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February 16, 2016February 16, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 6 Comments

Microchip Introduces MPLAB Xpress Cloud-based IDE and MPLAB Xpress Evaluation Board

Microchip has just launched MPLAB Xpress online IDE with some of the most used features of the company’s MPLAB X IDE, as well as a free – in limited quantities – MPLAB Xpress evaluation board based on a PIC16 micro-controller. Let’s get through the development board specifications first: MCU – Microchip PIC16F18855 MCU with 14KB flash, 1KB SRAM, 256 bytes EEPROM USB – micro USB port for power and programming Expansion Headers Unpopulated mikroBUS header supporting one of 180 Click boards Unpopulated 2x 14-pin header with GPIOs, I2C, SPI, UART, ADC, etc… Misc – Reset button, user button, potentiometer Dimensions – N/A Playing with hardware is always more fun, but if you just want to evaluation the online IDE, you don’t even need the board. Visit MPLAB Xpress Code Examples page, load one of the example, possibly log-in if you want to save changes to the 10GB free online storage […]

February 10, 2016February 10, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 6 Comments

STMicro Releases Linux based STM32 MCU Development Tools

Until a few years ago, most development tools for micro-controllers were only available for Windows, but as Linux gained popularity among developers and engineers, community of developers designed development tools running in Linux, but only a few companies are providing tools that run on Linux operating systems. The good news is that STMicro has just announced the release of STM32CubeMX configurator and System Workbench for STM32, for both Linux and Windows, with Mac OS supporting coming on Q2 2016. Developped by Ac6 embedded systems company, System Workbench for STM32 relies on Eclipse IDE, supports the ST-LINK/V2 debugging tool under Linux through an adapted version of the OpenOCD project, and can be used with various STMicro STM32 boards including Nucleo boards, Discovery kits, and other Evaluation boards. You can give it a try by visiting OpenSTM32 Community, but for some reasons they ask you to register before accessing the installation instructions. […]

December 23, 2015December 23, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

How to Resize Android’s Internal Storage Partition in Rockchip Devices

I installed Light Biz OS firmware on GeekBox yesterday, but I’ve quickly realized many applications such as Gimp Inkscape would not install due to the small 1.94GB “internal partition”, so I asked how to increase the partition size in GeekBox forums last evening, and got an answer overnight from “dewet”. The good news is that it worked so I’ll share the steps I followed in a computer running Ubuntu 14.04. It might also be possible to perform the same tasks within a Windows machine with Rorkchip’s Factory tools First let’s download the utils with relevant scripts and binaries:

git clone https://github.com/geekboxzone/utils
cd utils/rockdev

1 2	git clone https://github.com/geekboxzone/utils cd utils/rockdev

Now copy your device or board’s firmware file “update.img” to the working directory, and unpack it:

./unpack.sh update.img

1	./unpack.sh update.img

The output should look like:

start to unpack update.img...
********RKImageMaker ver 1.61********
Unpacking image, please wait...
Exporting boot.bin
Exporting firmware.img
Unpacking image success.
Android Firmware Package Tool v1.0
Check file... OK
------- UNPACK ------
package-file    0x00000800    0x000002A6
Loader.bin    0x00001000    0x0003594E
parameter    0x00037000    0x000003BF
Image/trust.img    0x00037800    0x00400000
Image/uboot.img    0x00437800    0x00400000
Image/resource.img    0x00837800    0x00606400
Image/misc.img    0x00E3E000    0x0000C000
Image/kernel.img    0x00E4A000    0x00D08C4C
Image/boot.img    0x01B53000    0x001354E8
Image/recovery.img    0x01C88800    0x00FB4000
Image/system.img    0x02C3C800    0x28D29000
update-script    0x2B965800    0x000003A5
recover-script    0x2B966000    0x0000010A
Unpack firmware OK!
------ OK ------
Unpacking update.img OK.
Press any key to quit:

start to unpack update.img...

********RKImageMaker ver 1.61********

Unpacking image, please wait...

Exporting boot.bin

Exporting firmware.img

Unpacking image success.

Android Firmware Package Tool v1.0

Check file... OK

------- UNPACK ------

package-file 0x00000800 0x000002A6

Loader.bin 0x00001000 0x0003594E

parameter 0x00037000 0x000003BF

Image/trust.img 0x00037800 0x00400000

Image/uboot.img 0x00437800 0x00400000

Image/resource.img 0x00837800 0x00606400

Image/misc.img 0x00E3E000 0x0000C000

Image/kernel.img 0x00E4A000 0x00D08C4C

Image/boot.img 0x01B53000 0x001354E8

Image/recovery.img 0x01C88800 0x00FB4000

Image/system.img 0x02C3C800 0x28D29000

update-script 0x2B965800 0x000003A5

recover-script 0x2B966000 0x0000010A

Unpack firmware OK!

------ OK ------

Unpacking update.img OK.

