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This repo contains the nano firmware flasher tool. It's a .NET Core Tool that allows flashing a .NET nanoFramework target with a firmware image (nanoBooter and nanoCLR), the application deployment (all assemblies required to run a .NET application) and restore previously saved deployment images. Is part of .NET nanoFramework toolbox, along with other various tools that are required in .NET nanoFramework development, usage or repository management.

It makes use of several 3rd party tools:

• Espressif esptool You can find the esptool and licensing information on the repository here.
• STM32 Cube Programmer You can find the source, licensing information and documentation here.
• Texas Instruments Uniflash You can find the Uniflash tool and licensing information here.

Perform a one-time install of the .NET nanoFramework Firmware Flasher tool using the following .NET Core CLI command:

dotnet tool install -g nanoff

After a successful installation a message is displayed showing the command that's to be used to call the tool along with the version installed. Similar to the following example:

You can invoke the tool using the following command: nanoff
Tool 'nanoff' (version '9.9.9') was successfully installed.

⚠️ That are know issues running commands for STM32 devices when nanoff is installed in a path that contains diacritic characters. This is caused by a known bug in STM32 Cube Programmer. If that's the case with your user path, for example, you have to install it in a location that does have those. To accomplish that, use the following .NET Core CLI command on which the path where the tool will be installed is specified:

dotnet tool install nanoff --tool-path c:\a-plain-simple-path-to-install-the-tool

Note that if you're not using nanoff with STM32 devices, this limitation does not apply.

You'll need to add nanoff to your path as well, once installed run:

export PATH=$PATH:~/.dotnet/tools

To update .NET nanoFramework Firmware Flasher tool use the following .NET Core CLI command:

dotnet tool update -g nanoff

If the tool was installed at a specific path, use the following .NET Core CLI command instead:

dotnet tool update nanoff --tool-path c:\path-where-the-tool-was-installed

Once the tool is installed, you can call it by using its command nanoff, which is a short version of the name to ease typing.

nanoff [command] [args]

The tool includes help for all available commands. You can see a list of all available ones by entering:

nanoff --help

There are multiple ESP32 images available, some are build specifically for a target. Please check out the list. You will need as well to know the COM port used by your device. Find how to do this here. Alternatively, you can as well list the available COM ports. If you list them first without the device to flash and then plugging the device, the additional port which will show up is the one for the device to flash. This method works for all OS:

nanoff --listports

The ESP32_PSRAM_REV0 image will just work for any variant of the ESP32 series, with or without PSRAM, and for all silicon revisions. You can read more about the differences between the various images here.

The FEATHER_S2 image will just work for pretty much all variants of the ESP32-S2 series that expose the embedded USB CDC pins. You can read more about the differences between the various images here.

When using nanoff you can add --target MY_TARGET_NAME_HERE to use a specific image. If, instead, you just specify the platform with --platform esp32 nanoff will choose the most appropriate image depending on the features of the device that's connected. Output similar to this one will show to advise what's the image about to be used:

No target name was provided! Using 'ESP32_REV0' based on the device characteristics.

Note: Please note that for ESP32-S2 targets is not possible to safely determine what's the best image to use. For this reason it's mandatory providing the appropriate target name with --target MY_TARGET_NAME_HERE.

Some ESP32 boards have issues entering bootloader mode. This can be usually overcome by holding down the BOOT/FLASH button in the board. In case nanoff detects this situation the following warning is shown:

*** Hold down the BOOT/FLASH button in ESP32 board ***

⚠️ To update FeatherS2 and TinyS2 the boards need to put in download mode by holding [BOOT], clicking [RESET] and then releasing [BOOT].

To update the firmware of an ESP32 target connected to COM31, to the latest available development version.

nanoff --update --target ESP32_PSRAM_REV0 --serialport COM31

To update the firmware of an ESP32-S2 KALUGA 1 target connected to COM31 with a local CLR file (for example from a build). This file has to be a binary file with a valid CLR from a build. No other checks or validations are performed on the file content.

nanoff --update --target KALUGA_1 --serialport COM31 --clrfile "C:\nf-interpreter\build\nanoCLR.bin" 

You can adjust the name of the core image you want to use. Refer to the previous section to get the full list.

To show the details of the ESP32 device connected to COM31.

nanoff --platform esp32 --serialport COM31 --devicedetails 

To deploy a managed application to an ESP32_PSRAM_REV0 target connected to COM31.

