CMSIS-Toolbox > Build Operation
This chapter explains the overall build process that of the CMSIS-Toolbox and how to add a new compiler toolchain.
Chapter Contents:
- Build Operation
The section contains details of the build process. Refer to Overall Workflow for a high-level description of the build process.
Note:
- The tool options
--verbose
and--debug
enable detailed output about the build process for analysis.- Refer to the chapter Build Tools for more information on the command line syntax.
The cbuild
Build Invocation utility controls the overall build process. It has two operating modes:
- build mode generates the application and is default command (no explicit command required).
- setup mode generates the setup information for an IDE to populate dialogs, IntelliSense, and project outline views.
Without a specific cbuild
command, the application is generated. The typical invocation is:
cbuild <name>.csolution.yml [--packs] [--context-set] [--update-rte] [--frozen-packs]
It generates the application program that is described with the <name>.csolution.yml
project.
- When option
--packs
is used, it downloads missing software packs using thecpackget
Pack Manager. - It calls the
csolution
Project Manager to process the the<name>.csolution.yml
project.- With option
--update-rte
new configuration files from software packs are updated and theRTE_Components.h
file is recreated. - With option
--context-set
the file*.cbuild-set.yml
specifies the context configuration of the application. - With option
--frozen-packs
the file*.cbuild-pack.yml
is used as input to issue an error when a pack version changes.
- With option
- The output are build information files with all relevant project information for the build process.
- The option
--toolchain
can be used to explicitly select a compiler.
Note:
By default, the
cbuild
invocation does not update or change configuration files in the RTE Directory. Use the option--update-rte
if this is required.
The cbuild setup
command prepares the data for an IDE environment. This command is called at start of an IDE or whenever a csolution project file is modified. The typical invocation is:
cbuild setup <name>.csolution.yml [--packs] [--context-set] [--update-rte] [--frozen-packs]
Typical IDE environments use a --context-set
that specifies the context configuration of the application. For the application program that is described with the <name>.csolution.yml
project these steps are executed:
- Schema check for YML file syntax of all project files specified by
<name>.csolution.yml
. - Check correctness of all project files specified by
<name>.csolution.yml
. - Evaluate the potential software layers for Reference Applications that use
variables:
to refer to layers, but the value is undefined. All projects are considered in this step. - Evaluate the selectable compiler toolchains when the csolution project does not contain a
compiler:
selection or the--toolchain
option is not applied. The available toolchains are based on the compiler registration and theselect-compiler:
node in the file<name>.csolution.yml
orcdefault.yml
. - Create the file
compile_commands.json
in the output directory for the context defined in*.cbuild-set.yml
.
The operation is further controlled by options:
- The option
--packs
downloads missing software packs. - The option
--context-set
restricts the operation to thecontext-set
selected by the file<name>.cbuild-set.yml
. If this file is missing a file<name>.cbuild-set.yml
with selection of the firsttarget-type
, the firstbuild-type
, and firstproject
that is specified in the file<name>.csolution.yml
is created. - The option
--update-rte
updates the configuration files of the application. - With the option
--frozen-packs
the file*.cbuild-pack.yml
is used as input. An error is issued when a pack version changes. - The option
--toolchain
can be used to explicitly select a compiler.
Note:
The file
compile_commands.json
is generated byCMake
with the option--target <context>-database
and contains all source files of thecontext
along with compiler options. It is used by the IntelliSense system of an IDE.
The csolution
Project Manager processes the csolution project files (in YAML format) and the *.pdsc
metadata files of software packs and performs the following operations:
- In the Project Area:
- Generate build information files
*.cbuild-idx.yml
and*.cbuild.yml
with all relevant project information for the build process.
- Generate build information files
- In the RTE Directory:
- Generate for each context the RTE_components.h file and pre-include files from the software pack (
*.pdsc
) metadata. - Copy the configuration files from selected software componentsand provide PLM information.
- Generate for each context the RTE_components.h file and pre-include files from the software pack (
- In the base directory of the solution:
- Generate the file
*.cbuild-pack.yml
that records all used software packs. With the option--frozen-packs
this file is used as input. - With the option
--context-set
the file*.cbuild-set.yml
specifies the context configuration of the application. When--context
names are specified this file is updated with this selection.
- Generate the file
The picture below outlines these operations.
