https://github.com/johnwalicki/rasppi-pico-examples-fedora
Compiling Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 / Pico2 RP2350 C/C++ programs on Fedora
https://github.com/johnwalicki/rasppi-pico-examples-fedora
fedora pico pico2 pico2w picow rp2040 rp2350
Last synced: 3 months ago
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Compiling Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 / Pico2 RP2350 C/C++ programs on Fedora
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/johnwalicki/rasppi-pico-examples-fedora
- Owner: johnwalicki
- Created: 2021-01-29T04:09:58.000Z (over 4 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-01-30T20:40:38.000Z (5 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-03-23T22:43:20.644Z (3 months ago)
- Topics: fedora, pico, pico2, pico2w, picow, rp2040, rp2350
- Homepage:
- Size: 347 KB
- Stars: 49
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 1
- Open Issues: 2
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Compiling Raspberry Pi Pico C/C++ programs on Fedora
This repository contains hints and tips on how to configure your
Fedora workstation to cross compile Raspberry Pi Pico C/C++ programs.
## Raspberry Pi Pico Introduction
The [Raspberry Pi Pico board](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/pico/getting-started/), based on the RP2040 microcontroller, is an interesting MCU for hardware and software engineers.
In 2021, I purchased several Pico boards and soldered headers onto the PCB.
When the [Raspberry Pi Pico 2 board](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-pico-2/), based on the RP2350, was announced in August 2024, I purchased a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 Wireless.
Since I run [Fedora Linux](fedoraproject.org/) on my laptop, I wanted to cross
compile the RP2040 / RP2350 example programs using the
[Raspberry Pi Pico C/C++ SDK](https://datasheets.raspberrypi.org/pico/getting-started-with-pico.pdf).
The SDK guide provides instructions on how to install the SDK and examples on a Raspberry Pi.
While I have lots of Raspberry Pi devices, I don't use them as a development
platform for obvious performance reasons. The installation scripts assume a
Raspberry Pi OS running on a Raspberry Pi 4 or an equivalent Debian-based Linux distribution.
## Install Fedora dependencies
My Fedora 41 system has most of the `dnf grouplist "C Development Tools and Libraries"` packages
already installed, so this guide doesn't cover how to install binutils, gcc, gcc-c++, cmake, make, doxygen, git toolchains.
If you're new to C/C++ development on Fedora, there are better guides for those steps.
This section of the tutorial details how to install the ARM cross compiler packages.
### Install the ARM cross compiler dependencies
There's a great [Fedora Embedded wiki](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Embedded) that provided
helpful hints.
Here's a minimal list of dependencies that will pull in additional required packages.
You will need approximately 1GB of disk space.
```bash
sudo dnf install gcc-arm-linux-gnu \
arm-none-eabi-gcc-cs-c++ \
arm-none-eabi-gcc-cs \
arm-none-eabi-binutils \
arm-none-eabi-newlib
```
### Clone the pico-sdk, pico-examples, pico-extras repositories
The `pico-examples` repository ([https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-examples](https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-examples))
provides a set of example applications that are written using the
`pico-sdk` ([https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-sdk](https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-sdk)).
Run the following commands to clone the pico-sdk, pico-examples, pico-extras repositories
to an appropriate development subdirectory on your system.
```bash
git clone [email protected]:raspberrypi/pico-sdk.git
git clone [email protected]:raspberrypi/pico-examples.git
git clone [email protected]:raspberrypi/pico-extras.git
```
There is a `tinyusb` git submodule directory that you should clone too.
```bash
cd ./pico-sdk/src/rp2_common/tinyusb
git submodule update --init
cd -
```
The `picotool` utility requires the mbedtls submodule for its signing and hashing features.
```bash
cd ./pico-sdk
git submodule update --init lib/mbedtls
cd -
```
### Additional dependencies
To compile the various `picow_bt_example_*` examples, the programs needs the PyCryptodome python package.
