MCX Lab Installation and Preparation - nxp-mcuxpresso/vscode-for-mcux GitHub Wiki

Objectives

In this lab, you will learn to install/import the tools below. This guide is written for Windows10. But Linux or MacOS can also be used following similar steps.

  • Visual Studio Code
  • MCUXpresso for VS Code Extension
  • Tool Dependencies for MCUXpresso development
  • MCX SDK Repositories in VS Code
  • FreeMASTER Run-Time Debugging Tool

Software Versions

The steps in these lab guides should also work with later versions of these tools. But this lab guide was written with the following versions:

  • MCUXpresso for VS Code Extension v1.6.47 (or newer)
  • MCUXpresso Installer v1.2 b142
  • FRDM-MCXN947 SDK 2.14.0
  • FRDM-MCXA153 SDK 2.14.0
  • LinkServer v1.4.85
  • FreeMASTER 3.2

Installation Lab

1. Install VS Code and the MCUXpresso extension

  1. To install Visual Studio Code (VS Code), download for the correct platform here: https://code.visualstudio.com/download

  1. Open VS Code, and install the MCUXpresso extension.

    Click the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X) in VS Code. Click the search field at the top of the Extensions view, and enter mcuxpresso.

    Click the Install button to install the extension.

    Install Extension

    The MCUXpresso extension will be added to the Installed list after successful installation.

2. Install MCUXpresso dependencies and debugger tools

  1. Open the MCUXpresso Extension. In the Quickstart Panel, click Open MCUXpresso Installer.
    Open MCUXpresso Installer

  2. We need to install the MCUXpresso SDK Developer option to support CMake, Python, compiler and other dependencies. We also need to install the LinkServer software pack for NXP LinkServer debug probe. We also need to install the ARM GNU toolchain.

Note this lab guide assumes a LinkServer debug probe is used, which is default on this EVK. When using other supported debug probes, this Installer can also install Segger JLink and PEmicro tools.

After selecting the install options, click the Install button. The status bar at the bottom displays the status of the installation.

Installer for MCX

Note: Restart VS Code for New Installation and Environment Variables to be recognized.

3. Import the software repositories

  1. To import the repository, open the MCUXpresso view in VS Code and click Import Repository.
    Import Repository

  2. Note Click on Remote Archive, Select a location(c:\nxp\mcx\sdk) to store the SDK, Choose Package, Choose Version, Choose Agree to Import and Import. The repository should be added to the Installed Repository view once the import is successful.

    Import MCX Repository

    Note This import step takes a long time. Around 2 minutes.

  3. Install the 2nd SDK to support the FRDM-MCXA153 by repeating Steps 5 and 6. (Replacing MCXN with MCXA)
    The repositories are successfully added to the Installed Repository view once the import is successful.
    Installed Repositories

  4. OPTIONAL INFORMATION: To import any example application from an MCUXpresso SDK, click Import example from Repository in the PROJECTS view.
    You also need to select the toolchain, the board and the project.

    Import MCX Example

  5. FreeMASTER Installation
    FreeMASTER is a user-friendly real-time debug monitor and data visualization tool that enables runtime configuration and tuning of embedded software applications. The tool is used for some examples in the Application Code Hub.
    Follow the installation instructions included on FreeMASTER NXP Community Page

Installation and Preparation Completed. Your are ready to start the Application Code Hub labs
Return to Getting Started with MCX using Application Code Hub

Use this GitHub Issues section to report ambiguities or problems encountered in this documentation. For MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code extension issues, feedback or search for solutions and ideas please follow Community page.

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