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Welcome to the .NET nanoFramework firmware flasher tool repository!

This repo contains the nano firmware flasher tool. It's a .NET Core CLI Global Tool that allows flashing a .NET nanoFramework target with nanoBooter, nanoCLR, managed application or backup files. Is part of .NET nanoFramework toolbox, along with other various tools that are required in .NET nanoFramework development, usage or repository management.

It makes use of several 3rd party tools:

• Espressif esptool You can find the esptool and licensing information on the repository here.
• STM32 Cube Programmer You can find the source, licensing information and documentation here.
• Texas Instruments Uniflash You can find the Uniflash tool and licensing information here.

Install .NET nanoFramework Firmware Flasher

Perform a one-time install of the .NET nanoFramework Firmware Flasher tool using the following .NET Core CLI command:

dotnet tool install -g nanoff

After a successful installation a message is displayed showing the command that's to be used to call the tool along with the version installed. Similar to the following example:

You can invoke the tool using the following command: nanoff
Tool 'nanoff' (version '9.9.9') was successfully installed.

Install path issues

⚠️ That are know issues running commands for STM32 devices when nanoff is installed in a path that contains diacritic characters. This is caused by a known bug in STM32 Cube Programmer. If that's the case with your user path, for example, you have to install it in a location that does have those. To accomplish that, use the following .NET Core CLI command on which the path where the tool will be installed is specified:

dotnet tool install nanoff --tool-path c:\a-plain-simple-path-to-install-the-tool

Note that if you're not using nanoff with STM32 devices, this limitation does not apply.

MacOS users

You'll need to add nanoff to your path as well, once installed run:

export PATH=$PATH:~/.dotnet/tools

Update .NET nanoFramework Firmware Flasher

To update .NET nanoFramework Firmware Flasher tool use the following .NET Core CLI command:

dotnet tool update -g nanoff

If the tool was installed at a specific path, use the following .NET Core CLI command instead:

dotnet tool update nanoff --tool-path c:\path-where-the-tool-was-installed

Usage

Once the tool is installed, you can call it by using its command nanoff, which is a short version of the name to ease typing.

nanoff [command] [args]

The tool includes help for all available commands. You can see a list of all available ones by entering:

nanoff --help

ESP32 usage examples

There are multiple ESP32 images available, some are build specifically for a target. Please check out the list.

The ESP32_PSRAM_REV0 image will just work for any variant of the ESP32 series, with or without PSRAM, and for all silicon revisions. You can read more about the differences between the various images here.

The FEATHER_S2 image will just work for pretty much all variants of the ESP32-S2 series that expose the embedded USB CDC pins. You can read more about the differences between the various images here.

When using nanoff you can add --target MY_TARGET_NAME_HERE to use a specific image. If, instead, you just specify the platform with --platform esp32 nanoff will choose the most appropriate image depending on the features of the device that's connected. Output similar to this one will show to advise what's the image about to be used:

No target name was provided! Using 'ESP32_REV0' based on the device characteristics.

Some ESP32 boards have issues entering bootloader mode. This can be usually overcome by holding down the BOOT/FLASH button in the board. In case nanoff detects this situation the following warning is shown:

*** Hold down the BOOT/FLASH button in ESP32 board ***

⚠️ To update FeatherS2 and TinyS2 the boards need to put in download mode by holding [BOOT], clicking [RESET] and then releasing [BOOT].

Update the firmware of an ESP32 target

To update the firmware of an ESP32 target connected to COM31, to the latest available development version.

nanoff --update --target ESP32_PSRAM_REV0 --serialport COM31

Update the firmware of an ESP_WROVER_KIT with a local CLR file

To update the firmware of an ESP_WROVER_KIT target connected to COM31 with a local CLR file (for example from a build). This file has to be a binary file with a valid CLR from a build. No other checks or validations are performed on the file content.

nanoff --update --target ESP_WROVER_KIT --serialport COM31 --clrfile "C:\nf-interpreter\build\nanoCLR.bin" 

You can adjust the name of the core image you want to use. Refer to the previous section to get the full list.

Show details of the connected ESP32 device

To show the details of the ESP32 device connected to COM31.

nanoff --platform esp32 --serialport COM31 --devicedetails 

Deploy a managed application to an ESP32 target

To deploy a managed application to an ESP32_PSRAM_REV0 target connected to COM31, which has the deployment region at 0x190000 flash address.

