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erebus-labs / sense_platform

Open Hardware & Software Sensing Solution for K12 Students
http://www.erebuslabs.com/elaunch/
GNU General Public License v2.0
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ARM-MDK Limitations and Budget #8

Closed erebuslabs closed 9 years ago

erebuslabs commented 9 years ago
  1. The free version of KEIL ARM-MDK has a 32KB limit on code size, @eulerworks is butting up against 30KB right now. Would a license fit into the budget?
erebuslabs commented 9 years ago

@eulerworks I'll look into it - questions for you:

  1. What uC are you using at the moment (e.g. which version of the ARM-MDK are you looking at - CoretexM?)
  2. Depending on cost - if I got the license would you be comfortable with it being associated with an erebuslabs email account?
  3. Do you have / have you used any local distributors before?

I'll reach out to a contact that I have at one of the distributors to see if they have a time limited license for educational purposes.

eulerworks commented 9 years ago

I am currently using KEIL ARM-MDK uVision 5, (free version.) This release has the 32KB limit. I am doing my best to keep code size minimal but as stated we currently sit right at 30KB. I simply wanted to open a dialog on the subject should it begin to limit functionality. -I do not have a problem associating an Erebus-labs email account

eulerworks commented 9 years ago

I have not personally used a local distributor, the license is purchase-able via their website, perhaps even the IDE itself. There are potentially ways around this problem for the "less-scrupulous" however I think my time is better spent working on the source itself. I will gather pricing options and forward them to you.

erebuslabs commented 9 years ago

Contacted my friend who used to be at one of the distributors - unfortunately he's moved on. I'll wait to hear back from the request form I filled out earlier today - and I'll update you as soon as I have information.

erebuslabs commented 9 years ago

I'll look through your documentation - but Arm Cortex is your uC based on? Cortex-M0, M0+, M1, M3, M4 / Cortex-R4 / ARM7 / ARM9

That'll help determine the specific version of the ARM-MDK to purchase.

In looking further also - what is the specific uC - there seem to maybe be cheaper options if limited to a given manufacturer. (Though still pricy)

erebuslabs commented 9 years ago

Okay basic inspection shows a 1 year seat ~$4000-$5000. Which is slightly out of reach for the scope of this project - BUT - there might be work arounds:

I'll continue to investigate and see if they're willing to give us an educational break.

eulerworks commented 9 years ago

Ok, that is significantly more than I was anticipating. Is there perhaps any sort of "student license"? I was trying to use CooCox to begin with, may try I revisit it if need be. The IC is the ST Micro STM32F205, STMCube is the software platform that generates portions of the code, I am not aware of a programming and debugging suite from them.

Steve Peirce CTO Eulerworks Inc. 503-519-4846

On Mar 3, 2015, at 8:14 AM, Mike@ Erebus Labs notifications@github.com wrote:

Okay basic inspection shows a 1 year seat ~$4000-$5000. Which is slightly out of reach for the scope of this project - BUT - there might be work arounds:

coocox? and, a more completely a full list of ARM_Cortex-M dev tools - based on the specific uC manufacturer. I'll continue to investigate and see if they're willing to give us an educational break.

— Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub.

erebuslabs commented 9 years ago

There may be other options as well: there seem to be a list of potential tools on the ST site. I noticed that if you only select the main product family it does a much better job at actually showing you the related toolchains (e.g. just select STM32)! http://www.st.com/web/catalog/tools/FM147/CL1794/SC961/SS1533

eulerworks commented 9 years ago

I will look at the link but will just identify the fact that I spent a month writing my own code for OpenOCD/Olimex JTAG unit as well as evaluating all of the recommended IDEs, STMCube generates code for KEIL, TrueSTUDIO and EWARM formats. KEIL wasn't far the best and have made the most progress using it, I will try to slim down the code.

Steve Peirce CTO Eulerworks Inc. 503-519-4846

On Mar 3, 2015, at 11:18 AM, Mike@ Erebus Labs notifications@github.com wrote:

There may be other options as well: there seem to be a list of potential tool - I noticed that if you only select the main product family it does a much better job at actually showing you the related toolchains (e.g. just select STM32)! http://www.st.com/web/catalog/tools/FM147/CL1794/SC961/SS1533

— Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub.

erebuslabs commented 9 years ago

No worries - I don't want you to have to do a code re-write - so we'll find a way to make it work.

Do you have any faculty contacts that might have access to educational tool sets/pricing? Could Lisa / Dr. Zurk help in getting us the access to the tool (and I could foot the bill @ educational prices?)

erebuslabs commented 9 years ago

ARM Educational Program? http://www.arm.com/support/university/students/index.php

erebuslabs commented 9 years ago

So I've continued to run into dead ends on getting any type of "educational break" for the ARM-MDK without code size restrictions. Are you still running up against the code limit? Do I need to re-open communication channels with potential vendors?

eulerworks commented 9 years ago

I am still using the ARM-MDK but will most likely shift to a more open source methodology soon. Especially considering that we shouldn't expect the students to buy a license should they want to recompile the binaries/update the firmware

Steve Peirce CTO Eulerworks Inc. 503-519-4846

On Mar 23, 2015, at 12:57 PM, Mike@ Erebus Labs notifications@github.com wrote:

So I've continued to run into dead ends on getting any type of "educational break" for the ARM-MDK without code size restrictions. Are you still running up against the code limit? Do I need to re-open communication channels with potential vendors?

— Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub.

erebuslabs commented 9 years ago

Makes sense - let me know if there's anything else I can help with on this front.