Update: This issue was patched in Amazon FreeRTOS version 1.2.4 to overcome the out-of-the-box experience challenges.  The root cause will be fixed in the upcoming Texas Instruments compiler release.

Last month, Texas Instruments (TI) launched Code Composer Studio (CCS) version 8, which includes the TI MCU compiler version 18.1.1. The Amazon FreeRTOS project for Code Composer Studio is configured for the TI MCU compiler version 16.9.3. Amazon FreeRTOS includes the open source Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) Library (tinycbor), which does not compile with version 18.1.1. Amazon FreeRTOS does not build when there is no preexisting 16.9.3 compiler (or compatible compiler) on the system.

In this blog post, I’ll show you how to add the TI MCU compiler version 16.9.3 to Code Composer Studio version 8 so that you can build Amazon FreeRTOS with the new IDE.

Observing the compilation problem

1. You can observe the problem signature by installing Code Composer Studio version 8 from the TI website.
2. Download version 8 from the Code Composer Version 8 Downloads page.
3. Install version 8.
4. Perform a clean clone of the Amazon FreeRTOS repository: git clone https://github.com/aws/amazon-freertos amazon-freertos-ccsv8.
5. Open version 8.  Open the Code Composer Studio project to the workspace.  From File, choose Open Projects from File System.
6. Select the Code Composer Studio project amazon-freertos/demos/ti/cc3220_launchpad/ccs.
7. From Project, choose Clean, and then build the project. You should see errors like the following:

Installing TI MCU compiler version 16.9.4

Now let’s install the earlier version of the TI MCU compiler.

1. If the IDE is open, close it.
2. Download the ARM 16.9.4 compiler.
3. Install the ARM 16.9.4 compiler.
4. Now check that the IDE detects version 16.9.4. In Code Composer Studio:
   1. Right-click the project root node, and then choose Properties.
   2. In the General pane, under Tool-chain, choose the Compiler version drop-down box. The TI MCU compiler 16.9.4 should be listed.
5. Install the ARM 16x compiler from here:
   1. http://www.ti.com/tool/download/ARM-CGT-16/16.9.4.LTS

Configuring and building the project

Now that you have installed the correct compiler version, you can configure the demonstration project and compile Amazon FreeRTOS clean.

1. Configure aws_clientcredential_keys.h and aws_clientcredential.h, as described in the Amazon FreeRTOS User Guide.
2. Configure the project for the TI MCU compiler version 16.9.4.
3. Open Code Composer Studio.
4. Right-click the project root node, and then choose Properties.
5. Now configure the compiler version for the project:
   1. In the General pane, under Tool-chain, choose the Compiler version drop-down box.  Select the TI v16.9.3.LTS compiler.
   2. Choose Apply, and then choose Close.
6. Build the project clean. From Project, choose Clean to clean all compiled objects and start the compilation.
7. The compilation should now be completed successfully.

Conclusion

I hope you found these steps for installing the supported TI MCU compiler helpful. Feel free to leave questions or other feedback in the comments.