Atmel START Workflow
A Worked Example


Introduction

This page demonstrates how Atmel START and Atmel Studio fit together to offer a complete embedded development workflow. Atmel START is used to generate a project that is then exported to Atmel Studio.


Step #1 - Installing Atmel Studio, Obtaining Plug-ins and Automatic Board Detection

Workflow steps:
  1. Follow the first three steps described on the Atmel Integrated Development Workflow page to install Atmel Studio, Atmel Studio plug-ins, and, if using an Xplained board, have Atmel Studio auto-detect connected hardware.


Step #2 - Opening Atmel START

Workflow steps continued:
  1. If the board you plugged into your host computer in step #1 is supported by Atmel START, then you will see a "New Atmel START Project..." link on the page that opened when the hardware was detected. Click the link to open a web page that shows project selections that are specific to the attached hardware.

    If the board you plugged into your host computer is a custom board, or is not supported by Atmel START, then refer to the the Atmel START information page to see how to start a new Atmel START, project and configure the project for your microcontroller and hardware.


The New Atmel START project link

The "New Atmel START project..." link


Step #3 - Configuring the Hardware and Software

After the microcontroller has been selected the hardware and software can be configured. Further, if you opened one of the example projects available within the Atmel START tool, then the software required to run the example will already be set up.

Workflow steps continued:
  1. Select the PINMUX tab, and configure the pin names and function.

    If you are using an Xplained Pro or Xplained Ultra board then the pins will already be set correctly for the connected hardware.

  2. Select the clocks tab, and configure the clocks to be correct for your hardware and the peripherals in use.

    If you are using an Xplained Pro or Xplained Ultra board then the clocks will already be set correctly for the connected hardware.

  3. Click the Dashboard tab to select and then configure the required middleware and drivers.


Using the RTOS aware debugger

Pin names and functions, configured correctly for
the SAMV71 XPlained Ultra board. Click to enlarge
Editing FreeRTOS source code
Clocks, configured correctly for the SAMV71
Xplained Ultra board. Click to enlarge.
Configuring the UART in Atmel START

The EDGB UART configuration seen on the Dashboard tab
Click to enlarge


Step #4 - Exporting the Atmel START Project From the Web Interface

Once complete, the Atmel START project can be exported for use with your preferred compiler.

Workflow steps continued:
  1. Click "Export Project".

  2. On the Export page, select the IDE you wish to use, and give the project a name.

  3. Click Download Pack. A file that has an .atzip file extension will be generated - save the file into a convenient location on your computer.


Exporting the Atmel START project

Exporting the Atmel START project as a .atzip file.
Click to enlarge


Step #5 - Importing the Atmel START Project Into Atmel Studio

If the Atmel START project was exported as an Atmel STUDIO project then follow the steps below to import the project into the Atmel Studio IDE.

Workflow steps continued:
  1. Select the "File->Import->Atmel START Project" menu item in the Atmel Studio IDE. The Import Atmel START Project window will appear.

  2. Complete the fields in the Import Atmel START Project window to select the .atsln file exported in the previous step, set the project and solution name for the project being generated, and set the directory in which you would like the project to be located.

    The exported project will be opened and can then be built and debugged as described on the Atmel Integrated Development Workflow page.


Importing the Atmel START project into Atmel studio

Importing the Atmel START project into
Atmel Studio. Click to enlarge
The project after importing into Atmel Studio
The project after importing into Atmel Studio.
Click to enlarge