The cbuild2cmake
utility reads the build information files *.cbuild-idx.yml
and *.cbuild.yml
to get all relevant project information for the build process. It generates the following output files for CMake
build system:
Output Directory/File | Description |
---|---|
./<tmp-dir>/CMakeList.txt |
Describes the overall application build process with the current context configuration. |
./<tmp-dir>/<context> |
Each context has a separate sub-directory with the following files: |
./<tmp-dir>/<context>/CMakeList.txt |
Describes the build process for this context. |
./<tmp-dir>/<context>/toolchain.cmake |
Describes the toolchain used for this context. |
./<tmp-dir>/<context>/groups.cmake |
Contains all definitions and source files that related to file groups. |
./<tmp-dir>/<context>/components.cmake |
Contains all definitions and source files that related to components. |
The CMake build system is invoked with the following commands:
-
CMake configuration command defines build generator, source, and build directory with:
cmake -G Ninja -S <tmpdir> -B <tmpdir> -Wnodev
-
CMake build command to build the application program for each context with:
cmake --build <tmpdir> -j <n> --target <context>
-
CMake build command to generate the IntelliSense
compile_commands.json
(used by the commandcbuild setup
) for each context with:cmake --build <tmpdir> -j <n> --target <context>-database
The following section explains how to add a compiler toolchain to the CMSIS-Toolbox.
The section below describes the steps to add a new compiler toolchain to the CMSIS-Toolbox.
- Define a
compiler_name
for the new compiler toolchain, i.e.CLang
. - Add this
compiler_name
to the"CompilerType":
in the schema file./tools/projmgr/schemas/common.schema.json
. - Create a new CMake file in
./tools/buildmgr/cbuildgen/config
with the naming conventioncompiler_name.<version>.cmake
. - Map with the file
compiler_name.<version>.cmake
. the CMake input variables to the CMake toolchain variables.- Use an existing
*.cmake
file, i.e.GCC.<version>.cmake
as reference.
- Use an existing
The CMakeLists.txt
file sets the following CMake input variables that should be processed by compiler_name.<version>.cmake
.
CMake Variable | Possible Values | Description |
---|---|---|
BYTE_ORDER |
Little-endian, Big-endian | Endian processor configuration |
CPU |
DCoreEnum | Processor core selection |
FPU |
DfpuEnum | Floating point unit support |
DSP |
DdspEnum | DSP instruction set support |
TZ |
DtzEnum | TrustZone support |
SECURE |
DsecureEnum | Software model selection |
MVE |
DmveEnum | MVE instruction set support |
BRANCHPROT |
BRANCHPROT values |
[Branch protection |
OPTIMIZE |
Optimize values | Generic optimize levels for code generation |
WARNINGS |
Warnings values | Control warning level for compiler diagnostic |
DEBUG |
Debug values | Control the generation of debug information |
DEFINES |
Define symbols | List of symbol #define statements |
The following table lists the possible values for the CMake variable BRANCHPROT
.
Values | Description |
---|---|
NO_BRANCHPROT | Branch protection not used |
BTI | Using BTI (Branch Target ID) |
BTI_SIGNRET | Using BTI + Sign Return |
The compiler_name.<version>.cmake
sets the following CMake variables to specify the toolchain and select toolchain options.
CMake Variable | Description |
---|---|
ASM_CPU , CC_CPU , CXX_CPU |
Device selection set according to the combination of device attributes (CPU , FPU , DSP , MVE , etc.) |
AS_LEG_CPU , AS_ARM_CPU , AS_GNU_CPU |
Similar to the previous item but for assembly dialect variants (if applicable) |
ASM_FLAGS , CC_FLAGS , CXX_FLAGS , LD_FLAGS |
Flags applicable to all modules of the given language |
CC_SECURE , LD_SECURE |
Flags applicable only for secure projects |
_PI |
Pre-include option |
_ISYS |
system include option |
LIB_PREFIX |
Generated library name prefix |
LIB_SUFFIX |
Generated library name suffix |
EXE_SUFFIX |
Generated executable name suffix |
ELF2HEX |
Flags for ELF to HEX conversion |
ELF2BIN |
Flags for ELF to BIN conversion |
CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID |
CMake compiler identifier |
CMAKE_C_COMPILER_VERSION |
CMake compiler version |
The executes:
node in the csolution project files allows to integrate other CMake projects or scripts.
The following CMakeLists.txt
file integrates the FCARM file converter that is part of the MDK Middleware. The FCARM file converter reformats all web files into a single C-file which is then included and compiled into the project.
