Getting Started with i.MXRT7xx-EVK

2.1 Install Your Toolchain

NXP offers complimentary toolchains. VS Code with extension from NXP to enable, fast, flexible development.

Learn how to install VS Code for your host PC with the following tutorial.

2.2 Jump Start Your Design with the MCUXpresso SDK on GitHub

The NXP extension adds tools to help add software repositories into the Visual Studio Code workspace. The software repository can be provided from three sources:

• Remote git URL
• NXP MCUXpresso SDK archive file
• Existing git folder

This section will import the MCUXpresso SDK using two methods one from the remote git repository and the remote archive option.

For the remote git repository option follow these steps.

1. Click on the MCUXpresso extension Icon
2. Click on the “QUICKSTART PANEL” tab and then click on the "Import repositoty" button. After pressing that button a new import window will appear on your IDE

3. Select the “Remote” option to import the provided SDK files
4. Browse to the Repository options by clicking on the arrow button and search for "MCUXpresso SDK"
5. Browse to the Revision options by clicking on the arrow button and search for latest version
6. Browse to a folder to be a common “Destination” to store SDKs. (i.e. C:\SDK ) Enter a name for the new SDK, in this case mcuxsdk
7. Click on Import button and wait for the installation

2.3 MCUXpresso Config Tools

The MCUXpresso Config Tool is an integrated suite of configuration tools that guides users in creating new MCUXpresso SDK projects, and also provides pin and clock tools to generate initialization C code for custom board support, it is fully integrated as a part of MCUXpresso IDE and also as a separate tool if using a different IDE.

Click the Get MCUXpresso Config Tools below to get the Config Tools installer.

2.4 Programming and Provisioning Tools

The MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning (SEC) Tool is a GUI-based application provided to simplify generation and provisioning of bootable executables on NXP MCU devices. We recommend all users to begin with MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning (SEC) tool for trial run and mass production use. It supports secure programming and device provisioning on NXP's microcontrollers at the production stage. After downloading the tool, you can find the user guide under the ‘Help’ tab. Follow the instructions for your board in the ‘Processor-specific Workflow’ chapter.

Note:For advanced users that need a more customizable set up we also off a command line tool that is useful when interfacing with a custom or partner programming tool. The Secure Provisioning SDK (SPSDK) is an open source development kit with its source code released on GitHub and PyPI .

If one or more of the demo applications or driver examples sounds interesting, you're probably wanting to know how you can build and debug yourself. The Getting Started with Getting Started with MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code provides easy, step-by-step instructions on how to configure, build, and debug demos for all toolchains supported by the SDK.

3.1 Build and Run an example using VS Code

The following steps will guide you through the hello_world demo application using VS Code for the Cortex-M33 application on RT700.

Pre-Requisites:

This example is written for Windows10, but MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code can also be easily installed on MacOS and Linux.

Follow software installation for MCUXpresso for VS Code extension

This section will import the MCUXpresso SDK for the RT700 microcontroller.
• 1. Click “Import Repository” button in the ""Quickstart Panel"" of MCUXpresso for VS code button as shown below

• 2. Select the “REMOTE” option to import the repository from the github

• 3. Browse to a folder location where to store SDK and click import

• 4. Terminal output shows the progress of the SDK download

Import Example Project
• Click “Import Example from Repository” button in the ""Quickstart Panel"" ,then Fill out the appropriate information in the “Import Example from Repository” window
• Select Repository from downloaded local folder
• Click “Choose a board” to view the boards supported in the selected repository. Longer list of boards can be filtered by typing in the available selection area
• Select MIMXRT700-EVK. After a board is selected, a picture of the board will be displayed to help confirm the correct selection
• Click “Choose a template” to show a list of available examples in the selected repository
• The long list of examples can be filtered by typing in the available selection area. (i.e. type Hello to filter Hello World examples) Select demo_apps/hello_world
• Click “Choose a toolchain” to select from a list of available build tools. The MCUXpresso Installer provides a default option of “ARM GNU tool chain version xx”
• The tool also looks in other default locations for MCUXpresso IDE installations. These may be listed as alternative options for GNU Arm toolchains

• Click Create. This will add a new “Hello World” example for the RT700 to your Projects panel. If window pops for trust authors of the files then click Yes

Build Project

The build process is configured when the project is created. The user can initiate the build from an icon in the project view. To the right of the project name, the build icon will start the build for that project. You need to return to the MCUXpresso extension perspective by clicking the “X” icon in the left navigation pane. You may still be in the Explorer perspective from prior section. Click the build icon to the right of the hello_world project.

This will start the build process. The OUTPUT terminal tab at the bottom of the screen displays the build progress. Alternatively, you can right click on the project name to display additional build options. Clicking Rebuild or Clean Build will remove build artifacts from prior builds to allow the project to be built again. Otherwise, clicking Build Selected will result in an output of "no work to do"

Flash and Debug Project

MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code allows users to program and debug projects for NXP microcontrollers. These steps require that Debug Probe drivers are properly installed and configured. MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code allows the use of popular debug probes from NXP, Segger and PEmicro. MCUXpresso Installer included the option to properly install support for the different debug probes.

The built project output binary is flashed to the target board before launching a debug session. The Debug session provides controls and views to help the developer analyze the operation of the project. The following steps will show how to successfully flash and program the RT700 EVK evaluation kit.

• Confirm that the on board debug probe is connected to the PC USB port
• Click the Refresh arrow in the DEBUG PROBES pane to detect connected Debug Probes

• 3.Starting a Debug session begins by programming the target device with the built project image. You can debug or flash the selected target as shown below.

