How to start with Tiva C Series TM4C1294 Connected LaunchPad?

Hi,

   Download the workbook pdf from the link below. If you go through the workbook, you will learn basic know how to setup CCS and build a sample project.

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Creating_IoT_Solutions_with_the_TM4C1294XL_Connected_LaunchPad_Workshop?keyMatch=tiva%20connected%20launchpad%20workshop&tisearch=Search-EN

- kel

Thanks Markel for that helpful information with the 16-chapter workshop to them. Also note Viking here are some more resources for you:

• The Quick Start Guide
• Project 0
• Out of Box demo video

Thanks for responding. Still unresolved.

This is not an educational journey. I need to evaluate this in a few days, for the purpose of selecting the TM4C1294 for a commercial project.

 When installing CCS, i included the 430, and a lot of projects for different versions of the MSP430 was installed. This way I can evaluate each feature fast and easy. It also installed a graphical tool to configure the chip, and I could see the code generated by the graphical tool Grace.

That works perfect for me. Full clarity quickly.

I am trying to find something similar for the TM4C and the connected launchpad. I followed the advice above, and after looking through it all, the closest I could get was in "project 0', I found how to add Tiva examples, and when I select TivaWare | Examples | boards, the choices are:

 tmc4c1294xl, ek-tm4c1294xl-boost-cc3000, ek-tm4c1294xl-boost-dlptrf7970abp, ek-tm4c1294xl-boostxl-battpack, ek-tm4c1294xl-boostxl-kentec-l35, ek-tm4c1294xl-boostxl-senshub

Are any of these boards the connected Lauchpad? It is not possible for me to understand.

When I try to look at the documentation, the content is

1. SW-EK-TM4C1294XL-BOOST-CC3000-UG-2.1.0.12573

2. SW-EK-TM4C1294XL-UG-2.1.0.12573

3. SW-EK-TM4C1294XL-BOOST-DLPTRF7970ABP-UG-2.1.0.12573

etc,

What document is relevant for me? 

Basic Questions unanswered:

a) Is there a graphical tool to configure the chip?

b) Is Tivaware an RTOS, or do I use a seperate RTOS?

c) Is there an API document describing TivaWare?

d) of all the projects, like 'blinky', 'hello', and 'echo' pertains to the Connected Launchpad? maybe all?

Why is the a WiFi application, when this launchpad does not have any WiFi chip? etc, etc.

Maybe you have a more coherent path from evaluation to mastering that I do not see?

Thanks.

Viking said:

 When installing CCS, i included the 430, and a lot of projects for different versions of the MSP430 was installed. This way I can evaluate each feature fast and easy. It also installed a graphical tool to configure the chip, and I could see the code generated by the graphical tool Grace.

If you are evaluating the TM4C1294 for a commercial product, importing projects relating to MSP430 seems not relevant to your task at hand.

Viking said:

 tmc4c1294xl, ek-tm4c1294xl-boost-cc3000, ek-tm4c1294xl-boost-dlptrf7970abp, ek-tm4c1294xl-boostxl-battpack, ek-tm4c1294xl-boostxl-kentec-l35, ek-tm4c1294xl-boostxl-senshub

Inside "tm4c1294xl" are the example programs for Tiva connected Launchpad.

The rest are libraries for Booster Pack. See, TI Booster Packs. 

Viking said:

When I try to look at the documentation, the content is

1. SW-EK-TM4C1294XL-BOOST-CC3000-UG-2.1.0.12573

2. SW-EK-TM4C1294XL-UG-2.1.0.12573

3. SW-EK-TM4C1294XL-BOOST-DLPTRF7970ABP-UG-2.1.0.12573

2. SW-EK-TM4C1294XL-UG-2.1.0.12573, this is one of the relevant documents to you and everything at the docs folder of your Tivaware Installation "C:\EK-TM4C129\docs" and other docs such as your Tiva Microcontroller Datasheet. It will help to know which docs are relevant to you if you just look at the folders at your Tivaware.

Viking said:

a) Is there a graphical tool to configure the chip?

There is the PinMux Utility. But, the latest version is not updated for Tivaware 2.0

Viking said:

b) Is Tivaware an RTOS, or do I use a seperate RTOS?

No No No. Tivaware is the software package for Tiva Microcontollers. I assume Tivaware came from Tiva + Software.

There is the TI-RTOS, FreeRTOS and lots others.

Viking said:

c) Is there an API document describing TivaWare?

There is the Tivaware Peripheral Library Users Guide at the docs folder of Tivaware.

Viking said:

d) of all the projects, like 'blinky', 'hello', and 'echo' pertains to the Connected Launchpad? maybe all?

All, in this folder "\examples\boards\ek-tm4c123gxl". As the folder name indicates "examples", most probably they are example programs for Tiva Connected Launchpad.