- PyCryptodome required to calculate GATT Database Hash but not installed (using random value instead)
- Please install PyCryptodome, e.g. 'pip3 install pycryptodomex' or 'pip3 install pycryptodome'
```bash
pip3 install pycryptodomex
```
### More examples are available but require additional configuration
- Skipping universal examples as PICO_RISCV_TOOLCHAIN_PATH and PICO_ARM_TOOLCHAIN_PATH are not defined
- Skipping TinyUSB dual examples, as TinyUSB hw/mcu/raspberry_pi/Pico-PIO-USB submodule unavailable
- Skipping FreeRTOS examples as FREERTOS_KERNEL_PATH not defined
### Compile the Pico Examples
Depending on which RP Pico device you have, set the `PICO_PLATFORM` cmake flag to **[rp2040, rp2350, rp2350_riscv]**.
Valid `PICO_BOARD` flags are **[pico, pico_w, pico2, pico2_w]**.
Set these parameters in `pico_examples/CMakeLists.txt`, define them on the `cmake` command line, or as environment variables.
For instance, add this line at the top of `pico_examples/CMakeLists.txt`
```cmake
set(PICO_BOARD pico2_w)
```
The next step will take a few minutes.
```bash
cd pico-examples
export PICO_PLATFORM=[rp2040, rp2350, rp2350_riscv]
export PICO_BOARD=[pico, pico_w, pico2, pico2_w]
cmake -DPICO_SDK_PATH=../pico-sdk -DPICO_EXTRAS_PATH=../pico-extras -DPICO_PLATFORM=$PICO_PLATFORM -DPICO_BOARD=$PICO_BOARD .
make
```
If you have a `pico_w` or a `pico2_w` board, you might want to compile the wifi examples and enable the board to connect to your network.
In that case, specify the WIFI_SSID and WIFI_PASSWORD on the `cmake` command line (or in the `CMakeList.txt`)
```bash
cd pico-examples
export PICO_PLATFORM=[rp2040, rp2350, rp2350_riscv]
export PICO_BOARD=[pico, pico_w, pico2, pico2_w]
export YOUR_WIFI_SSID=
export YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD=
cmake -DPICO_SDK_PATH=../pico-sdk -DPICO_EXTRAS=1 -DPICO_EXTRAS_PATH=../pico-extras -DPICO_PLATFORM=$PICO_PLATFORM -DPICO_BOARD=$PICO_BOARD -DWIFI_SSID=$your_wifi_ssid -DWIFI_PASSWORD=$your_wifi_password .
make
```
The compiler generates a **.uf2** binary for each sample program.
### Flashing the RP2040 / RP2350 Binary
The simplest method to load software onto a RP2040 or RP2350 based board is by mounting it as a USB Mass Storage Device. Connect your Fedora laptop to your Raspberry Pi Pico / Pico2 using a Micro-USB cable, making sure that you hold down the BOOTSEL button to force it into USB Mass Storage mode. You can drag the **.uf2** file onto the board to program the flash. The RP2040 / RP2350 will reboot, unmounting itself as a Mass Storage Device, and start to run the flashed code.
There's a nice little [animated gif](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/pico/getting-started/static/92dabbc476b6b5ac7600c85a2df88200/Blink-an-LED-FINAL.gif).
## Run the Pico Examples
The `pico-examples` repository contains a variety of sample programs. The Raspberry Pi Foundation team and community have created some great examples that showcase the capabilities of the RP2040 / RP2350. I flashed and wired up a few of them on a breadboard.
### Hello World (USB) Example
Start off with the [Hello World program](https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-examples/tree/master/hello_world) for Pico.
- Hold down the BOOTSEL button to force it into USB Mass Storage mode.
- Drag or copy the `pico-examples/hello_world/usb/hello_usb.uf2` to the **RPI-RP2** mounted volume.
- Open a serial terminal on `/dev/ttyACM0`
```bash
$ miniterm.py /dev/ttyACM0 115200
--- Miniterm on /dev/ttyACM0 115200,8,N,1 ---
--- Quit: Ctrl+] | Menu: Ctrl+T | Help: Ctrl+T followed by Ctrl+H ---
Hello, world!
Hello, world!
Hello, world!
Hello, world!
Hello, world!