• 4.Visual Studio Code Debug sessions provide a different “Run and Debug” perspective for the user. This is reflected by the Bug icon in the primary left navigation pane now being highlighted. Key tools are labeled in the following image: Start Debug: Another place to launch debug Debug Controls: Pause; Step Over; Step Into; Step Over; Restart; Stop Variables: Locals and Registers Watch: Add expressions to continue to monitor Breakpoints: Add, Toggle and View targeted code Call Stack: List of active subroutines in the program Status Ribbon: Bottom of screen changes status text and/or color to orange

3.2 Build and Flash Application with Alternative Toolchains

MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code (VS Code) provides an optimized embedded developer experience for code editing and development. Learn how to build and flash an application with VS Code.

Using a different toolchain?

This demo is also available for IAR and KEIL.

4.1 Import an Example Project from Repository

The following steps will guide you through the manipulation of the general-purpose outputs. The example sets up a GPIO LED example to toggle LED on board.

1. Click “Import Example from Repository” button in the "Quickstart Panel" ,then Fill out the appropriate information in the “Import Example from Repository” window
2. Select Repository from downloaded local folder
3. Click “Choose a board” to view the boards supported in the selected repository. Longer list of boards can be filtered by typing in the available selection area
4. Select MIMXRT700-EVK. After a board is selected, a picture of the board will be displayed to help confirm the correct selection
5. Click “Choose a template” to show a list of available examples in the selected repository. The long list of examples can be filtered by typing in the available selection area. (i.e. type led to filter gpio LED examples) Select driver_examples/gpio/led_output
6. Click “Choose a toolchain” to select from a list of available build tools. The MCUXpresso Installer provides a default option of “ARM GNU tool chain version xx”. The tool also looks in other default locations for MCUXpresso IDE installations. These may be listed as alternative options for GNU Arm toolchains

7. Click Create. This will add a new “gpio led output” example for the RT700 to your Projects panel. If window pops for trust authors of the files then click Yes

Build Project

The build process is configured when the project is created. The user can initiate the build from an icon in the project view. To the right of the project name, the build icon will start the build for that project. You need to return to the MCUXpresso extension perspective by clicking the “X” icon in the left navigation pane. You may still be in the Explorer perspective from prior section. Click the build icon to the right of the gpio_led_output project.

This will start the build process. The OUTPUT terminal tab at the bottom of the screen displays the build progress

Flash and Debug Project

MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code allows users to program and debug projects for NXP microcontrollers. These steps require that Debug Probe drivers are properly installed and configured. MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code allows the use of popular debug probes from NXP, Segger and PEmicro. MCUXpresso Installer included the option to properly install support for the different debug probes.

The built project output binary is flashed to the target board before launching a debug session. The Debug session provides controls and views to help the developer analyze the operation of the project. The following steps will show how to successfully flash and program the RT700 EVK evaluation kit.

1. Confirm that the on board debug probe is connected to the PC USB port
2. Click the Refresh arrow in the DEBUG PROBES pane to detect connected Debug Probes

3. Starting a Debug session begins by programming the target device with the built project image. You can debug or flash the selected target as shown below

4. You should see the Blue LED changing back and forth

5. Terminate the debug session

4.2 Change Example Project using MCUXpresso Config Tool

The following steps will guide you through the manipulation of the general-purpose output. The example sets up a LED to change led color from Blue to Green. Make sure MCUXpresso installer in the VS Code have MCUXpresso Configuration tools

1. Open MCUXpresso Config Tool
Right-click on the project example.
2. Configuration Tool Wizard Appears

3. Modify Pin Configuration
Current configuration: PIO0_17 is routed for LED. Change pin from GPIO 17 to GPIO 18.
4. Save and Observe Changes

Check pin_mux.c and pin_mux.h for updates.


5. Update LED GPIO in VS Code

Change LED GPIO pins from Blue to Green.


6. Build the Project in VS Code

7. Debug the Project

Click Debug on the project.


8. Run the Project

Click Play button or press F5.


9. Verify LED Behavior

GREEN LED should toggle back and forth.


10. Terminate the debug session.

Check out each of the following sections to learn about the ecosystem provided for flexible protyping and development. In the video below, we will introduce you to the FRDM platform, the full-featured EVK and the compatible shields for extended capabilities. In addition we will walk you through our Application Code Hub portal where we provide numerous application examples through NXP's Github.

5.1 FRDM Platform, Full feature EVK and Shields

For quick prototyping platforms, we offer both the low-cost FRDM platform and the full-featured EVK.

FRDM development boards come with standard form factor and headers, easy access to MCU I/Os, on-board MCU-Link debugger and a USB-C cable. Our full featured evaluation kits include extended I/O and interface access, extendibility with WiFi and additional MCU-Link features. There are also many compatible Click Boards and/or Arduino shields. For those that are supported with an Open CMSIS Pack examples may be available on ACH, but if not, many of them are easy to use via serial interface like I²C, SPI and UART, for which we provide drivers with examples in the MCUXpresso SDK.

5.2 Application Code Hub

The Application Code Hub further enhances our MCUXpresso Developer Experience by giving developers an interactive dashboard to quickly locate software. Visit the ACH  today to start exploring or discover additional details and benefits of the new interactive Application Code Hub.

Software accessible from Application Code Hub is located in NXP’s GitHub repository  so it can be easily accessed and cloned from that location directly.

5.3 Demo Walkthrough

The following demo walks us through importing a project from ACH using a system based on the FRDM platform with a motor control shield and a low cost LCD. Although your evaluation board may differ from this system, the following steps can be replicated and used for all supported platforms.

Board Documents

• Board User Guide
• Design Guides
• Errata

Additional References

• Getting Started with MCUXpresso SDK
• MCUXpresso SDK API Reference Manual
• MCUXpresso SDK Builder
• MCU-Link FW
• Secure Provisioning Tool User Guide
• SPSDK Wiki

Support

• General Support
• RT700 Community