Downloading and setting up NXP MCUXpresso

Getting the SDKs

1. Unless you have already done so, download and install MCUXpressoIDE from here.

2. Navigate to https://mcuxpresso.nxp.com/en/select - register if required

3. In the 'Search by Name' field, enter MKL27Z256xxx4 and then select it from the drop-down list that will appear. Click the ‘Build MCUXpresso SDK’ Button on the right

4. Select the Host OS to match the system you will be using for development, leave Toolchain as MCUXpresso IDE and download the SDK

Setting up NXP's MCUXpresso

Version 11.1.1:

1. Run MCUXpresso and when it starts, skip the wizards and select the 'Switch to main IDE' option from the Welcome screen entitled 'IDE'. 

2. You can optionally create a new workspace for use with module development by selecting Switch Workspace option from the File menu and selecting 'other'.  Using the 'Browse' option, pick a suitable location on your hard disk, and then click OK to confirm your choice. MCUXpresso will restart with a new workspace in the chosen location.

3. To ensure the MCU option 'MKL27Z256xxx4' and SDK is used, locate the 'Installed SDK' pane normally open by default in lower middle section of the IDE.  You may drag the downloaded MKL27Z256xxx4 zip file and drop it into this window or alternatively right click in the window and select 'Import archive' and find and select the downloaded MKL27Z256xxx4 zip file.

4. If you have not already done so, Login to your Thingstream account, go to the downloads section and get the latest C SDK for starter kits and modules. Expand this file into a directory using appropriate tools on your computer. Remember the location of the expanded SDK - we shall refer to this as <SDK_ROOT> below.

5. In MCUXpresso, select File->Open projects from filesystem. The import projects dialog box will appear. To the right of the Input source field, click the Directory button. Find and select <SDK_ROOT> in the file browser. Two projects will be shown in the import projects dialog - ensure that ONLY the projects marked as 'Eclipse project' are checked, and then click Finish at the bottom right corner of the dialog to import them into your workspace.

6. In the Project explorer tab, expand the 'simple-<version>' project and double click the README.html file. This provides further instructions of the simple example project and the options you have for building and running the project on the Thingstream module.

Older versions:

1. Unzip the SDK into a folder of your choice. Remember this location (we will refer to it in step 4, below)

2. Run MCUXpresso and when it starts, create a new workspace for use with module development by selecting the 'Browse' option. Pick a suitable location on your hard disk, and then click OK to confirm your choice. MCUXpresso will then open.

3. To ensure the MCU option 'MKL27Z256xxx4' and SDK is used, on Mac select MCUXpresso -> Preferences, on Windows or Linux (Ubuntu) select Window->preferences. The preferences dialog will appear. In the right hand column, expand the options for MCUXpresso IDE and then select ‘SDK options’.

4. In the SDK search roots section, click the New button on the right hand side, and browse to the location of the folder you unzipped the SDK into in step 1 (above).

5. Click OK at the bottom right corner of the Preferences dialog box. The IDE will display a message about refreshing SDKs.

6. Login to your Thingstream account, go to the downloads section and get the latest C SDK for starter kits and modules. Expand this file into a directory using appropriate tools on your computer. Remember the location of the expanded SDK - we shall refer to this as <SDK_ROOT> below.

7. In MCUXpresso, select File->Open projects from filesystem. The import projects dialog box will appear. To the right of the Input source field, click the Directory button. Find and select <SDK_ROOT> in the file browser. Two projects will be shown in the import projects dialog - ensure that ONLY the projects marked as 'Eclipse project' are checked, and then click Finish at the bottom right corner of the dialog to import them into your workspace.

8. In the column on the left side of the main MCUXpresso window, select the Project explorer tab (if it is not already selected) and right click on the project called 'simple-<version>'. From the pop-up menu, select Properties.

9. In the left-hand column of the Properties dialog, expand the 'C/C++ Build' section and select MCU settings.

10. Ensure that the upper section of the window (SDK MCUs) is expanded.

11. Select MKL27Z256xxx4 from the drop-down list of MCUs for SDKs if it is not already selected. Click OK at the bottom of the settings dialog.

12. In the Project explorer tab, expand the 'simple-<version>' project and double click the README.html file. This provides further instructions of the simple example project and the options you have for building and running the project on the Thingstream module.