HardFault

Beginner’s Guide to Configuring nRF52-DK Development Board

Welcome to the second episode of our series on the nRF series of chips by Nordic Semiconductor. In this episode, we will guide you through setting up your development environment for nRF development. This includes installing the Nordic SDK, setting up SEGGER Embedded Studio or other IDEs, and configuring a development board like the nRF52-DK. Whether you are a beginner or looking to refresh your setup, this guide will help you get started.

Overview of the Development Environment

Before diving into the setup process, it’s essential to understand the components involved in developing applications for the nRF series:

  1. Nordic SDK: The Nordic Software Development Kit (SDK) provides libraries, examples, and tools for developing applications on Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF chips. It includes support for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Thread, Zigbee, and more.
  2. Integrated Development Environment (IDE): An IDE is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities for software development. For nRF development, SEGGER Embedded Studio is highly recommended, but other IDEs like Keil or IAR Embedded Workbench can also be used.
  3. Development Board: A development board, such as the nRF52-DK, is a hardware platform that allows you to prototype and test your applications. It provides easy access to the chip’s features and peripherals.

Step 1: Installing the Nordic SDK

1.1 Download the Nordic SDK

  1. Go to the Nordic Semiconductor website.
  2. Navigate to the Downloads section.
  3. Select the latest version of the nRF5 SDK (or nRF Connect SDK if you are working with nRF53 series).
  4. Download the SDK package (usually available as a ZIP file).

1.2 Extract the SDK

  1. Once downloaded, extract the ZIP file to a convenient location on your computer.
  2. You will find various folders, including examples, components, documentation, and more.

1.3 Environment Variables (Optional)

For easier access, you may want to set up environment variables pointing to the SDK location. This step is optional but can simplify your development process.

  • For Windows:
    • Right-click on This PC or My Computer and select Properties.
    • Click on Advanced system settings and then Environment Variables.
    • Under System variables, click New and add:
      • Variable name: NRF_SDK_PATH
      • Variable value: C:\path\to\nRF5_SDK (adjust the path accordingly)
  • For macOS/Linux:
    • Open a terminal and add the following line to your .bash_profile or .bashrc:export NRF_SDK_PATH=/path/to/nRF5_SDK
    • Save the file and run source ~/.bash_profile or source ~/.bashrc to apply the changes.

Step 2: Setting Up SEGGER Embedded Studio

2.1 Download SEGGER Embedded Studio

  1. Visit the SEGGER Embedded Studio website.
  2. Download the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

2.2 Install SEGGER Embedded Studio

  1. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
  2. Once installed, launch SEGGER Embedded Studio.

2.3 Configure SEGGER Embedded Studio for nRF Development

  1. Open SEGGER Embedded Studio.
  2. Go to File > New Project.
  3. Select Nordic Semiconductor from the project templates.
  4. Choose the appropriate example project from the SDK you downloaded earlier. For instance, if you want to work with BLE, select a BLE example.
  5. Follow the prompts to set up the project, ensuring that the correct SDK path is set.

2.4 Build and Flash an Example Project

  1. Connect your nRF52-DK development board to your computer via USB.
  2. In SEGGER Embedded Studio, open the example project you selected.
  3. Click on Build to compile the project.
  4. Once the build is successful, click on Download to flash the firmware to your development board.

Step 3: Setting Up the Development Board (nRF52-DK)

3.1 Connect the Development Board

  1. Use a USB cable to connect the nRF52-DK to your computer.
  2. Ensure that the board is powered on. The power LED should be lit.

3.2 Install Required Drivers

  • For Windows: The nRF52-DK should be recognized automatically. If not, you may need to install the appropriate drivers from the Nordic website.
  • For macOS/Linux: The board should also be recognized automatically; no additional drivers are typically required.

3.3 Test the Setup

  1. After flashing the example project, open a terminal or a serial monitor (like PuTTY or Tera Term).
  2. Connect to the COM port associated with the nRF52-DK.
  3. You should see output from the example application, confirming that the setup is working correctly.

Conclusion

In this episode, we walked you through setting up your development environment for nRF development. We covered downloading and installing the Nordic SDK, configuring SEGGER Embedded Studio, and setting up the nRF52-DK development board. With your environment ready, you can now start exploring the capabilities of the nRF series and develop your own applications.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where we will dive deeper into creating your first application using the nRF series chips!

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