Mastering Embedded ‘Systems programming’ on ARM Cortex-M4

A bare-metal hands-on deep dive into Linker, Make, Memory Access, Startup, Clock Tree, Interrupts and GPIO on Cortex-M4

Created by: Diptopal Basu
Technical Instructor

What Will I Learn?

• Understand the ARM Cortex-M4 Core on the STM32F411 Discovery Board. Datasheets and Reference Manuals walkthroughs
• Learn standalone use (no IDE involved) of the GNU ARM Embedded Toolchain
• Cube IDE (with Makefile Projects) and CUBE Programmer
• Basics of ARM GNU debugger (ARM GDB) commands with examples
• Embedded C for 32 bit controllers. Different methods for Register and Memory Access, Bitwise operations, Inline Assembly
• Learn how to use the CMSIS memory map header
• Deep dive into the Clock subsystem, learn about PLL operation, bare-metal configuration of clock tree and PLL, without using any configuration tool
• Understand the Interrupt mechanism in detail, through extensive demos. Understand Stack creation and Teardown, for both floating and non-floating point modes
• Interrupt preemption with examples run on the debugger
• Lots of supplementary information provided on topics like Lazy Stacking, double word padding, memory barrier instructions etc. with demos
• Learn how to set up the Exception Vector Table from the reference manual. Learn about the difference between exceptions and interrupts
• On startup, learn how to copy initialised variables from Flash to SRAM; set up stack and .bss memory areas, with examples, and live memory views while on debug
• Set up and configure the SysTick and EXTI interrupts
• Understand the ELF object file format. Look into object files to inspect the ELF format in detail, through objdump (for ARM) and readelf commands
• Deep dive into the Linker mechanism. Learn about Symbol Relocation and Resolution by investigating Symbol Tables, Relocation Tables and more
• Understand how Global Variables are handled by the compiler and Linker. Understand the properties of Linker Variables and how to use them
• VMA (Virtual Memory Address) and LMA (Load Memory Address). Understand how VMA and LMA are controlled through Linker Scripts
• Write Linker scripts for various memory configuration, deriving from the knowledge of the Linker mechanism
• Understand the Make mechanism through multiple examples with increasing complexity. Understand how Make dependency tree works
• Write moderately complex Makefiles
• Learn about the GPIO subsystem, circuitry of the I/O pins. Learn different pin modes like open drain, push pull, alternate functions and internal pull ups

Requirements

• Professional microcontroller working knowledge is a must, at least knowledge of any 8-bit controller, better still if you are aware of any 16-bit architecture
• Good knowledge of Binary and Hexadecimal number systems is a must
• Good knowledge of C programming and pointer, data structure and bitwise operator concepts are a must
• Knowledge of embedded C is a must at least for 8 bit controllers.
• Knowledge of basic Analog and Digital electronics is good to have
• STM32F411 Discovery Board and Mini USB cable needed to follow the course

Target audience

• Do not take up this course if you are not already an embedded systems professional on an 8 bit microcontroller at least
• Advanced Hobbyists and Enthusiasts interested in Bare-metal programming on the STM32F4 Microcontroller
• Working professionals looking to upgrade to an ARM Cortex-M4 controller from 8 bit or 16 bit counterparts