Note: The binary file with the deployment image can be found on the Release or Debug folder of a Visual Studio project after a successful build. This file contains everything that's required to deploy a managed application to a target (meaning application executable and all referenced libraries and assemblies).

nanoff --target ESP32_PSRAM_REV0 --serialport COM12 --deploy --image "E:\GitHub\nf-Samples\samples\Blinky\Blinky\bin\Debug\Blinky.bin" --address 0x190000

Update the firmware of an ESP32 target along with a managed application

To update the firmware of an ESP32 target connected to COM31, to the latest available development version. You have to specify the path to the managed application. This example uses the binary format file that was saved on a previous backup operation.

nanoff --update --target ESP32_PSRAM_REV0 --serialport COM31 --deployment "c:\eps32-backups\my_awesome_app.bin"

STMP32 usage examples

Update the firmware of a specific STM32 target

To update the firmware of the ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY target to the latest available stable version using the JTAG connection.

nanoff --update --target ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY --jtag

Deploy a managed application to a ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY target

To deploy a managed application to a ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY target, which has the deployment region at 0x08080000 flash address and reset the MCU after flashing it.

Note: The binary file with the deployment image can be found on the Release or Debug folder of a Visual Studio project after a successful build. This file contains everything that's required to deploy a managed application to a target (meaning application executable and all referenced libraries and assemblies).

nanoff --target ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY --deploy --image "E:\GitHub\nf-Samples\samples\Blinky\Blinky\bin\Debug\Blinky.bin" --address 0x08040000 --reset

Update the firmware of a ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY along with a managed application

To update the firmware of the ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY target to the latest available preview version, using a JTAG connection, along with a managed application. You have to specify the path to the managed application. This example uses the binary format file that is generated by Visual Studio when building any nanoFramework C# application. Because it's a binary file you have to specify too the flash address of the deployment region (here 0x08000000, mind the hexadecimal format).

nanoff --update --target ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY --preview --jtag --binfile "c:\dev\my awesome app\bin\debug\my_awesome_app.bin" --address 0x08000000

List all STM32 devices available with JTAG connection

This useful to list all STM32 devices that are connected through JTAG.

nanoff --listjtag

List all STM32 devices available with DFU connection

This useful to list all STM32 devices that are connected through DFU.

nanoff --listdfu

Install STM32 JTAG drivers

To install the drivers for STM32 JTAG connected targets.

nanoff --installjtagdrivers

Install STM32 DFU drivers

To install the drivers for STM32 DFU connected targets.

nanoff --installdfudrivers

TI CC13x2 usage examples

Update the firmware of a specific TI CC13x2 target

To update the firmware of the TI_CC1352R1_LAUNCHXL target to the latest preview version.

nanoff --update --target TI_CC1352R1_LAUNCHXL --preview

Install the XDS110 USB drivers required by TI LaunchPad targets

To install the XDS110 USB drivers.

nanoff --installxdsdrivers

Pre-check if target fits connected device

The tool tries to make a best effort sanity check on whether the requested target fits the connected target. Sometimes that's not possible because of the differences and variations on the target names, or lack of details provided by the connected device or even (like with DFU connected devices) because it's not possible to determine exactly what device is connected at all. This doesn't necessarily mean that the firmware wont' work, so take this as an advice only.

To disable this validation add --nofitcheck option to the command line.

Tool output verbosity

The tool output verbosity can be set through the v|verbosity option.

This is convenient, for example, if this tool is being used in a automated process where the minimum output is desired to ease processing the return result of the execution. It can be set to:

• q[uiet]
• m[inimal]
• n[ormal]
• d[etailed]
• diag[nostic]

nanoff -v q

List all supported boards

You can list the supported boards, their versions, either for stable versions or preview.

nanoff --listboards --platform ESP --preview

If you just use --listboards options, you'll get the list of all the stable versions for all boards. --platform allows you to filter.

Exit codes

The exit codes can be checked in this source file.

Feedback and documentation

To provide feedback, report issues and finding out how to contribute please refer to the Home repo.

Join our Discord community here.

Credits

The list of contributors to this project can be found at CONTRIBUTORS.

License

The nanoFramework firmware flasher tool is licensed under the MIT license.

Code of Conduct

This project has adopted the code of conduct defined by the Contributor Covenant to clarify expected behaviour in our community. For more information see the .NET Foundation Code of Conduct.

.NET Foundation

This project is supported by the .NET Foundation.