Category Archives: Building

About build tools, make files, compiling and linking.

Using Semihosting and File I/O in DevContainers

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With Optimizing Embedded Development with VS Code and DevContainer I showed the benefits of using development containers. And with Remote Debugging with DevContainer and VS Code I explained ways use hardware debugging using that concept.

One topic is still open: how to use semihosting with file I/O using development container? The challenge here is that we need to work with two different file systems.

DevContainer Development with File I/O and Semihosting

In this article I show how semihosting file I/O can be used with DevContainer.

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MCU-Link-MR: Affordable CMSIS-DAP Debug Probe for Robotics and beyond

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The MCU-Link-MR from NXP is a CMSIS-DAP debug probe. It includes dedicated connection headers found on mobile robotic systems. These systems include the Pixhawk/PX4 drone and robotics hardware.

MCU-Link-MR CMSIS-DAP Debug probe with Pixhawk 6x RT
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Sharing Standalone NXP SDK Projects in VS Code

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The NXP SDK is git based which is great. If I create a project with VS code, it references the SDK cloned locally.

Standard NXP SDK Project in VS Code

A standalone project structure is needed if you want to easily share a project with your team. It’s also necessary for sharing inside a classroom environment. This article shows how to use an NXP SDK project in standalone mode.

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Optimizing Embedded Development with VS Code and DevContainer

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Embedded System have a lifetime of 10 or 15 years. During that time the software and tools has to be maintained. This can be very challenging. Who knows if that compiler or tool used is still available in 10 years from now? Additionally installing and configuring the tool chain and environment for a new team member is difficult. Even worse: using a different host operating system for the cross development can produce different results or introduce issues.

VS Code running with DevContainer
VS Code running with DevContainer

One solution for all these problems is to use Docker images and containers. I can pack all the necessary tools and software into a virtual environment and container. But developing inside a container comes with many challenges. In this article I’ll show how Visual Studio Code or VS Code makes working with containers very easy. In this article I show how easy it is to use modern development tools and methodologies for embedded development.

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Building a DIY Split-Flap Clock

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I’m making progress on my larger split-flap project (see Update on the Split-Flap Project for 2025). So far I have 32 operational for the larger 64 flap installation. In parallel, I worked on a smaller 4 flaps unit used as a clock.

Split-Flap Clock
Split-Flap Clock
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Start New VS Code Instances with Unique Environments

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If working with different tool chains, SDKs, and vendors, then one must use different environments.

With VS Code, this can end up in counter-intuitive situation. When I start a new Visual Studio Code instance, it will open a new window. But if there is already an instance running, it actually will re-using that environment. This can cause lots of subtle problems, including failed builds.

VS Code re-using instance environment

So how to start a new Visual Studio Code Window, with a new instance?

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GitLab Automated CI/CD Embedded Multi-Project Building using Docker

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In CI/CD for Embedded with VS Code, Docker and GitHub Actions, I used GitHub to build a pipeline. This setup supports continuous integration within a CI/CD environment.

This time, let’s do a similar thing. But instead of GitHub, I use GitLab with VS Code. And I use it for a project where three different MCUs are used: the Raspberry Pi Pico-W, an Espressif ESP32 plus the NXP K22FX512 on the Sumo robot:

Raspberry Pi Pico-W, Espressif ESP32 and Robot with NXP K22FX512
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Processor Expert Components: 24-Dec-2024 Release

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The year 2024 is coming to its end, time for a Year-End-Processor-Expert-Component-Release.

Processor Expert Components in Eclipse (KDS)

Also, this is now the 10th anniversary of the releases on Sourceforge, starting with https://mcuoneclipse.com/2014/10/21/mcuoneclipse-releases-on-sourceforge/ back in 2014.

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On-Target Testing with LinkServer Runner and VS Code

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The release 24.9.75 of LinkServer software and tools includes interesting feature: the ability to use the debug probe for automated on-target testing. It includes a ‘runner’ which can program, launch and run the application on the target through a debug probe. While the target is running, it uses semihosting or UART for communication. This makes it a perfect tool for automated testing, especially in a CI/CD environment. One such environment is running automated tests with CMake and CTest in VS Code.

Automated on-target testing with VS Code and LinkServer
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