Nordic Semiconductor has introduced nRF Join Naked Steel, designed to offer a migration path away from the corporate’s nRF5 software program growth package (SDK) and nRF52-series wi-fi systems-on-chips (SoCs) to the most recent nRF54L collection elements — and, because the identify implies, it does not require a real-time working system (RTOS), although supplies an improve path to Zephyr RTOS.
“With the Naked Steel choice, we’re reducing the entry barrier for creating easy Bluetooth purposes, whereas additionally providing a transparent improve path to Zephyr RTOS and the complete capabilities of the nRF Join SDK for brand new and current clients,” claims Nordic Semi’s Oyvind Strom of the corporate’s launch as we speak. “This software program choice is a significant addition that displays our aim to assist a broad vary of builders and purposes. Nordic’s dedication to the world-class nRF Join SDK and the Zephyr group stays sturdy, and this technique continues to form our long-term path.”
The nRF Join SDK Naked Steel choice is constructed round Nordic Semi’s SoftDevice structure, and is designed to imitate the corporate’s legacy nRF5 SDK — making it simpler emigrate from older nRF52-series elements to the brand new nRF54L household of wi-fi chips. Designed for “easy” Bluetooth Low Vitality (BLE) purposes, it initially helps peripheral-only purposes with the promise of central- and multi-role capabilities to launch later this 12 months.
The Naked Steel choice is designed to coexist alongside the present Zephyr RTOS choice, each throughout the nRF Join SDK and the nRF Join extension to Microsoft’s VS Code. Those that discover their tasks outgrowing the capabilities of the Naked Steel choice can, the corporate has confirmed, simply migrate tasks to the complete Zephyr RTOS choice — or, in the event that they select, combine their Naked Steel purposes with third-party real-time working programs.
The naked steel choice is the primary to obtain single-bank DFU assist, which is able to attain the Zephyr RTOS choice in a future SDK launch. (📷: Nordic Semiconductor)
There is a new characteristic to be discovered inside Naked Steel, too, at the moment lacking from the Zephyr RTOS variant: assist for a single-bank gadget firmware replace (DFU) mechanism, designed to reduce non-volatile reminiscence utilization and go away more room free for program code. This, Nordic Semi guarantees, will probably be added to the Zephyr RTOS choice in a future launch of the nRF Join SDK.
Extra info on the nRF Join SDK Naked Steel choice is offered on the Nordic Semi web site; a technical introduction is offered on the corporate’s developer zone weblog.