Using other toolchains...

[mattomatto]

Hi there,

Let's say I've used the Teensy to develop an idea and I want to use the exact same processor chip in my own circuit for my own product. The major hurdle here is the lack of bootloader using brand new chips. Can anyone advise an alternative programmer / programming environment / tool chain for programming Cortex M4s ?


Thanks for your time!

M

 

[PaulStoffregen]

The easiest path is to use the pre-programmed Mini54 chip.

http://www.pjrc.com/store/ic_mini54_tqfp.html

Just design your own board based on the Teensy 3.0 schematic and use this Mini54 chip, and your board will be compatible with the Teensy Loader and tools normally used with Teensy 3.0 or 3.1.

The less easy path involves using a non-PJRC programmer. The company that makes them is PE Micro.

http://pemicro.com/

Obviously if you take this approach, you can't expect technical support from PJRC for PE Micro's products.

 

[mattomatto]

Just design your own board based on the Teensy 3.0 schematic and use this Mini54 chip, and your board will be compatible with the Teensy Loader and tools normally used with Teensy 3.0 or 3.1.

That is a great solution, thanks. Not that I'm quite at the stage where I need them yet but are you planning on suppling these in bulk for the foreseeable?

I think I just became Teensy's biggest new fan...

 

[Constantin]

Easy choice

I agree that going with an alternate approach to programming the ARM is the wrong choice for most of us for several reasons:
1) Sales of the Teensy series or the Mini54 support Paul, and most of us rely on him to do the heavy lifting so stuff 'just works'.
2) Buying a $1000 ARM programming rig is likely only justifiable for those of us who program MCUs for a living (and I don't!).
3) I can only imagine all the bugs, issues, and other errata that one would face, all alone, when using such a programmer. OK for the professionals, a depressing paperweight reminder for any beginners foolish enough to buy one!
4) Last but not least, any of us can buy 125 Mini54's for the cost of one programmer, never mind the time needed to learn the thing. That's a lot of boards you'd have to make before you'd have the hope of a return.

For me, the choice is easy. If needed (and that's a big if), buy Mini54's at PJRC and enjoy a great group of folk, a easy-to-learn and use IDE, etc. Or, for regular breadboarding stick to the Teensy series. Either option is an amazing value. Thank you, Paul!

 

[mattomatto]

Totally agree, Constantin. I don't imagine myself ever having a career in embedded programming, but I certainly want to learn as much as I possibly can and be producing things along the way that I can use to fund the learning!