Difference between revisions of "Compiler Toolchains"

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==Compiler Toolchain==
 
==Compiler Toolchain==
  
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==ESP32 Toolchain==
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==Instructions for specific toolchains==
 
 
The ESP32 toolchain includes a lot more extras and so we have used the standard Espresif installer as that does all the extra functionality for you.
 
 
 
The only downside to this is you have to manually point Flowcode at the toolchain.
 
 
 
 
 
The toolchain can be downloaded from here: https://flowcode.co.uk/download
 
 
 
Please report any problems or issues on the Flowcode user forum.
 
 
 
 
 
Installation
 
 
 
Once the download has finished run the installation file.
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup1.png]]
 
 
 
Select – I accept the agreement and click Next
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup2.png]]
 
 
 
If you have a different version of Python installed, then I would recommend sicking with Python 3.7
 
 
 
''<span style="color:red;">Please note some versions of Python may cause the installer to fail, if this happens then try again and use the supplied version 3.7</span>''
 
 
 
If you have Git already installed then you can select your version of Git.
 
 
 
Otherwise select Install Git
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup3.png]]
 
 
 
If you have an ESP-IDF already downloaded then you can select your version of ESP-IDF.
 
 
 
Otherwise, select Download ESP-IDF
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup4.png]]
 
 
 
Select which ESP-IDF to install, we recommend the lowest version as the higher versions have not been tested.
 
 
 
At the time of writing  5.1 (Release branch is OK to use)
 
 
 
Install to a location on your system with no spaces in the path.
 
 
 
For example C:\esp-idf
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup5.png]]
 
 
 
Select a location for the ESP-IDF Tools to be installed, again use a path that contains no spaces
 
 
 
For example C:\esp-idf-tools
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup6.png]]
 
 
 
Select addition tasks, recommend keeping all options checked and click Next.
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup7.png]]
 
 
 
On the confirmation screen check the paths are correct and click Install
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup8.png]]
 
 
 
During the installation process you may get some of the following pop-ups appearing
 
 
 
Click Yes to allow Git to be installed
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup9.png]]
 
 
 
Click Yes to allow Windows PowerShell to be installed
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup10.png]]
 
 
 
Installation complete
 
 
 
You do not need to run the ESP-IDF command prompt as we will be invoking this from Flowcode:
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup11.png]]
 
 
 
A PC reboot may be required after installation has been completed.
 
 
 
'''Setting up Flowcode for use with the ESP32 toolchain'''
 
 
 
Copy the location of the esp-idf (e.g. C:\esp-idf) into the
 
 
 
Global Settings > Locations tab.
 
 
 
Or if you have a project loaded
 
 
 
File > Global Settings > Locations tab:
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup12.png]]
 
 
 
Click OK
 
 
 
'''Flowcode ESP32 Projects'''
 
 
 
When you create a new Flowcode ESP32 project the first time you compile a folder will be created in
 
the Flowcode project directory with the same name as the Flowcde project file.
 
 
 
The folder contains all the standard build output for an ESP32 project.
 
 
 
The first compilation of a project will take a while to complete – around 5 minutes as all of the ESP32
 
libraries are pulled in from the ESP-IDF and compiled one by one. After the initial compilation
 
subsequent compilations will be much faster.
 
 
 
Inside the folder is a file called sdkconfig, this file is a text file that contains the configuration for the
 
ESP32 device.
 
 
 
Any changes to this file will automatically trigger another extended compilation.
 
 
 
If you connect your ESP board before running Flowcode then the boards COM port will appear in the Flowcode project options.
 
 
 
This will need to be selected and correct for the Compile to Chip menu option to function correctly.
 
 
 
[[File:ESP32_Setup13.png]]
 
 
 
==Pico Toolchain==
 
Note: Using Raspberry Pi Pico with Windows 7 or 8 is not officially supported.
 
To build Pico projects you will need to install the following tools:
 
ARM GCC compiler
 
CMake
 
Build Tools for Visual Studio 2022
 
Python 3
 
Git
 
 
 
'''Installing ARM GCC Compiler'''
 
 
 
Download the Windows Installer from:
 
 
 
https://developer.arm.com/downloads/-/gnu-rm
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain1.png]]
 
 
 
During installation, you should tick the box to register the path to the ARM compiler as an
 
environment variable in the Windows shell:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain2.png]]
 
 
 
 
 
The command prompt that the installation opened can be closed.
 
 
 
'''Installing CMake'''
 
 
 
Download the Windows CMake3.20.5 Installer from: https://cmake.org/files/v3.20/
 
 
 
 
 
During the installation add CMake to the system PATH for all users:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain3.png]]
 
 
 
A PC reboot is recommended after installing CMake.
 
