6. Software Development Tools

Suggestion

J-Link debugger from SEGGER is offering standard debug capabilities such as single stepping, setting breakpoints, software download, and many more. For more details on the debugger capabilities, or installing it separately, you can visit https://www.segger.com/. Here we suggest installing SmartSnippets Studio. Other requirements will be installed in the process. See SmartSnippets™ Studio.

6.1. e² Studio and SDK6

The SDK6 is already compatible with GCC and now includes support for e² studio and the LLVM compiler, providing enhanced development capabilities.

Example projects within the SDK that support e² studio can be found at: <sdk_root_directory>\projects\target_apps\ble_examples\prox_reporter\e2studio.

For guidance on building a fully functional solution using e² studio and SDK6, refer to the UM-B-176: e² Studio SDK 6 Getting Started Guide. Additionally, if you wish to migrate an existing SDK6 project from the Keil® µVision IDE to e² studio, consult the SDK 6 Keil® µVision IDE to e2 studio Migration Migration Guide.

6.2. Keil Installation

For DA1453x, the Keil® µVision® IDE must be used for compilation and debugging for this tutorial.

  1. Download and install the Keil® tools from https://www.keil.com/demo/eval/arm.htm.

Different Editions of MDK

When choosing an edition of the ARM Keil® MDK, it is essential to consider your licensing options. Users without an MDK-Professional License have two available choices:

1. Lite/Evaluation Version:

The Lite/Evaluation version of the Keil® development tools can be utilized without requiring a product license. However, this version comes with some limitations:

  • It imposes a 32 kB code size restriction (in ROM)

  • It is important to note that the Lite/Evaluation version may not support applications based on the latest SDK6 version. This is because the default C compiler in Keil projects has been changed to ARM v6 C compiler with LTO (link time optimization) support enabled, which is not available in the evaluation version of Keil-MDK.

2. MDK-Community Edition:

The MDK-Community Edition is designed for non-commercial use cases and provides specific advantages:

  • It is suitable for hobbyists, makers, students, and academics

  • This edition allows you to work with the latest SDK6 version, featuring the V6 ARM compiler with LTO (link time optimization) support enabled

  • To use the MDK-Community Edition, you need to obtain a valid license. You can obtain a product serial number and learn how to convert it into a license, which is valid for one year. Visit https://www.keil.arm.com/mdk-community/.

It is important to make an informed choice based on your usage requirements and licensing options.

../_images/keillicense.png

Figure 20 Keil Lite Version

  1. When the installation is complete, a list of packs is shown (Figure 21). If you do not see this list:

    1. Click the Packs Installer button (or select Project > Manage > Pack Installer).

    2. Click the Check for Updates button to show an updated list of packs.

  2. Click the Install or Update button next to the ARM::CMSIS package, if not up to date.

../_images/cmsis.png

Figure 21 CMSIS package installation