Monthly Archives: January 2013

Reducing the build time with gcc for ARM and CodeWarrior

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Eclipse based CodeWarrior for MCU10.3 comes with gcc build tools for Kinetis/ARM cores. While it features the parallel build make, I noticed that especially for larger projects build times are not as fast as it should be. The good news is: I was able to cut down my build time to less than half with a simple change :-).

When I looked at the output folder where all the object and make files are stored by Eclipse, I noticed that it has as well the listing files generated:

Listing Files in output folder

Listing Files in output folder

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Resolving Processor Expert Bogus Errors

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Some times, especially after making some clock/timing changes in Processor Expert, I have an error showing up in the Processor Expert components:

Processor Expert Components with Errors

Processor Expert Components with Errors

Many times Processor Expert is right. But not always: It is possible that Processor Expert is stuck on the error, and there seems no way out. But there is a trick to resolve it….

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McuOnEclipse goes Git

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When I have asked by a student last year if I’m uing Git, I said “Git what?”. Yep, a shame I did not know what Git was a this time. But it is never to late to learn new things.

I was coming from CVS, moved to the successor of it (SVN) and was happy with it. Especially with having a local SVN server and repository, that was (and still is) a great thing. But to truely collaborate with a worldwide community, it is time to use something different: Git.

GitHub Bootcamp: 4 simple steps to git

GitHub Bootcamp: 4 simple steps to git

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Free Static Code Analysis with Eclipse

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I know for myself: the earlier I’m able to fix a bug, the better. So I’m always grateful for things which help me to find issues in my sources as early in the development process as possible. Eclipse and CodeWarrior already help me to find syntax errors in my code while I’m typing:

Eclipse highlighting syntax error

Eclipse highlighting syntax error

With the built-in syntax checker of Eclipse, this helps me many times to get things right without the need to build my code with the compiler. But when I’m able to compile successfully my code, this does not mean it is without bugs. It would be good to catch as many errors *before* downloading and running it on the target.

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The Freedom Robot

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I have the Arduino Motor Shield working, the Ultrasonic module is pinging around, Christmas brought some small DC toy motors, and a bag of plastic gears is on my desk. All the good ingredients for a small robot: the Freedom Robot!

❗ Warning: Multiple Coke bottles have  been destroyed, and a FRDM box got hurt during his experiment! 😯 Do not try yourself if you cannot handle it.:-)

Smile

Smile

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Tutorial: Ultrasonic Ranging with the Freedom Board

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Question: What makes 8 times ‘beep’, but I cannot hear it?

Answer: My ultrasonic range finder 🙂

FRDM-KL25Z with HC-SR04

FRDM-KL25Z with HC-SR04

What I have added to my FRDM-KL25Z board is an ultrasonic distance sensor, measuring distances up to 4 meters.

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