These release notes cover the changes between v5.1r1 and v5.2r1 of the TASKING VX-toolset for ARM Cortex.
For previous release notes, please visit the TASKING ARM support website.
This section gives an overview of the most important new features and improvements in v5.2r1 (compared to v5.1r1). See the section with fixed issues for a complete list.
This release adds support for the Cortex-M7 architecture. This includes support for the VFPv5 hardware floating point unit, single precision as well as double precision. New optimizations were added to the compiler and the floating point libraries, making more extensive use of the hardware capabilities.
The VX-toolset for ARM release v5.2 is available for 64-bit Intel-based Macs with OS X (Mavericks and higher). Debugger support is available through STMicroelectronics ST-LINK/V2 and SEGGER J-Link.
This release includes an updated version 4.4 of the IDE Eclipse named Luna. For features, improvements and bug fixes, please refer to the Eclipse community website.
The version of the CMSIS sources distributed with this release is 4.3.0. For detailed information, please refer to the CMSIS website.
Support has been added for the following device families and series:
Device-specific files are now included in separate Eclipse plugins, allowing for future updates through the Eclipse update mechanism without the need for a full toolset release (or patch release). As a consequence of this, there is a difference in the way the compiler can be invoked from the command line and the use of the --cpu option (compared to v5.1r1). This option must be accompanied by the --processors option to specify the processors definition file for the selected CPU. Please refer to the User Guide for further details.
The Pin Mapper supports all STM32 families, including the new STM23F7 family. The Pin Mapper generates initialization code which can be used by the application directly, or indirectly via the Software Platform. However, the Software Platform does not support the STM32L0 family or the STM32F7 family. For these families the generated code must be invoked directly by the application. This code requires the latest STM32Cube libraries for these families from STMicroelectronics. Pin Mapper generated code for other families requires the pre-Cube firmware libraries included with the Software Platform.
New features:
Altium Designer launch:
If you have Altium Designer installed, you can launch it from within the Pin Mapper editor (launch button). If you have added the TASKING Pin Mapper provider extension (via DXP -> Extensions and Updates menu) you will be guided by a wizard. One of the steps is to select the proper STM32 component. For a populated list of devices you first need to install (from file or from vault) the STMicroelectronics STM32 integrated component library (IntLib). Altium Designer will generate a schematic document containing the microcontroller and a peripheral harness for each peripheral configured through the Pin Mapper, connected to the right pins using symbolic net names.
The TASKING Pin Mapper provider extension can also be used for pin swapping purposes on a PCB document. Pins can be swapped on the microcontroller. Altium Designer obtains the valid pin swapping options for a particular pin from the TASKING Pin Mapper. After confirmation by the user, the TASKING Pin Mapper will update the pin configuration document. This will make the change immediately available to the embedded software project.
The Software Platform supports all STM32 families, except for the STM32L0 and the STM32F7 families.
New features:
Synchronization with Pin Mapper:
The Software Platform document can be synchronized with the Pin Mapper document. When pressing the new synchronization button, a dialog pops up which shows which configured peripherals were found in the Pin Mapper document that are not (yet) on the Software Platform document, and the peripherals which are on the Software Platform document but are not configured by the Pin Mapper document. The dialog will offer to add the former and remove the latter. Synchronization is based on Pin Mapper generated code, so this code must be generated before the synchronization feature becomes available.
Altium provides a download site for updates to the ARM Eclipse IDE. This is primarily intended for updates to fast changing components such as the Software Platform Repository and Device Support. You can update your installation by using the Available Updates wizard.
For a quick start, just start the ARM Eclipse IDE from the Start menu. This will start the Eclipse based development environment. You will be asked to select a workspace. In case you used Eclipse before it is recommended to select a new workspace. After clicking OK, you will see the 'Welcome' view at the right of editor area. On this view you will see icons that link to specific information. You can, for example, select the 'Samples' icon and import the ARM generic or ARM Software Platform project examples.
Another icon on the Welcome page, the 'First Steps' icon, links to the 'ARM Getting Started' document. This is a good starting point for exploring the capabilities of the environment and the tools.
TASKING products are protected with TASKING license management software.
You need a license key when you install a TASKING product on a computer. When you order a TASKING product from Altium or one of its distributors, a license key will be sent to you by email or on paper.
See Obtaining a License on our website for more information.
If you have ordered a TASKING product with a floating license, you can have it serviced by the Remote TASKING License Server (the most convenient solution) or through a Local TASKING License Server (in case you have no external network access for example). Consult your Altium representative for assistance on deciding what the best setup would be for your situation.
If you like to setup up a local license server, we kindly refer you for more information to Support for TASKING License Management System (TLM) on our website. Here you can also download the Local TASKING License Server package.
It is advised that you install the Local TASKING License Server before you install products that require this server.
The list of open issues for v5.2r1 can be found on the internet.