Getting Started Guide

Follow this guide to:

Set up a command-line Zephyr development environment on Ubuntu, macOS, or Windows (instructions for other Linux distributions are discussed in Install Linux Host Dependencies)
Get the source code
Build, flash, and run a sample application

Select and Update OS

Click the operating system you are using.

This guide covers Ubuntu version 18.04 LTS and later.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Install dependencies

Next, you’ll install some host dependencies using your package manager.

The current minimum required version for the main dependencies are:

Tool	Min. Version
CMake	3.20.0
Python	3.6
Devicetree compiler	1.4.6

Download, inspect and execute the Kitware archive script to add the Kitware APT repository to your sources list. A detailed explanation of kitware-archive.sh can be found here kitware third-party apt repository:
```
wget https://apt.kitware.com/kitware-archive.sh
sudo bash kitware-archive.sh
```

Use apt to install the required dependencies:

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends git cmake ninja-build gperf \
  ccache dfu-util device-tree-compiler wget \
  python3-dev python3-pip python3-setuptools python3-tk python3-wheel xz-utils file \
  make gcc gcc-multilib g++-multilib libsdl2-dev

Verify the versions of the main dependencies installed on your system by entering:
```
cmake --version
python3 --version
dtc --version
```
Check those against the versions in the table in the beginning of this section. Refer to the Install Linux Host Dependencies page for additional information on updating the dependencies manually.

Install Homebrew:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Use brew to install the required dependencies:

brew install cmake ninja gperf python3 ccache qemu dtc

Note

Due to issues finding executables, the Zephyr Project doesn’t currently support application flashing using the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) (WSL).

Therefore, we don’t recommend using WSL when getting started.

These instructions must be run in a cmd.exe command prompt. The required commands differ on PowerShell.

These instructions rely on Chocolatey. If Chocolatey isn’t an option, you can install dependencies from their respective websites and ensure the command line tools are on your PATH environment variable.

Install chocolatey.
Open a cmd.exe window as Administrator. To do so, press the Windows key, type “cmd.exe”, right-click the result, and choose Run as Administrator.
Disable global confirmation to avoid having to confirm the installation of individual programs:
```
choco feature enable -n allowGlobalConfirmation
```

Use choco to install the required dependencies:

choco install cmake --installargs 'ADD_CMAKE_TO_PATH=System'
choco install ninja gperf python git dtc-msys2

Close the window and open a new cmd.exe window as a regular user to continue.

Get Zephyr and install Python dependencies

Next, clone Zephyr and its modules into a new west workspace named zephyrproject. You’ll also install Zephyr’s additional Python dependencies.

Python is used by the west meta-tool as well as by many scripts invoked by the build system. It is easy to run into package incompatibilities when installing dependencies at a system or user level. This situation can happen, for example, if working on multiple Zephyr versions at the same time. For this reason it is suggested to use Python virtual environments.

Install west, and make sure ~/.local/bin is on your PATH environment variable:

pip3 install --user -U west
echo 'export PATH=~/.local/bin:"$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Get the Zephyr source code:

west init ~/zephyrproject
cd ~/zephyrproject
west update

Export a Zephyr CMake package. This allows CMake to automatically load boilerplate code required for building Zephyr applications.
```
west zephyr-export
```
Zephyr’s scripts/requirements.txt file declares additional Python dependencies. Install them with pip3.
```
pip3 install --user -r ~/zephyrproject/zephyr/scripts/requirements.txt
```

Create a new virtual environment:
```
python3 -m venv ~/zephyrproject/.venv
```
Activate the virtual environment:
```
source ~/zephyrproject/.venv/bin/activate
```
Once activated your shell will be prefixed with (.venv). The virtual environment can be deactivated at any time by running deactivate.

Note

Remember to activate the virtual environment every time you start working.
Install west:
```
pip install west
```

Get the Zephyr source code:

west init ~/zephyrproject
cd ~/zephyrproject
west update

Export a Zephyr CMake package. This allows CMake to automatically load boilerplate code required for building Zephyr applications.
```
west zephyr-export
```
Zephyr’s scripts/requirements.txt file declares additional Python dependencies. Install them with pip.
```
pip install -r ~/zephyrproject/zephyr/scripts/requirements.txt
```

Install west:
```
pip3 install -U west
```

Get the Zephyr source code:

west init ~/zephyrproject
cd ~/zephyrproject
west update

Export a Zephyr CMake package. This allows CMake to automatically load boilerplate code required for building Zephyr applications.
```
west zephyr-export
```
Zephyr’s scripts/requirements.txt file declares additional Python dependencies. Install them with pip3.
```
pip3 install -r ~/zephyrproject/zephyr/scripts/requirements.txt
```

Create a new virtual environment:
```
python3 -m venv ~/zephyrproject/.venv
```
Activate the virtual environment:
```
source ~/zephyrproject/.venv/bin/activate
```
Once activated your shell will be prefixed with (.venv). The virtual environment can be deactivated at any time by running deactivate.

Note

Remember to activate the virtual environment every time you start working.
Install west:
```
pip install west
```

Get the Zephyr source code:

west init ~/zephyrproject
cd ~/zephyrproject
west update

Export a Zephyr CMake package. This allows CMake to automatically load boilerplate code required for building Zephyr applications.
```
west zephyr-export
```
Zephyr’s scripts/requirements.txt file declares additional Python dependencies. Install them with pip.
```
pip install -r ~/zephyrproject/zephyr/scripts/requirements.txt
```

Install west:
```
pip3 install -U west
```

Get the Zephyr source code:

cd %HOMEPATH%
west init zephyrproject
cd zephyrproject
west update

Export a Zephyr CMake package. This allows CMake to automatically load boilerplate code required for building Zephyr applications.
```
west zephyr-export
```
Zephyr’s scripts\requirements.txt file declares additional Python dependencies. Install them with pip3.
```
pip3 install -r %HOMEPATH%\zephyrproject\zephyr\scripts\requirements.txt
```

Create a new virtual environment:

cd %HOMEPATH%
python3 -m venv zephyrproject\.venv

Activate the virtual environment:
```
:: cmd.exe
zephyrproject\.venv\Scripts\activate.bat
:: PowerShell
zephyrproject\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
```
Once activated your shell will be prefixed with (.venv). The virtual environment can be deactivated at any time by running deactivate.