# CMakeLists.txt for calling FCARM
# Find input files in the input base directory and in its subfolders using recursive scanning
# Format arguments and generate a steering command file, overcoming any command line length limitation
# Call FCARM using the steering command file, generating the source file in the expected output
#
# Configuration Step: ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G <generator> -S <source directory> -B <build directory> -DINPUT_DIRECTORY=<input base directory> -DOUTPUT=<output source file>
# Build Step: ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build <build directory>
#
# <generator>: underlying generator build system, e.g. Ninja
# <source directory>: directory where this CMakeLists.txt resides
# <build directory>: directory for temp files
# <input base directory>: directory where input data is located
# <output source file>: path and filename of source file to be generated
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.22)
include(ExternalProject)
project("FCARM" NONE)
file(GLOB_RECURSE INPUT ${INPUT_DIRECTORY}/*)
foreach(ITEM ${INPUT})
cmake_path(RELATIVE_PATH ITEM BASE_DIRECTORY ${INPUT_DIRECTORY} OUTPUT_VARIABLE FILE)
list(APPEND FILES ${FILE})
endforeach()
string(REPLACE ";" ",\n" FILES "${FILES}")
cmake_path(RELATIVE_PATH OUTPUT BASE_DIRECTORY ${INPUT_DIRECTORY} OUTPUT_VARIABLE RELATIVE_OUTPUT)
cmake_path(GET INPUT_DIRECTORY FILENAME INPUT_DIRECTORY_NAME)
cmake_path(GET INPUT_DIRECTORY PARENT_PATH WORKING_DIRECTORY)
set(COMMAND_FILE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/Auto_FcArm_Cmd.inp")
file(WRITE ${COMMAND_FILE} "${FILES}\nTO ${RELATIVE_OUTPUT} RTE NOPRINT ROOT(${INPUT_DIRECTORY_NAME})\n")
add_custom_target(FCARM ALL DEPENDS ${OUTPUT})
add_custom_command(OUTPUT ${OUTPUT} DEPENDS ${INPUT}
COMMAND fcarm @${COMMAND_FILE}
WORKING_DIRECTORY ${WORKING_DIRECTORY}
)
Integration in a csolution project. In this case it is part of the *.csolution.yml
, but it may be also part of *.cproject.yml
file that uses the source file Web.c
as input. The CMake build system checks for project dependencies and schedules the overall build process.
solution:
:
executes:
- execute: Run FCARM
run: ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G Ninja -S ${INPUT_0} -B ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/fcarm-cmake -DINPUT_DIRECTORY=${INPUT_1} -DOUTPUT=${OUTPUT} && ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/fcarm-cmake -- --quiet
always:
input:
- fcarm-cmake # CMake script directory
- Web # Input directory with "web files" for FCARM
output:
- project/Web.c # Output file for FCARM
The diagram below shows how a generator is integrated into the CMSIS build process. The data flow is exemplified on STM32CubeMX (Generator ID for this example is CubeMX
). The information about the project is delivered to the generator using the Generator Information files (<csolution-name>.cbuild-gen-idx.yml
and <context>.cbuild-gen.yml
). This information provides CubeMX
with the project context, such as selected board or device, and CPU mode such as TrustZone disabled/enabled.
The utility cbridge
gets as parameter the <csolution-name>.cbuild-gen-idx.yml
and calls the generator. For the CubeMX
generator example these files are created:
*.ioc
CubeMX project file with current project settings*.c/.h
source files, i.e. for interfacing with drivers<project-name>.cgen.yml
(created bycbridge
) provides the data for project import into the csolution build process.
Note: CubeMX itself does not have the required interfaces to the csolution project format. The utility
cbridge
converts the build information files into command-line options for CubeMX.cbridge
also generates the<project-name>.cgen.yml
based on the information generated by CubeMX.
A <component>
element with a generator
attribute in a *.PDSC
file is used to start the generator. Typically this component is provided in a Device Family Pack (DFP) or a Board Support Pack (BSP).
Example component for CubeMX in DFP:
<component generator="CubeMX" Cclass="Device" Cgroup="CubeMX" Cversion="0.9.0">
<description>Configure device or board with STM32CubeMX</description>
</component>
Note:
No
<generator>
element in the *.PDSC file is required when the Global Generator Registry File is used. Thegenerator="id"
attribute of the<component>
element in the*.PDSC
file is the reference to the- id:
list node in theglobal.generator.yml
file.
For generators that have no <generator>
element in the *.PDSC file, the global.generator.yml
in the CMSIS-Toolbox ./etc
directory contains is used. The generator:
node in this YAML file registers the supported generators with the following keys:
generator: |
Content | |
---|---|---|
- id: |
Required | <generator-id> referred in the *.PDSC file |
download-url: |
Optional | URL for downloading the generator |
run: |
Required | Name and location of the utility that starts the generator |
path: |
Required | Output directory of the generator. Contains the file *.cgen.yml . |
generator:
- id: CubeMX
download-url: https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32cubemx.html#st-get-software
run: ../bin/cbridge
path: $SolutionDir()$/STM32CubeMX/$TargetType$
Note:
The only argument to the
run:
command is the path to the Generator Information Index File. There are no configurable parameters for this utility. The invocation is:
cbrige <csolution-name>.cbuild-gen-idx.yml