions:

VARIABLE1=<value>
VARIABLE2=<value>

Environment variables take precedence, meaning values previously set in your environment will override the values set in the file.

Warning: Do not upload .env files containing private tokens to version control. If you use this package as a dependency for your project, please ensure to include the .env in your .gitignore.

Mbed OS configuration

The Mbed OS configuration system parses the configuration files in your project (mbed_lib.json, mbed_app.json and targets.json) for a particular target and toolchain, and outputs a CMake script. The build system uses this script to build for your target, using your toolchain.

Tip: If you're rebuilding for the same target and toolchain, you can keep using the same CMake script, so you won't have to use the configure command again for each build. If you change any of mbed_lib.json, mbed_app.json, targets.json, your target or your toolchain, run the configure command again to generate a new CMake script.

  1. Check your board's build target name.

    Connect your board over USB and run the detect command:

    mbed-tools detect

Board name    Serial number             Serial port             Mount point(s)    Build target(s)
------------  ------------------------  ----------------------  ----------------  -----------------
FRDM-K64F     024002017BD34E0F862DB3B7  /dev/tty.usbmodem14402  /Volumes/MBED     K64F

  2. To prepare the Mbed configuration information for use with a specific target and toolchain, navigate to the project's root folder and run:

    mbed-tools configure -m <target> -t <toolchain>

    Example for FRDM-K64F and GCC:

    mbed-tools configure -m K64F -t GCC_ARM
mbed_config.cmake has been generated and written to '/Users/UserName/Development/Blinky/cmake_build/K64F/develop/GCC_ARM/mbed_config.cmake'

Build the project

Use CMake to build your application:

  1. Navigate to the project's root folder.

  2. Set the build parameters:

    cmake -S . -B cmake_build -GNinja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=<profile>
    • -S <path-to-source>: Path to the root directory of the CMake project. We use . to indicate we're building from the current directory.
    • -B <path-to-build>: Path to the build output directory. If the directory doesn't already exist, CMake will create it. We use cmake_build as the output directory name; you can use a different name.
    • -GNinja: To use the Ninja tool.
    • -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE: Build type. The value (profile) can be release, debug or develop, as explained in program setup.

  3. Build:

    cmake --build cmake_build

    This generates two files in the build output directory (cmake_build in this example): HEX and BIN.

    Which format you flash to your device depends on your requirements. For example, use the BIN file if you want to completely replace the contents of the flash device. If you want to retain some of the flash devices contents, you'll need to flash to an address other than the flash's starting address, so you'll need to use the HEX file (which contains the starting address). Note that we assume your board is running DAPLink for flash programming. If you are using another tool, please check your tool's documentation for file type support.

  4. Drag and drop the generated file to your board.

Configure and build in a single step

You can use a single command to configure (set up your target and toolchain) and build the project at once:

mbed-tools compile -m <target> -t <toolchain>
  • -t: The toolchain you are using to build your project.
  • -m: A build target for an Mbed-enabled device.

Example for FRDM-K64F and GCC:

mbed-tools compile -m K64F -t GCC_ARM

Building for multiple targets

You can build an Mbed project for multiple targets, with different profiles and toolchains, without affecting other builds. The compile subcommand will create and build into a different subdirectory for each combination:

cmake_build/<target>/<profile>/<toolchain>/

Iterative builds on configured projects

If you have already made a build for the Mbed target and toolchain that you're using, compile will perform an iterative build.

To force a rebuild of the project for a target and toolchain, include the --clean argument:

mbed-tools compile -m <target> -t <toolchain> --clean

Flashing the built program

You can flash the built program to the connected target by adding the -f/--flash argument to the compile command:

mbed-tools compile -m <target> -t <toolchain> -f

Opening a serial terminal

You can open a serial terminal to the connected target by adding the --sterm argument to the compile command:

mbed-tools compile -m K64F -t GCC_ARM --sterm --baudrate 9600

When the terminal is running you can enter CTRL+H to show the help menu.

Logging

To specify the log level, use the verbose logging option (-v) before the first argument:

  • If you don't use -v, the log will show only errors.
  • -v: Warning and errors.
  • -vv: Information, warning and errors.
  • -vvv: Debug, information, warning and errors.

For example:

mbed-tools -vv configure -m <target> -t <toolchain>
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