2. Installing foxconda3¶
The foxBMS embedded software consists of a program written in C. Before it can be flashed and run on the microcontroller units (i.e., MCU0 and MCU1 located on the BMS-Master Board), it must be compiled to generate a binary file called firmware.
Different softwares (i.e., the software toolchain) are needed for this compilation step. They are based on a Python environment. All the needed software, including the Python environment, are contained in a Python distribution called foxconda3. It will be installed in the next steps.
This section shows how to set up the development environment, foxconda3 (the software toolchain).
In the section Eclipse Workspace Setup and Flashing, it is shown how the compiled sources are flashed on the foxBMS Master Unit.
2.1. Installation of the Needed Software via the foxconda3 Distribution¶
The first step is to install the software environment needed to compile and
flash the foxBMS sources. First, the foxconda3 installer must be downloaded
from the server containing
the foxconda3 installers. For Windows, the installer is run by executing
foxconda-3.0.3-Windows-x86_64.exe
. The installer version with the highest version and build
number must always be used.
Warning
- Setting the installation directory from
C:\foxconda3
to something other will create a lot extra effort when setting up the Eclipse workspace. It is highly advised against changing the default installation directory. - When installing foxconda3 to another directory, foxconda3 must not
be installed into a directory containing whitespace (e.g.
C:\Program Files
)
The following figures from fig. 2.1 to fig. 2.8 will show the installation process.
The startpage of the installer
Fig. 2.1 Installer start page
The license terms of the installer
Fig. 2.2 Installer license terms
The installation type foxconda3 binaries. Select
Just Me (recommended)
.Fig. 2.3 Installation type of foxconda3
The installation path for foxconda3. Set the path to
C:\foxconda3
.Warning
Changing the default installation directory from
C:\foxconda3
to something other will create a lot extra effort when setting up the Eclipse workspace. This is not advised.Fig. 2.4 Installation directory
Avanced options of the installation. Unselect
Register Anaconda as my default Python 3.6
Fig. 2.5 Advanced Options
The installation process
Fig. 2.6 Installation process
The installation process is completed. Click
Next >
.Fig. 2.7 Completed installation step
The finish of the installtion process. Click
Finish
.Fig. 2.8 Installation finish
From the command line, the convenience terminal environment can be used by
executing the Anaconda Prompt
:
- Go the the start menu
- Type
Anaconda Prompt
- Enter
It will open a CMD window with a PATH
environment ready to work with foxBMS.
The prompt can be manualy be started by open a CMD window followed by following command:
C:\foxconda3\Scripts\activate