Venemo / efm32-qbs-example

Example project showing how to use the Qbs build system with Silicon Labs EFM32 Gecko microcontrollers.

efm32-qbs-example

Example project showing how to use the Qbs build system with Silicon Labs EFM32 Gecko microcontrollers, together with the Qt Creator IDE, including support for debugging.

Configure Qt Creator

You need to install the GNU ARM toolchain, in essence you need arm-none-eabi-gcc, arm-none-eabi-g++, etc.

You need the Bare Metal plugin in Qt Creator

• http://doc.qt.io/qtcreator/creator-developing-baremetal.html

Some useful articles (not about EFM32, but still useful):

• https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/blogs/956/nrf52-debugging-with-qtcreator-on-windows/
• https://github.com/skywavedesign/swd_nrf51_s110_qt_template

How to debug

• Install the J-Link Software and Documentation Pack by SEGGER
• Connect your EFM32. I use a Starter Kit from Silicon Labs, but any other J-Link device should work.
• Verify that you can connect to the EFM32 (eg. use JLinkExe, etc.)
• Start the J-Link GDB Server
• Hit the run button in Qt Creator

Example command line for J-Link GDB Server:

JLinkGDBServer -device EFM32HG310F64 -if SWD -endian little -speed 12000 -vd -port 2331 -swoport 2332 -halt

If you have multiple devices connected at the same time, use the -select usb=<serial> option to distinguish between them by serial number.

You need to set -port to the same port you set to Qt Creator when you configured the debugger.

Using in your own project

This example uses the qbs build system. It contains several useful items for MCU project development. These are found in qbs-custom/imports.

There is some stuff you can use with any other ARM MCU:

• ArmMcuProduct contains the necessary compiler / linker options for building something for ARM Cortex-M MCUs.
• ArmMcuApplication inherits ArmMcuProduct and can be used to build executables. It also runs the usual conversion tools to create hex and bin files from the output.

The following is EFM32 specific:

• GeckoProject contains settings for the Gecko MCU family. You should set its deviceName and geckoSdkPlatformPath properties. The deviceName should be the full name of the MCU you use, eg. EFM32HG310F64, and geckoSdkPlatformPath should point to the platform directory of the Gecko SDK, eg. /home/Timur/dev/silabs/SimplicityStudio_v4/developer/sdks/gecko_sdk_suite/v1.0/platform ― it should be an absolute path without a trailing slash. The GeckoProject will then deduce the CPU and FPU type and float ABI of your MCU from the device name, and the location of the necessary startup files and libraries.
• GeckoDeviceInfo is used by GeckoProject, you don't need to use it manually.
• GeckoStartup is a static library that contains the necessary startup files and sets the linker script. You need to create such a product in your project and depend on it from your GeckoApplication.
• GeckoEmlib is a static library that contains emlib.
• GeckoEmdrv is a static library that contains emdrv. Exactly which parts of emdrv should be compiled depend on your settings on your GeckoProject instance.
• GeckoApplication is the type you should use for your application. It automatically sets the CPU name, FPU name and other stuff based on your GeckoProject settings.

Example:

import qbs
import qbs.FileInfo
import "qbs-custom/imports/GeckoProject.qbs" as GeckoProject
import "qbs-custom/imports/GeckoStartup.qbs" as GeckoStartup
import "qbs-custom/imports/GeckoEmlib.qbs" as GeckoEmlib
import "qbs-custom/imports/GeckoEmdrv.qbs" as GeckoEmdrv
import "qbs-custom/imports/GeckoApplication.qbs" as GeckoApplication

GeckoProject {

    name: "EFM32 Hello"
    
    // The name of your MCU device
    deviceName: "EFM32HG310F64"
    
    // Absolute path to the Gecko SDK platform folder
    geckoSdkPlatformPath: "/home/Timur/dev/silabs/SimplicityStudio_v4/developer/sdks/gecko_sdk_suite/v1.0/platform"
    
    // Configure emdrv NOT to have TEMPDRV
    emdrvHaveTempdrv: false

    // Sub-project grouping the Gecko SDK items
    Project {
        name: "Gecko platform"

        // Necessary startup files, compiled to a static library
        GeckoStartup { }

        // Optional emlib, compiled to a static library
        GeckoEmlib { }

        // Optional emdrv, compiled to a static library
        GeckoEmdrv { }
    }

    GeckoApplication {
        name: "hello app"
        
        // Configure dependencies for your project
        Depends { name: "startup" }
        Depends { name: "emlib" }
        Depends { name: "emdrv" }

        // Files of your project
        files: [
            "src/main.cpp",
        ]
    }

}