6. Software Development Tools

6.1. KEIL Installation

KEIL µVision IDE must be downloaded and installed separately, registration is required.

  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.

Note

The Keil development tools can be run as a Lite/Evaluation version without a product license, see Figure 11 (File > License Management). This Lite/Evaluation version has a 32 kB of code (in ROM) limitation.

../_images/keillicense.png

Figure 11 Keil Lite version

  1. When the install is complete, a list of packs is shown, see Figure 12. 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 on the Install or Update button next to the “ARM::CMSIS” package if it is not up to date.

../_images/cmsis.png

Figure 12 CMSIS Package Installation

6.2. e² Studio and SDK6

The SDK6 is already compatible with GCC. The SDK 6.0.22 Includes now the support for e² studio and LLVM compiler for enhanced development support. The example projects in the SDK which supports e² studio is: <sdk_root_directory>\projects\target_apps\ble_examples\prox_reporter\e2studio. To start building a fully working solution on e² studio and SDK6 you can refer to the UM-B-176: e² Studio SDK 6 Getting Started Guide.