Where to start (Absolute beginner)

06 Jun 2012

Hello all! I recently bought a nxp 1768 and a LPCXpresso board. But the thing is... that I bought them without knowing what it does (at least for the LPCXpresso board). All I know is that it is used as a JTAG debugger board but I even don't know what this is... Also, I don't always have access to the internet so I can't always use the cloud compiler. Someone have a tutorial for me for "how to install an offline compiler for the LPC1768"? Because I do know that there are many compiler (GNU, code sourcery, keil) but what I would like to know is how I have to use them to make a programm (with the same syntax as the cloud compiler) for the LPC1768. I've also saw things about RTOS and CMIS API... what are they used for? I've done some researches but all these stuff are a bit messy in my head. I hope someone can show me the path. Thank you in advance.

13 Jun 2012

Yes I have similar questions regarding offline toolchains. I did find this link which may help http://mbed.org/handbook/Exporting-to-offline-toolchains Share with us what you find out.

14 Jun 2012

My gcc4mbed project, http://mbed.org/users/AdamGreen/notebook/gcc4mbed/, includes steps to install the offline Code Sourcery GNU based tool chain on Windows, OS X, and Ubuntu. If you then run the BuildShell script that it will place on your machine, then you should be able to use it to build projects that you export for Code Sourcery using the steps indicated at the link Kevin gives above. I don't currently install an IDE as part of this process so you would have to use make on *nix or cs-make on Windows to kick off a build from the shell.

In less than a week I will be upgrading this to a newer version of the GNU for ARM Embedded Processors version of the GCC tool chain along with other updates.

10 Jul 2012

I'm in a similar position, I have a "LPC stick" which I've given up on entirely. MBED's the first 32 bit platform where I've actually been able to do more than just compile the supplied demo. My background is mainly 8 bit and my "C" is rusty.

If you can possibly get good enough internet service I'd advise persevering with MBED a little longer.

I think LPCXpresso looks interesting though. MBED appears to lack a debugger, meaning you just run a program and see what happens. I think LPCXpresso allows you to stop and start code, examine registers and set breakpoints.

10 Jul 2012

For anyone starting to program, design interfaces etc., I recomend using the mbed, it's a great platform to learn on and it was conceived through a real need for an easy to use development platform, so I totally agree with Oliver.

Also if you have any difficulty that you can't resolve after searching the online resources, then post your question, sample code and a good description and it's amazing the forum support for beginners that's out there!

17 Jul 2012

You're right Oliver, LPCXpresso comes with a debugger, which is very useful. You can put breakpoints in the code and see what values are stored in your registers at that moment.

GODARD Tuatini for the LPCXpresso http://ics.nxp.com/lpcxpresso/ is a good place to start. The IDE that you'll probably want to use is here -> http://lpcxpresso.code-red-tech.com/LPCXpresso/ You can download example projects from the first link.

The learning curve is steeper than mbed's because the API is closer to the metal so to speak than mbed. Give this document a read http://ics.nxp.com/support/documents/microcontrollers/pdf/lpcxpresso.getting.started.pdf and see how you get on.

Feel free to post here or message me about any hurdles that you encounter.

Regards,

Luth

30 Jul 2012

Hello everyone, Thank you for your help and excuse me for being so late to reply. I'm actually reading the Bert vam Dam's book dealing with various uses of the LPC 1768. Once I'll be finished with this book, I'll take a deeper look at LPCXpresso and try to really understand what it does, because for now, all I know is that it serve as debugger interface.