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Micropython Firmware Build Notes.md

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Micropython Firmware Build Notes.md

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Dependencies (for ubuntu 18.04):

  • git
  • gcc
  • make
  • gcc-arm-none-eabi
  • libnewlib-arm-none-eabi on Ubuntu 18.04

Build process (from WeAct)

1) Make MicroPython cross compiler

git clone https://github.com/micropython/micropython.git
cd micropython
git submodule update --init
cd mpy-cross
make -j4

2) Make MicroPython firmware image for the F411 board

cd ../ports/stm32/boards
git clone https://github.com/mcauser/WEACT_F411CEU6

cd ..

make BOARD=WEACT_F411CEU6 -j4
  • I used the mcauser repository, you can also use the WeAct repository

3) Retrieve build artifacts

cd build-WeAct_F411CE/

Where you can find

firmware.dfu
firmware.elf
firmware.hex
firmware.map
firmware0.bin
firmware1.bin

Firmware 0 and 1 must be flashed contiguously.

Optional: Enable external flash

If you have soldered an SPI flash chip to the underside of the board, or connected one to the pins, you can have MicroPython use that as storage instead of the integrated flash. In both cases, the pins A4 (CS), A5 (SCK), A6 (MISO), and A7 (MOSI) are now in use for SPI.

External SPI flash enabled:

#define MICROPY_HW_ENABLE_INTERNAL_FLASH_STORAGE (0)

in mpconfigboard.h. See here for details on setting the defined flash chip size (eg 32Mbit, 64Mbit).

Flashing Process

You have a few options in how to upload the firmware. In all cases, you will want to put the board into programming mode by

  1. Hold NRST button
  2. Hold BOOT0 button
  3. Release NRST
  4. Release BOOT0

Then you can flash the board:

1) By DFU (with STM32CubeProgrammer)

  • You can also use dfu-util as described in the mcauser repo
  • Oddly, STM32CubeProgrammer does not accept .dfu files, but you can use the .hex or .elf

2) By ST-LINK

  • Connect the ST-Link to the board. Remember not to plug the 3v3 pin in if you are powering the board by USB, or will be plugging USB in later.

3) By Serial

  • Connect the board to a serial adapter and use STM32CubeProgrammer or st-flash to upload the firmware

Serial REPL and 'USB drive' of Python files

After flashing, press the NRST button to reboot the board.

It should now show up as a ~40KB mass storage device and a COM serial port device when plugged into your PC by USB. The serial port can be connected to at 115200 bps.