--- exit ---
```
### Blink Example
Blink the onboard LED by flashing the [Blink program](https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-examples/tree/master/blink) for Pico. For more tips you can read the Raspberry Pi Blog
["How to blink an LED with Raspberry Pi Pico in C"](https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/how-to-blink-an-led-with-raspberry-pi-pico-in-c/)
- Hold down the BOOTSEL button to force it into USB Mass Storage mode.
- Drag or copy the `pico-examples/blink/blink.uf2` to the **RPI-RP2** mounted volume.
### DHT Temperature Sensor Example
The [DHT Temperature / Humidity sensor program](https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-examples/blob/master/gpio/dht_sensor) reads a DHT-11 / DHT-22 via GPIO pin 15.
- Hold down the BOOTSEL button to force it into USB Mass Storage mode.
- Drag or copy the `pico-examples/gpio/dht_sensor/dht.uf2` to the **RPI-RP2** mounted volume.
- Wire a DHT sensor on a breadboard. (The [Raspberry Pi Pico C SDK Guide](https://datasheets.raspberrypi.org/pico/raspberry-pi-pico-c-sdk.pdf) pg73 has a nice wiring diagram.)
- Open a serial terminal on `dev/ttyACM0`
```bash
$ miniterm.py /dev/ttyACM0 115200
--- Miniterm on /dev/ttyACM0 115200,8,N,1 ---
--- Quit: Ctrl+] | Menu: Ctrl+T | Help: Ctrl+T followed by Ctrl+H ---
Humidity = 22.8%, Temperature = 18.6C (65.5F)
Humidity = 22.9%, Temperature = 18.6C (65.5F)
Humidity = 22.7%, Temperature = 18.6C (65.5F)
Humidity = 22.5%, Temperature = 18.6C (65.5F)
Humidity = 22.6%, Temperature = 18.6C (65.5F)
--- exit ---
```
### Neopixel WS2812B RGB LEDs Example
Every IoT hobbyist has a Neopixel and loves a fully addressable blinky light. Use the [ws2812 program](https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-examples/tree/master/pio/ws2812) to blink an external RGB LED.
- Hold down the BOOTSEL button to force it into USB Mass Storage mode.
- Drag or copy the `pico-examples/pio/ws2812/pio_ws2812.uf2` to the **RPI-RP2** mounted volume.
- Wire a Neopixel to your Raspberry Pi Pico.
### WiFi Example - Pico W / Pico2 W httpd
To demonstrate connecting the Pico_w / Pico2_w to your WiFi, the [httpd](https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-examples/tree/master/pico_w/wifi/httpd) example is useful. This example uses the [cyw43 library](https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/pico-sdk/networking.html#group_cyw43_driver) and CYW43439A0 WiFi chip on the Raspberry Pi Pico W and Pico2 W microcontrollers.
```bash
$ miniterm.py /dev/ttyACM0 115200
--- Miniterm on /dev/ttyACM0 115200,8,N,1 ---
--- Quit: Ctrl+] | Menu: Ctrl+T | Help: Ctrl+T followed by Ctrl+H ---
Connected.
Ready, running httpd at 192.168.1.107
mdns host name PicoWF544.local
Ready, running httpd at http://192.168.1.107
```
### Bonus - picotool
If you want to use the picotool utility to inspect / load programs onto the RP2040,
Appendix B of the [SDK guide](https://datasheets.raspberrypi.org/pico/getting-started-with-pico.pdf)
details the installation instructions. You will need to install these Fedora packages:
```bash
sudo dnf install libusb1-devel libusb1
```
### Board Specifications
- [RP2040 wiring diagram](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/pico/getting-started/static/15243f1ffd3b8ee646a1708bf4c0e866/Pico-R3-Pinout.svg)
- [RP2350 pinout diagram](https://datasheets.raspberrypi.com/picow/pico-2-w-pinout.pdf)
### Author
- [John Walicki](https://github.com/johnwalicki)
___
Enjoy! Give me [feedback](https://github.com/johnwalicki/RaspPi-Pico-Examples-Fedora/issues) if you have suggestions on how to improve this tutorial.
## License
This tutorial is licensed under the BSD License.