Run a demo using Keil® MDK/μVision

This section describes the steps required to build, run, and debug example applications provided in the MCUXpresso SDK. The hello_world demo application targeted for the FRDM-K32L2A4S hardware platform is used as an example, although these steps can be applied to any demo or example application in the MCUXpresso SDK.

Install CMSIS device pack

After the MDK tools are installed, Cortex® Microcontroller Software Interface Standard (CMSIS) device packs must be installed to fully support the device from a debug perspective. These packs include things such as memory map information, register definitions, and flash programming algorithms. Follow these steps to install the appropriate CMSIS pack.

  1. Open the MDK IDE, which is called μVision. In the IDE, select the Pack Installer icon.

  2. After the installation finishes, close the Pack Installer window and return to the μVision IDE.

Parent topic:Run a demo using Keil® MDK/μVision

Build an example application

  • Open the desired example application workspace in:

    <install_dir>/boards/<board_name>/*<example\_type\>*/<application_name>/mdk

    The workspace file is named <demo_name>.uvmpw, so for this specific example, the actual path is:

    <install_dir>/boards/frdmk32l2a4s/demo_apps/hello_world/mdk/hello_world.uvmpw

  • To build the demo project, select the Rebuild button, highlighted in red.

  • The build completes without errors.

Parent topic:Run a demo using Keil® MDK/μVision

Run an example application

To download and run the application, perform these steps:

  1. See the table in # to determine the debug interface that comes loaded on your specific hardware platform.

    • For boards with the CMSIS-DAP/mbed/DAPLink interface, visit mbed Windows serial configuration and follow the instructions to install the Windows operating system serial driver. If running on Linux OS, this step is not required.

    • The user should install LPCScrypt or MCUXpresso IDE to ensure LPC board drivers are installed.

    • For boards with a P&E Micro interface, visit www.pemicro.com/support/downloads_find.cfm and download and install the P&E Micro Hardware Interface Drivers package.

    • If using J-Link either a standalone debug pod or OpenSDA, install the J-Link software (drivers and utilities) from www.segger.com/jlink-software.html.

    • For boards with the OSJTAG interface, install the driver from www.keil.com/download/docs/408.

  2. Connect the development platform to your PC via USB cable using OpenSDA USB connector.

  3. Open the terminal application on the PC, such as PuTTY or TeraTerm and connect to the debug serial port number (to determine the COM port number, see How to determine COM port). Configure the terminal with these settings:

    1. 115200 or 9600 baud rate, depending on your board (reference BOARD_DEBUG_UART_BAUDRATE variable in the board.h file)

    2. No parity

    3. 8 data bits

    4. 1 stop bit

  4. In μVision, after the application is built, click the Download button to download the application to the target.

  5. After clicking the Download button, the application downloads to the target and is running. To debug the application, click the Start/Stop Debug Session button highlighted in red.

  6. Run the code by clicking the Run button to start the application.

    The hello_world application is now running and a banner is displayed on the terminal. If this does not appear, check your terminal settings and connections.

Parent topic:Run a demo using Keil® MDK/μVision