LPC2148 ENVIROMENT / DEBBUGER / MP3 SPARKFUN

Jose Gutierrez wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I am new using LPC2148 and WINARM tools. Before this i worked with IAR
> and TI microcontrolers.
>
> So i have a MP3 DEVELOPMENT BOARD of SPARKFUN and i get the free SW that
> SPARKFUN has in its web.

I don't know this code so just some general remarks:

> I have read that this SW is for WINARM.

It should be possible to use any other cross-toolchain based on the GNU 
tools (i.e. CS G++, Yagarto, DevkitARM etc.).

> This programming enviroment is new for me and i am in a mess.
>
> So i would like someone could answer me several question i have. It
> would be great.
>
> 1.- WINARM is only for programming through programmers notepad. But it
> is only to programming, not to debug.

Programmers Notepad is just a editor. I expect you mean the menu-item 
"make program". Does this lead to a call of lpc21isp (see the 
output-window in PN)? lpc21isp is just a tool that can transfer data 
into the LPC flash-memory through UART and the build-in bootloader.

> I need to debug throuhg a JTAG to
> check my program and to find out several mistakes. The question is that
> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS. ¿Which tools may I use? Program, JATG,
> etc... Really i need someone who give me a way to programm, debug, and
> really to manage all the differents issues and tools to fell sure in
> this project.

There are a lot of options from very cheap to very expensive. A very 
cheap solution:
- get a Wiggler-type interface (i.e. the ARM-JTAG from Olimex) to 
connect the LPC JTAG-pins to a PC.
- get a software which can "talk" to your JTAG-interface and provides a 
gdb-server. i.e. OpenOCD which is free.
- get a debugger-software which can talk to a gdb-server. You may use 
(arm-elf-)gdb which just offers a simple terminal-style interface, 
Insight-gdb which is a stand-alone programm with a GUI. You may also use 
ddd and Eclipse which offer GUI frontends for gdb.

Search Jim Lynch's Tutorials for ARM "bare-metal" programming for a more 
detailed introduction.

> 2.- Have anybody use MP3 DEVELOPMENT BOARD with ARM and debugger?

I neither have this hardware nor do I know the Sparkfun example code.

> I know there is a lot of questions but it is very important for me to
> know how to iniciate the project and if i have to move to another
> programming enviroment as IAR.

Usually the setup for commercial tools is much easier but you need a 
JTAG-interface that is compatible with the tool. All commercial tools 
offer Evaluation-Versions so you can try yourself.

> I have probe it and there is a lot of
> errors depending on compiler version.

Since you do not give any information on the errors it's difficult to 
help. At least the startup-code has to be rewritten. For "WinARM" the 
code has to be compatible with the GNU assembler which is not compatible 
with  IAR's assembler in EWARM.

Ready-made IDEs with integrated debugging and support for the GNU 
cross-toolchain are for example Rowley's Crossworks for ARM and 
uVision/RV vom Keil/ARM.