Setting Up A Project In Keil MDK

Though Cortex-M processors have been designed so that all operations can be programmed with C/C++ code, it can be useful to also understand how to create assembler level code, which can be more efficient than compiler generated code.

You will write assembly level functions conforming to the Arm Procedure Call Standard .

Keil MDK is used as the toolchain. For installation instructions, refer to the Keil MDK install guide .

Efficient Embedded Systems Education Kit

This Learning Path is based on examples from the Efficient Embedded Systems Education Kit , which uses the Nucleo-F401RE development board.

You will use the Cortex-M4 Fixed Virtual Platform provided with MDK.

Create MDK Project

The first thing to do is set up a new project. Go to ‘Project’ > ‘New uVision Project’.

Select an appropriate place and name for the project.

Configure CMSIS options

A window will show up requesting you to select the target device for the project. Use the Search to locate ARMCM4. Select and click OK.

You will next be prompted to select software components that you wish to include in your project. Select CMSIS > Core and Device > Startup. Click OK.

Configure the FVP

Click the Options for target icon.

In the Debug tab, select Models Cortex-M Debugger. Click Settings, and browse for the FVP provided with MDK in the Command pane.

    

        
        
            Keil_v5/ARM/avh-fvp/bin/models/FVP_MPS2_Cortex-M4_MDK.exe
        
    

Configure build settings

In the C/C++ tab, set the Optimization level to -O1.

In the Linker tab, deselect Use Memory Layout from Target Dialog. and a Scatter File will be created. Click the Edit button to open in the background. Click OK to save all Options.

In this scatter file, add a region ARM_LIB_STACK. The C library initialization code will initialize the stack at the top of this region.

    

        
        
            LR_IROM1 0x00000000 0x00040000  {    ; load region size_region
    ER_IROM1 0x00000000 0x00040000  {  ; load address = execution address
        *.o (RESET, +First)
        *(InRoot$$Sections)
        .ANY (+RO)
        .ANY (+XO)
    }
    RW_IRAM1 0x20000000 0x00020000  {  ; RW data
        .ANY (+RW +ZI)
    }
    ARM_LIB_STACK 0x20020000 EMPTY 0x4000 {}
}
        
    

Rename Project items (optional)

Rename Target 1 and Source Group 1 to more meaningful names, via the Project > Manage... > Project Items menu.