LAUNCHXL-CC2650: First time user of TI Code Composer Studio for use with eval board

Hi,

If you are working with CC2650 I suggest you use a lower version of CCS such as version 8.2 or 9. Download the latest BLE Stack 2.2 here.

https://www.ti.com/tool/BLE-STACK#downloads

-kel

Hmm.  I'll look for a older version of code composer.  The link you provided for the ble stack is one I visited earlier.  It has two downloads:

Hmm.  I am installing the 9.x version.  I'm using the custom install method and I have only selected the CC26xx components.  See picture.  This is the same process I did on linux.  I wonder if the component has an unspecified dependency on another component.

Hmm.  The same error as before.  I installed two examples which appear when I select my board.  

The error log for the uart example has the following error:

```

error: xdc.cfg.Program: "C:/ti/ccs930/xdctools_3_60_02_34_core/packages/xdc/cfg/Program.xs", line 71: xdc.cfg.Program : The package 'ti.sysbios.knl' is not compatible with XDCtools used in this build. Please either use XDCtools compatible with that package, or update the product containing that package, or rebuild the package with XDCtools 3.50 or later.
js: "C:/ti/ccs930/xdctools_3_60_02_34_core/packages/xdc/cfg/Main.xs", line 160: Error: Configuration failed!

```

During installation of the examples it points out one component is not available.

Here it shows a mismatch for one component.

Refer to XDC Tools download page below. Download the appropriate XDC Tools to C:\ti

http://downloads.ti.com/dsps/dsps_public_sw/sdo_sb/targetcontent/rtsc/

-kel

hmm.  I have the latest version of that installed already on both the linux and windows install.  The specific version mentioned in the error message is not shown.

With that said, I downloaded and "installed" the previous version on my linux install.  I opened the eclipse window preferences to point the new tool directory and it removed existing entries and now I can not close/exit code composer studio.  To be honest, I'm very disappointed in the Texas Instruments toolchain.  It seems overly complicated and fragile.

Hi John,

If you open the release notes of BLE STACK 2.2 located at C:\ti\simplelink\ble_sdk_2_02_05_02, you need these below installed.

TI-RTOS version 2.21.01.08 default installation path: C:\ti\tirtos_cc13xx_cc26xx_2_21_01_08

XDC Tools 3.32.00.06 default installation path: C:\ti\xdctools_3_32_00_06_core

You can download the TI-RTOS from below.

http://downloads.ti.com/dsps/dsps_public_sw/sdo_sb/targetcontent/tirtos/index.html

I do not have a Linux PC, so I can not comment regarding that.

-kel

Ok since this is a mess.  I'll remove my existing install on linux and reinstall the toolchain while I describe the errors that occur along the way.

# Start

* Host Debian 10.10 with all patches up to date.

* /home/davis/ti directory is removed. 

* Using Chromium open source version of Chrome browser.  The TI Cloud Agent Bridge extension is still installed and not removed.