Note

Remember to activate the virtual environment every time you start working.
Install west:
```
pip install west
```

Get the Zephyr source code:

west init zephyrproject
cd zephyrproject
west update

Export a Zephyr CMake package. This allows CMake to automatically load boilerplate code required for building Zephyr applications.
```
west zephyr-export
```
Zephyr’s scripts\requirements.txt file declares additional Python dependencies. Install them with pip.
```
pip install -r %HOMEPATH%\zephyrproject\zephyr\scripts\requirements.txt
```

Install a Toolchain

A toolchain provides a compiler, assembler, linker, and other programs required to build Zephyr applications.

The Zephyr Software Development Kit (SDK) contains toolchains for each of Zephyr’s supported architectures. It also includes additional host tools, such as custom QEMU binaries and a host compiler.

Download the latest SDK installer:

cd ~
wget https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/sdk-ng/releases/download/v0.13.2/zephyr-sdk-0.13.2-linux-x86_64-setup.run

Run the installer, installing the SDK in ~/zephyr-sdk-0.13.2:
```
chmod +x zephyr-sdk-0.13.2-linux-x86_64-setup.run
./zephyr-sdk-0.13.2-linux-x86_64-setup.run -- -d ~/zephyr-sdk-0.13.2
```
Note

It is recommended to install the Zephyr SDK at one of the following locations:
- $HOME/zephyr-sdk[-x.y.z]
- $HOME/.local/zephyr-sdk[-x.y.z]
- $HOME/.local/opt/zephyr-sdk[-x.y.z]
- $HOME/bin/zephyr-sdk[-x.y.z]
- /opt/zephyr-sdk[-x.y.z]
- /usr/zephyr-sdk[-x.y.z]
- /usr/local/zephyr-sdk[-x.y.z]
where [-x.y.z] is optional text, and can be any text, for example -0.13.2.

If installing the Zephyr SDK outside any of those locations, please read: Install the Zephyr Software Development Kit (SDK)

You cannot move the SDK directory after you have installed it.

Install udev rules, which allow you to flash most Zephyr boards as a regular user:

sudo cp ~/zephyr-sdk-0.13.2/sysroots/x86_64-pokysdk-linux/usr/share/openocd/contrib/60-openocd.rules /etc/udev/rules.d
sudo udevadm control --reload

Follow the instructions in Set Up a Toolchain. Note that the Zephyr SDK is not available on macOS.

Do not forget to set the required environment variables (ZEPHYR_TOOLCHAIN_VARIANT and toolchain specific ones).

Follow the instructions in Set Up a Toolchain. Note that the Zephyr SDK is not available on Windows.

Do not forget to set the required environment variables (ZEPHYR_TOOLCHAIN_VARIANT and toolchain specific ones).

Build the Blinky Sample

Note

Blinky is compatible with most, but not all, Supported Boards. If your board does not meet Blinky’s Requirements, then Hello World is a good alternative.

Build the Blinky with west build, changing <your-board-name> appropriately for your board:

cd ~/zephyrproject/zephyr
west build -p auto -b <your-board-name> samples/basic/blinky

cd ~/zephyrproject/zephyr
west build -p auto -b <your-board-name> samples/basic/blinky

cd %HOMEPATH%\zephyrproject\zephyr
west build -p auto -b <your-board-name> samples\basic\blinky

The -p auto option automatically cleans byproducts from a previous build if necessary, which is useful if you try building another sample.

Flash the Sample

Connect your board, usually via USB, and turn it on if there’s a power switch. If in doubt about what to do, check your board’s page in Supported Boards.

Then flash the sample using west flash:

west flash

You may need to install additional host tools required by your board. The west flash command will print an error if any required dependencies are missing.

If you’re using blinky, the LED will start to blink as shown in this figure:

../_images/ReelBoard-Blinky.png — Fig. 1 Phytec reel_board running blinky

Next Steps

Here are some next steps for exploring Zephyr:

Try other Samples and Demos
Learn about Application Development and the west tool
Find out about west’s flashing and debugging features, or more about Flashing and Hardware Debugging in general
Check out Beyond the Getting Started Guide for additional setup alternatives and ideas
Discover Resources for getting help from the Zephyr community

Asking for Help

You can ask for help on a mailing list or on Discord. Please send bug reports and feature requests to GitHub.

Mailing Lists: users@lists.zephyrproject.org is usually the right list to ask for help. Search archives and sign up here.
Discord: You can join with this Discord invite.
GitHub: Use GitHub issues for bugs and feature requests.

How to Ask

Important

Please search this documentation and the mailing list archives first. Your question may have an answer there.

Don’t just say “this isn’t working” or ask “is this working?”. Include as much detail as you can about:

What you want to do
What you tried (commands you typed, etc.)
What happened (output of each command, etc.)

Use Copy/Paste

Please copy/paste text instead of taking a picture or a screenshot of it. Text includes source code, terminal commands, and their output.

Doing this makes it easier for people to help you, and also helps other users search the archives.

When copy/pasting more than 5 lines of text into Discord, create a snippet using three backticks to delimit the snippet.