Quickstart: Linux

Install the following:

  1. Command line utilities.

    $ sudo apt install git wget zip curl python3 python3-pip python3-venv

  2. Clone the Tock kernel repository.

    $ git clone https://github.com/tock/tock

  3. rustup. This tool helps manage installations of the Rust compiler and related tools.

    $ curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

  4. arm-none-eabi toolchain and riscv64-unknown-elf toolchains. This enables you to compile apps written in C.

    $ sudo apt install gcc-arm-none-eabi gcc-riscv64-unknown-elf

  5. tockloader. This is an all-in-one tool for programming boards and using Tock.

    $ pipx install tockloader

    Note: You may need to add tockloader to your path. If you cannot run it after installation, run the following:

    $ pipx ensurepath

  6. JLinkExe to load code onto your board. JLink is available from the Segger website. You want to install the "J-Link Software and Documentation Pack". There are various packages available depending on operating system.

  7. OpenOCD. Another tool to load code. You can install through package managers.

    $ sudo apt install openocd

One-Time Fixups

On Linux, you might need to give your user access to the serial port used by the board. If you get permission errors or you cannot access the serial port, this is likely the issue.

You can fix this by setting up a udev rule to set the permissions correctly for the serial device when it is attached. You only need to run the command below for your specific board, but if you don't know which one to use, running both is totally fine, and will set things up in case you get a different hardware board!

$ sudo bash -c "echo 'ATTRS{idVendor}==\"0403\", ATTRS{idProduct}==\"6015\", MODE=\"0666\"' > /etc/udev/rules.d/99-ftdi.rules"
$ sudo bash -c "echo 'ATTRS{idVendor}==\"2341\", ATTRS{idProduct}==\"005a\", MODE=\"0666\"' > /etc/udev/rules.d/98-arduino.rules"

Afterwards, detach and re-attach the board to reload the rule.