Viking said:

Why is the a WiFi application, when this launchpad does not have any WiFi chip?

The Wifi Application is for the Tiva Connected Launchpad to communicate with the WiFi Booster Pack. See, TI Booster Packs.

Viking said:

Maybe you have a more coherent path from evaluation to mastering that I do not see?

That is all there is.

Maybe if you give some time to read through the documents at the Tivaware, you can answer these questions yourself. Some helpful links, I and Blake have already shared.

- kel 

Still need a tutorial.

Usually I would start laying out the chip by

1. identifying on chip resources/components needed, (op amps, PWM, clocks, A/D, network stacks etc etc)

2. Configuring all resources

3. Connecting all components

4. Writing code for the configured device/components

Is this the process?

Re (1) If so, where is the toolchest of on-chip components?

Re(2) do I configure this graphically? what is the tool

same with (3) and (4)

We need to understand the development process and how the tools are used. We can not design in this part until we have a good understanding of this.

Hi Viking,

Here is the tutorial below. You, can understand how tools are used at the workbook pdf.

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Creating_IoT_Solutions_with_the_TM4C1294XL_Connected_LaunchPad_Workshop?keyMatch=tiva%20connected%20launchpad%20workshop&tisearch=Search-EN#mce_temp_url#

See, elsewhere in the internet if anyone has made a video tutorial about Tiva Connected Launchpad.

From this link below, has some of the relevant information you will need to develop anything with Tiva Connected Launchpad.

http://www.ti.com/tool/ek-tm4c1294xl

Where are you now evaluating the Tiva Connected Launchpad? Have you tried any example programs? Have you tried the out of the box demo that connects to cloud server Exosite?

What exactly does your project do?

For any system design there is usually a process. Search about that in the internet.

- kel

Thanks for your time responding.

To make sure I understand, and am not missing any abstraction/simplification or tool:

To develop for the Tiva C Series TM4C1294, I typically

1. Learn what all the on chip functions are by reading datasheet etc.

2. Pull up the datasheet pdf, look at the register specification, and write bit manipulation code to configure every single feature and pin

3. Maybe find a header file that has simplified this for me, but no assistance in finding this header file.

4. Search trough tivaware and examples to see if I can find out how someone else did this or if there are any other abstraction code.

If this is correct please tell me.

What is was hoping to find was:

A. Graphical overview of all on chip components, as well as all off chip sensors/chips supported by Tivaware

B. Graphical wiring/configuration

C. datasheet for each component a click away from the overview (to see configuation options etc)

D. the datasheet gives all Tivaware related to this component and relevant header files.

The system has the features we need, but I am quite concerned about bringing a whole team up to speed developing in this environment. How can the be effective fast?

Hi Viking,

     Your development process steps are okay. Make it work.

     Usually a detailed design document is generated, that would be reviewed by several people. The document would include block diagram, code flow charts and so on.

     There is also the reverse engineering way. You, can use working designs and firmware, and then reverse engineer it for your application.

     There are lots of ways to design and make a system. 

     The graphical configuration tool for Tivaware, "PinMux Utility", has been reported here to have issues. I won't recommend to use it. 

- kel

The steps I outlined in numerals above was meant as a parody. Sorry if it was misunderstood.

Hello Viking,

There is no graphical tool in TM4C12x like MSP430 has Grace. The sensors and off chip devices as long as conform to the I2C/SSI/UART specification, there is always a way to get them working.

The PinMux Utility had the graphical wiring (more like a drop down with conflict resolution if a function is not possible), but had issues because of which we had to take it offline for "repairs".

The MSP data sheet is structured differently from TM4C, so your familiarity of MSP430 data sheet would hinder in the beginning. Similarly to your case, I have seen folks using TM4C having an equally tough time understanding MSP430 data sheets.

For the peripheral functions SW-TM4C-DRL-UG-2.1.0.12573.pdf comes in the TIVAWare Installer docs directory which has the functions/API documented.

I agree when bringing a whole team to speed in a new device, it can be challenging. But with the forum we would be able to do that better if not fast.

Regards

Amit

Dear all,

I have just bought a KIT from eStore of TI,

I want to apply this chip to my project.

I would like to ask pro some questions:

1. How to make an embedded webpage based on enet-lwip sample code? (tools, image file, link to variables...)

2. How to make a simple TELNET server on that KIT?

Thanks,

Hi Cao,

Cao Son Dinh said:

1. How to make an embedded webpage based on enet-lwip sample code? (tools, image file, link to variables...)

Refer to the enet_io example program. To modify or make a new webpage use the makefsfile command line. See, post below on how to use makefsfile.

have to change the existing stellaris webpage

Cao Son Dinh said:

2. How to make a simple TELNET server on that KIT?

See, reply by Petrei from the post below.

Telnet example for TM4C129x

- kel

Dear Markel,

Thanks for your post. I'll check and respond later!