Press any key to quit:

The files will be in the “output” directory. For our purpose “parameter” file, and especially the last line (CMDLINE) where we will want to adjust the userdata partition […]

December 21, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

$15 Microchip Curiosity Development Board Supports 8-bit PIC Microcontrollers

I’ve just found out Microchip had introduced Curiosity development board a little while ago, in order to let students and others experiment with their 8-bit PIC DIP MCUs, and including MikroElectronika Mikrobus footprint, an interface for Microchip RN4020 module to add Bluetooth Low Energy, as well as other headers and some extra features like buttons, and a potentiometer. Microchip Curiosity board specifications: MCU – PIC MCU socket for 8, 14, and 20-pin micro-controllers with PIC16F1619 pre-installed. Expansion mikroBUS Click Board footprint Microchip RN4020 Bluetooth Module Footprint USB – USB mini-B connector Misc – Master Clear Reset button, potentiometer, LEDs, mTouch button, push button Power Supply 5V via USB 9V using an external power supply (footprints only) 3.3V to 5V external power supply via TP3 and TP4 pins Dimensions – N/A There are over 160 MikroElektronika Click boars on the market now, but only seven are listed with code samples for […]

December 7, 2015December 7, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

How to extract kernel.img with mkboot script

As I tried instructions to install Linux on Amlogic S905 Android TV boxes yesterday, I wanted to extract kernel.img file found in Android firmware, but Google did not help that much until I found mkboot part of mkbootimg_tools scripts. But first let’s see how kernel.img is created… Google provide a Python script called mkbootimg that combine the kernel image (e,.g. zImage), a rootfs/ramdisk and the device tree (DTB) file with a command line that looks like:

./mkbootimg --base=0 --kernel_offset=0x01080000  --kernel ${KERNEL} --ramdisk_offset=0x01000000 --ramdisk ./${ROOTFS} --second ${DTBFILE} --output ./kernel.img

1	./mkbootimg --base=0 --kernel_offset=0x01080000 --kernel ${KERNEL} --ramdisk_offset=0x01000000 --ramdisk ./${ROOTFS} --second ${DTBFILE} --output ./kernel.img

However, AFAIK the company does not provide a “unmkbootimg” script, and mkbootimg can only be used to create kernel.img, not decompile it. But that’s what mkboot does, and it works for kernel.img and recovery.img. Let’s retrieve the necessary files first:

git clone https://github.com/xiaolu/mkbootimg_tools

1	git clone https://github.com/xiaolu/mkbootimg_tools

mkboot is a bash script so we can use it right away:

cd mkbootimg_tools
./mkboot 
<Unpack and repack boot.img tool>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not enough parameters or parameter error!
unpack boot.img & decompress ramdisk：
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; mkboot [img] [output dir]
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; mkboot boot.img boot20130905
Use the unpacked directory repack boot.img(img_info)：
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; mkboot [unpacked dir] [newbootfile]
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; mkboot boot20130905 newboot.img

cd mkbootimg_tools

./mkboot

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Not enough parameters or parameter error!

unpack boot.img & decompress ramdisk：

    mkboot [img] [output dir]

    mkboot boot.img boot20130905

Use the unpacked directory repack boot.img(img_info)：

    mkboot [unpacked dir] [newbootfile]

    mkboot boot20130905 newboot.img

So it can be used both for unpacking and repacking kernel.img to/from the output directory. Let’s run the command […]

November 24, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Yocto Project 2.0 “Jethro” Released

The Yocto Project 2.0 was released a few days ago. The framework used to create embedded Linux distributions supports Poky 14 “Jethro” reference distribution by default, but other Linux distributions can also be built with the Yocto Project. Some of the key features and improvements of Yocto Project 2.0 include: Added gcc 5.2 which is now the default compiler (gcc 4.8 and 4.9 are also provided) Updated linux-yocto kernel for qemu* and reference BSPs to version 4.1 Added basic support for Altera Nios II and Adapteva Epiphany Added tune files for Cavium ThunderX, Cavium Octeon, ARM Cortex-A17, Intel Quark X1000, and ARM vfpv3 and vfpv3d16 features Toaster Web UI improvements – Better performance and reliability; simplified setup; user-friendly layout; etc… wic image creation tool version 0.2.0 with bug fixed and new features, such as GPT partition tables, native tools, image compression, etc… Image generation adds support for qcow2, vdi (VirtualBox […]

November 10, 2015January 25, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments

Intel Quark D1000 Customer Reference Board and Intel System Studio for Microcontrollers

Intel unveiled Intel Quark D1000, D2000 and SE micro-controllers last week, with Intel Quark D1000 available now for $2.5 to $4 depending in quantities, and to my knowledge the first Intel MCU that can be considered ultra low power. I could not see a development board at the time, but Intel does have an Intel Quark D1000 Customer Reference Board with a familiar Arduino form factor. Intel Quark D1000 board specifications: MCU – Intel Quark D1000 32-bit CISC micro-controller @ 32 MHz Storage – 4MB SPI flash (Microchip ) Connectivity – Bluetooth LE radio, Wi-Fi (Inventek Systems Serial to Wifi module) Sensor – 3-axis accelerometer Expansion – Arduino compatible headers with GPIOs, I2C, SPI, UART, analog inputs, and 5V, 3.3V and GND. Debugging – mini USB port for programming and debugging; JTAG pins Power – 5V via mini USB port, or LiPo / Li-ion battery Dimensions – N/A Information about […]

November 6, 2015November 7, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Operys Process Explorer App Shows Android Processes in Your Computer’s Web Browser

Opersys is an Android and Embedded Linux company providing both development and training services, and they regularly attend conferences and release their training materials. The company has also developed a few Android apps to export the file system, the process list and info, and interaction between apps and Android system services exposed via Binder to your computer’s web browser. I found the most interesting app to be Process Explorer, so I gave it a try on Iocean M6752 smartphone. The application requires very little permissions to install, and it’s very simple to use. Simply tap on Start the service, and the app will provide the URL to browse the processes on your computer, in my case http://192.168.0.105:3000. The output is pretty useful, as you get much more information than you could get on your smartphone or tablet screen with CPU and memory usage, running time, logcat, etc… If you click […]