 
 
'''Installing Build Tools for Visual Studio 2022'''
 
 
 
Download the Windows Installer from:
 
 
 
https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vs_BuildTools.exe
 
 
 
 
 
When prompted by the Build Tools for Visual Studio installer you need to install the C++ build
 
tools only.
 
 
 
You must install the full "Windows 10 SDK" package and leave the path as the default value:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain4.png]]
 
 
 
At around 21% completed its takes a little while to continue, this is normal
 
 
 
 
 
'''Installing Python 3'''
 
 
 
''<span style="color:red;">If you already have Python 3 installed on your PC (for example if you have already installed the ESP toolchain) skip this section and do not re-install Python.</span>''
 
 
 
Download Windows Installer from: https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
 
 
 
Look for version 3.9.6:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain5.png]]
 
 
 
Ensure that it’s installed 'for all users' and add Python 3.9 to the system PATH:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain6.png]]
 
 
 
Disable the MAX_PATH length limit when prompted at the end of the Python installation:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain7.png]]
 
 
 
'''Installing Git'''
 
 
 
Download the Windows Installer from: https://git-scm.com/download/win
 
 
 
When installing Git you should have Only show new options unselected.
 
 
 
There is no need to change any default setting for all the checkboxes
 
 
 
Ensure that you change the default editor away from vim, for example if you have notepad++:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain8.png]]
 
 
 
Ensure you tick the checkbox to allow Git to be used from third-party tools:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain9.png]]
 
 
 
Don't select any NEW! options, leave options as default.
 
Select "Checkout as is, commit as-is":
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain10.png]]
 
 
 
Select "Use Windows' default console window":
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain11.png]]
 
 
 
Leave all the defaults Ticked
 
 
 
Check "Enable experimental support for pseudo consoles" during the installation process:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain12.png]]
 
 
 
'''Installing the Pico SDK'''
 
 
 
Use Git to download the Pico SDK to a location on your PC.
 
 
 
For example, install to your user Downloads directory:
 
 
 
''C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\pico-sdk''
 
 
 
Run a command prompt (type "cmd" at the start search box) and run the following commands:
 
''cd Downloads''
 
 
 
''git clone -b master https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-sdk.git''
 
 
 
''cd pico-sdk''
 
 
 
''git submodule update --init''
 
 
 
'''Setting up Flowcode for use with the Pico toolchain'''
 
Copy the location of the Pico sdk (e.g. C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\pico-sdk) into the
 
 
 
Global Settings > Locations tab or if you have a project loaded
 
 
 
File > Global Settings > Locations tab:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain13.png]]
 
 
 
'''Programming The Pico'''
 
 
 
The Pico is a free target device.
 
 
 
Run Flowcode & Select ''New Project''
 
 
 
Either right-click on any target & select ''Search...'' and enter  ''pico'', then select ''Find Next'':
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain14.png]]
 
 
 
Or Go to the Free targets section, expand  ''Free targets'' and scroll down and select ''Raspberry_Pi_Pico''
 
 
 
Select ''New <Raspberry_Pi_Pico> Embedded Project:
 
 
 
[[File:Pico_Toolchain15.png]]
 
 
 
 
 
'''Sending Your First Program'''
 
 
 
Before sending your flowchart to the Pico, you must first enable boot mode.
 
  
To do that, make sure the pico is not connected to your PC.
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Click the approriate link below ofr detailed instructions for spacific compiler toolchains.
  
Hold the ''BOOTSEL'' down and plug the Pico into your PC.
 
  
If you hear the USB connected sound and you also get a popup like this:
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[[ESP32 Toolchain]]
  
[[File:Pico_Toolchain16.png]]
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[[Pico Toolchain]]
  
Then your Pico is ready to be programmed.
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[[Using a new version of XC8]]

Latest revision as of 14:39, 7 February 2024

Compiler Toolchain

The compiler toolchain is used to allow Flowcode to compile the generated C code into a binary file that can be executed on your target microcontroller device.

The "Compile to Hex" and "Compile to Target" options in Flowcode require that a toolchain is installed for your selected microcontroller device.


Downloading and installing toolchain

Most of the toolchains can be found here on the main Flowcode download page.

Download and run the toolchain installation file and that will do everything required to allow Flowcode to compile to that range of target devices.

Note if you have Flowcode open when installing the toolchain then you may need to restart Flowcode once the toolchain is installed.


Instructions for specific toolchains

Click the approriate link below ofr detailed instructions for spacific compiler toolchains.


ESP32 Toolchain

Pico Toolchain

Using a new version of XC8