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3. Setting up LITOS' software

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Alex Landolt edited this page May 25, 2022 · 5 revisions

LITOS flashing instructions

Before using LITOS for the first time the software must be uploaded to the microprocessor. This is called flashing.

Getting started

As development environment for LITOS software, Visual Studio Code (VS Code) with the Addon PlatformIO has been used. Thus, before you can flash a LITOS, you need to fulfill the following prerequisites.

  1. Install VS Code on your computer
  2. Install the PlatformIO extension from within VS Code
  3. Clone or download our master branch from github.
  4. Add the Software subfolder of the release in VS by right click and then Add folder to workspace.

Now you are ready to flash a LITOS device.

LITOS flashing process

LITOS running on the microcontroller consists of two parts. On one side, there is LITOS firmware, on the other LITOS requires a SPIFFS filesystem image. Both can be flashed in VS Code when PlatformIO is installed. Connect LITOS with a USB cable to a computer.

  • First flash the firmware image by click on Upload in the PlatformIO tab in VS code.
Upload firmware
  • Next, you need to flash to upload the SPIFFS filesystem image by tapping on Upload filesystem Image
Upload filesystem image

If your LITOS isn't entering flashing mode (upload not working), you can force LITOS to enter the flashing mode by the following procedure (normally only required for Rev 2):

  1. Tap on the Upload button or Upload filesystem Image in VS Code.
  2. Wait until you see the message "Connecting: ......--------......----" in VS Code
  3. Press the RST and BOOT button on the LITOS' control unit simultaneously.
  4. Release the RST button while still pressing the BOOT button.
  5. After 1-2 seconds release the BOOT button.
  6. The upload process should now start.

Once LITOS the flashing is complete and the file system is uploaded. LITOS is ready to use. You can disconnect the USB cable know and restarting LITOS by pressing the RST button.


Attention: By default, the source code adapted for revision 4 is used during the programming process. When you are still using an older revision 3 board, you can choose the adapted source code for this version by selecting LITOS_Rev2_Rev3 as build environment in PlatformIO.

Chose the build environment LITOS_Rev2_Rev3 when you still use an old Rev2 or Rev3 LITOS, else you can directly choose LITOS as build environment

Chose the build environment LITOS_Rev2_Rev3 when you still use an old Rev2 or Rev3 LITOS, else you can directly choose LITOS as build environment.

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