* Verify nothing is already running from TI

```

ps auxw | grep node

ps auxw | grep ccstudio

No processes listed.  It appears its a clean slate.

# Attempt to use the code composer studio cloud 

Navigate to this [page](https://www.ti.com/tool/CCSTUDIO?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=epd-der-null-code_composer-cpc-evm-google-wwe&utm_content=code_composer&ds_k=code+composer&DCM=yes&gclid=CjwKCAjwzruGBhBAEiwAUqMR8KP37uaqheezEAMLqOMmzOviLcSnPqL5-UMlf53zGcVSR3p7QW157hoCk5QQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)

Select code composer studio cloud

It gives some errors about non existing pages and eventually lands on ti dev tools page.  It says on the page that for best experiences ti cloud agent needs to be installed.  I have not removed the extension so I'm not sure if that is a general message or an error where it detects a missing or misconfigured agent extension.  Ignoring that I click on the "Create project online".

It moves to this page.

Perhaps this is expected since I deleted the /home/davis/ti directory.  Click the download button to install the app.  It asks to choose a install directory.  By default it goes in the /home/davis directory.  Sure enough I have a /home/davis/TICloudAgent directory.  Also at the end of the install process it instructs me to plug in the LAUNCHXL-CC2650 eval board.  It seems to detect the board correctly since the install completes.

Reload the new project page for ccstudio cloud online.  It installs file and then hangs.  See screenshot.

Close tab and reclick the ccstudio cloud from the TIDevTools webpage.  This time it simply displays and unknown error occured.  See screenshot.

LOL, this is amusing.

Open a new chromium browser window and try again.  This time it works.  My board is detected and this screen appears.

Before you get excited, take note that it says REV 1.0 in the UI but on the board it says CC2650 Launchpad Rev 1.2.   That does not leave me confident its working properly.

Anyway click "use my board" and then click next.  It shows the next screen

I select the minimal footprint example and click through the various next dialogs and it comes to this page where it hangs.  Oddly it says I have accepted 4 of 2.  Not feeling confident in the software quality at this point.

Close the tab and try again.  It hangs on an untitled page once I click on the import button.  LOL

Close the window, open a new one, navigate to code composer studio online, detect board, select import of minimal project example again.  Locks on a blank webpage.  

Code Composer Studio Cloud is unusable on Linux.  Punt.

# Attempt to use the code composer studio IDE on local machine.

Navigate to this page and select install CCSTUDIO for linux.

https://www.ti.com/tool/CCSTUDIO?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=epd-der-null-code_composer-cpc-evm-google-wwe&utm_content=code_composer&ds_k=code+composer&DCM=yes&gclid=CjwKCAjwzruGBhBAEiwAUqMR8D1pqk3BeAsKRNGIUY4Q2tEiH82XanJmLKtpnQKR0pxeiGJsXLjCWBoCXYwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Select "Linux on-demand installer for CCS IDE"

It downloads a tgz file.  tar -xvzf the .tgz file.  It creates a .run file and a readme.  Execut the .run file and it pops up ecliipse/ccs installat5ion dialog.  Oddly it pops up a dependency checker which checks glibc and 32 bit lib.  No errors are noted.  I seem to recall more dependcies previously.  Perhaps that was on windows.

Click though dialogs.  Make installation directory /home/davis/ti/ccs1031

At the point where it asks for custom or full install, I once again click on custom (Recommended) and then on components dialog I only install the CC26XX component since that matches my board.

Contnue to click through the various dialogs.  No choice really.  It simply imforms me that the software installation does not support items which I'm not using.  Not sure what the value of these dialogs are.  Anyway, it starts downloading components.  Eventually it completes the install without errors are warnings.

Start ccs using window manager and it pops up the workspace directory.  I chose the default of /home/davis/workspace_v10 and then launch.  It opens CCS and shows the Getting Started with Code Composer Studio page.  Click on "Browse and import examples".  It opens the same webpage from before where I need to detect my board.  See screenshot.

Click on the import minimal project example and it says it needs to be downloaded.  I've seen this dialog before.  It says the example depends upon a version of xdctools which does not exist.  See screenshot.

Go ahead and install taking note that I need xdctools 3.32.00.06.  At one point it requests a restart of ccs.  I do that.

So we know it will fail to build, but I should at least document what happens afterwards because its confusing.

CCS reopens.  I select the same workspace as before.  I click on the project explorer and it shows an empty dialog as if no projects are available.  I expected to see the example project I just installed.

Hmm. It appears it is not installed.  Very confusing.  Looking in the /home/davis/workspace_v10 directory it has two directories, dvt and RemoteSystemsTempFiles.  None appears in the project browser.  

Attempt again to install/import the example.  This time taking note of any possible output directories.

As an aside, have you ever heard of frustration versus enthusiasm? Frustration usually occurs when reality does not match expectation.  For example, I expect when I click on the "import" button, I expect/anticipate it will download the example code for the cc2650 and make it available in the IDE for development.  I expect it to have a functioning build, but lets not get ahead of ourselves.  What happens when I click import?

Hmm, this time it quickly "downloads" the files, pops up the dialog about missing components and now the example code is in the project browser.  Also, now a ls /home/davis/workspace_v10 shows the directory empty_min_cc2650_launchxl_ti.  I guess I need to adjust my expectations.  The reality is that operations need to be repeated multiple times in order to work.  I wonder if I can adjust my customers expectations that things will eventually work on repeated attempts.

We know this is going to fail, but anyway, click rebuild project so that it does a make clean and then make all.  Sure enough it fails.  

I'm tired and frustrated at this point.

LOL, Ok.  I admit I took a moment to look at the STM32WB module and thought do i really want to restart with that since I have good luck with STM toolchain.  However, I've already done the board layout for the TI 2650 module so I tried a few more things.

I noticed on the other replys was this page:

http://downloads.ti.com/dsps/dsps_public_sw/sdo_sb/targetcontent/rtsc/

The poster noted on windows he installed the 3.32.00.06 lib in the c:/ti directory.  So I downloaded the first one listed for linux.  Which is another point of confusion.  Assuming this is for people who use code composer studio, I assume the first/top-most entry is the one to use.  I downloaded it, unziped the file (by the way why use zip files on linux?) to the /home/davis/ti/ directory.  I then used the ccs->windows->preferences->products page to "install" the new product.  I also noted the existing product for xdc tools is installed in the directory for ti/ccs1031 instead in ti.  Anway, I attempted a new build and it fails again.

LOL

Also, regarding this page http://downloads.ti.com/dsps/dsps_public_sw/sdo_sb/targetcontent/rtsc/3_32_00_06/index_FDS.html

It has two sets of downloads.  One variant says 3.32.00.06 core JRE and then beside that says for use in an eclipse IDE without a JRE.  Why would it mention eclipse?  I know code composer studio is built on eclipse but its confusing.  Is it distinguishing between regular eclipse and ccs?  Also, if it does not have a JRE, why specify the name as JRE?  Wouldn't NOJRE make more sense?  Hmm. oddly enough when you download the link and examine the file name, it does say NOJRE.  Someone in TI's test department should have an easy time documenting errors and consistency.  LOL, when you extract the contents they both have the same top level directory name. LOL  Trying to install the no jre option does not work.  The dialog acts like it installed but it has no change in the listed products aftewards.  It did not adjust the existing 3.32.00.06 entry.  It still points to the non jre install I did first.

Anyway, after updating tools a few times it still fails to build. 

Ok I switched to windows laptop because I noticed that the CC2640/CC2650 Bluetooth Low energy Software Developers Guide Rev E specifies to use BLE stack.  This software only has a download for windows.  I uninstalled my existing TI software from the windows computer. I notice that the software is only available for windows.

I installed it and It seems it only provides a btool in the program menu along with some pdfs.  One of these is a release note which says to use ccs 7.4.  

I tried running the btool.  I tried different ports - class app user uart and class aux data port.  Also 115k and 9600 baud.  All would timeout.  

I'll try the ccs 7.4 version next.

Im still in process for installing the 7.4 version of ccs.  One thing of noteis that when you try to browse it fails.  You must install via a manual process the tirex software.  I did that and when I tried to install an example it did work.  Ie. it installed the sample.  Here are some screenshots during the install. 

Ok  Whoo!  It actually builds.  You need to install and then import to get the example hello project to appear in the workspace.  Then it actually builds.

Hi,

Well done.

Please don't hesitate to open a new thread if you have more questions.

Kind regards,