Note: The binary file with the deployment image can be found on the Release or Debug folder of a Visual Studio project after a successful build. This file contains everything that's required to deploy a managed application to a target (meaning application executable and all referenced libraries and assemblies).

nanoff --target ESP32_PSRAM_REV0 --serialport COM12 --deploy --image "E:\GitHub\nf-Samples\samples\Blinky\Blinky\bin\Debug\Blinky.bin"

To deploy an application on an ESP32 target connected to COM31, with your application, you have to specify the path to the managed application. Optionally you can provide an address which will override the default deployment address. This example uses the binary format file that you can find when you are building an application. Note, as only application can run, when you are building a library, a bin file is not created automatically. Only for applications.

nanoff --target ESP32_PSRAM_REV0 --update --serialport COM31 --deploy --image "c:\eps32-backups\my_awesome_app.bin" --address 0x1B000

To update the firmware of the ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY target to the latest available stable version using the JTAG connection.

nanoff --update --target ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY --jtag

To deploy a managed application to a ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY target, which has the deployment region at 0x08080000 flash address and reset the MCU after flashing it.

Note: The binary file with the deployment image can be found on the Release or Debug folder of a Visual Studio project after a successful build. This file contains everything that's required to deploy a managed application to a target (meaning application executable and all referenced libraries and assemblies).

nanoff --target ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY --deploy --image "E:\GitHub\nf-Samples\samples\Blinky\Blinky\bin\Debug\Blinky.bin" --address 0x08040000 --reset

To update the firmware of the ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY target to the latest available preview version, using a JTAG connection, along with a managed application. You have to specify the path to the managed application. This example uses the binary format file that is generated by Visual Studio when building any nanoFramework C# application. Because it's a binary file you have to specify too the flash address of the deployment region (here 0x08000000, mind the hexadecimal format).

nanoff --update --target ST_STM32F769I_DISCOVERY --preview --jtag --binfile "c:\dev\my awesome app\bin\debug\my_awesome_app.bin" --address 0x08000000

This useful to list all STM32 devices that are connected through JTAG.

nanoff --listjtag

This useful to list all STM32 devices that are connected through DFU.

nanoff --listdfu

To install the drivers for STM32 JTAG connected targets.

nanoff --installjtagdrivers

To install the drivers for STM32 DFU connected targets.

nanoff --installdfudrivers

To update the firmware of the TI_CC1352R1_LAUNCHXL target to the latest preview version.

nanoff --update --target TI_CC1352R1_LAUNCHXL --preview

To install the XDS110 USB drivers.

nanoff --installxdsdrivers

The tool tries to make a best effort sanity check on whether the requested target fits the connected target. Sometimes that's not possible because of the differences and variations on the target names, or lack of details provided by the connected device or even (like with DFU connected devices) because it's not possible to determine exactly what device is connected at all. This doesn't necessarily mean that the firmware wont' work, so take this as an advice only.

To disable this validation add --nofitcheck option to the command line.

The tool output verbosity can be set through the v|verbosity option.

This is convenient, for example, if this tool is being used in a automated process where the minimum output is desired to ease processing the return result of the execution. It can be set to:

• q[uiet]
• m[inimal]
• n[ormal]
• d[etailed]
• diag[nostic]

nanoff -v q

You need to know the COM Port attached to your device. Search for Computer Management, select Device Manager then expand Ports (COM & LPT), you will find the COM port of the connected device.

IMPORTANT: you may have to install drivers. Refer to the vendor website or use Windows Update to install the latest version of the drivers.

You can use the --listports command with nanoff to list the available COM ports. This method works on all OS. If you run the command first without your device plugged, you'll get a first list. Then plug your device and run the command again. The new COM port showing up is the one from your device!

nanoff --listports

Example of outcomes when there is no device plugged in:

No available COM port

And when you then plug the device and run the command again:

Available COM ports:
  COM12

You can list the supported targets, their versions, either for stable versions or preview. --platform allows you to filter for a platform. --preview filters the query to show only preview versions.

List packages available for ESP32 targets in preview version.

nanoff --listboards --platform esp32 --preview

List packages available for STM32 targets in (stable version).

nanoff --listboards --platform stm32

If you just use --listtargets switch, you'll get the list of all the stable packages for all targets.

If needed one can clear the local cache from the firmware packages that are stored there. As an additional information the cache location is the directory -nanoFramework\fw_cache in the user folder.

When this option is included in the command no other options are processed.

nanoff --clearcache

The exit codes can be checked in this source file.

To provide feedback, report issues and finding out how to contribute please refer to the Home repo.

Join our Discord community here.

The list of contributors to this project can be found at CONTRIBUTORS.

The nanoFramework firmware flasher tool is licensed under the MIT license.

This project has adopted the code of conduct defined by the Contributor Covenant to clarify expected behaviour in our community. For more information see the .NET Foundation Code of Conduct.

This project is supported by the .NET Foundation.