Building and programming with nRF54L SoC series

Note

Refer to the VPR support table for availability and maturity of FLPR targets.

This guide provides instructions on how to build and program the nRF54L Series development kits. Whether you are working with single or multi-image builds, the following sections will guide you through the necessary steps.

Depending on the sample, you must program only the application core or both the Fast Lightweight Peripheral Processor (FLPR) and the application core. Additionally, the process will differ based on whether you are working with a single-image or multi-image build.

Note

The following instructions do not include multi-image single-core builds scenario.

Building for the application core only 

Building for the application core only follows the default building process for the nRF Connect SDK. For instructions, see how the Building an application page.

Building for the application and FLPR core 

Building for both the application and the FLPR cores is different from the default nRF Connect SDK procedure. Using the FLPR core also requires additional configuration to enable it. This section outlines how to build and program for both the application and FLPR core, covering separate builds and sysbuild configurations. The FLPR core supports two variants:

<board target>/cpuflpr, where board target depends on the device you are using. In this variant, FLPR runs from SRAM, which is the recommended method. To build FLPR image with this variant, the application core image must include the nordic-flpr snippet.
<board target>/cpuflpr/xip, where board target depends on the device you are using. In this variant, FLPR runs from RRAM. To build FLPR image with this variant, the application core image must include the nordic-flpr-xip snippet.

Standard build 

This subsection focuses on how to build an application using sysbuild.

Note

Currently, the documentation does not cover specific instructions for building an application image that uses sysbuild to incorporate the FLPR core as a sub-image. The only documented scenario is for building FLPR as the main image and the application as a sub-image.

Complete the following steps:

This option automatically programs the FLPR core with dedicated bootstrapping firmware.

To build and flash both images, run the following command that performs a pristine build:

west build -p -b board target
west flash

If your application involves creating custom images for both the application core and the FLPR core, make sure to disable the VPR bootstrapping sample. You can do this by disabling the SB_CONFIG_VPR_LAUNCHER option when building for the FLPR target. For more details, see how to configure Kconfig.

To build and flash both images, run the following command that performs a pristine build:

west build -p -b board target -- -DSB_CONFIG_VPR_LAUNCHER=n
west flash

Separate images 

You can build and program application sample and the FLPR sample as separate images using nRF Connect for VS Code or command line. To use nRF Util, see Programming application firmware on the nRF54L SoCs. Depending on the selected method, complete the following steps:

Note

nRF Connect for VS Code currently offers experimental support for the nRF54L15’s FLPR core. Certain features, particularly debugging, may not function as expected.

Open nRF Connect for VS Code.
Complete the steps listed on the How to build an application page in the nRF Connect for VS Code documentation.

Build the application image by setting the following options:
- Appropriate board target, depending on the device you are using.
- Choose either nordic-flpr or nordic-flpr-xip snippet depending on the FLPR image target.
- System build to No sysbuild.
For more information, see Providing CMake options.
Build the FLPR image by setting the following options:
- Board target to board target/cpuflpr (recommended) or board target/cpuflpr/xip.
- System build to No sysbuild.
For more information, see Providing CMake options.

Start the toolchain environment in a terminal window.
Build the application core image, and based on your build target include the appropriate snippet:
```
west build -p -b board target -S nordic-flpr --no-sysbuild
```
Program the application core image by running the west flash command without –erase.
```
west flash
```
Build the FLPR core image:
```
west build -p -b board target --no-sysbuild
```
You can also customize the command for additional options, by adding build parameters.
Once you have successfully built the FLPR core image, program it by running the west flash command without –erase.
```
west flash
```

Enabling the System OFF service 

When building with Trusted Firmware-M, you can build the nRF54L Series devices with the System OFF service enabled.

The System OFF service is one of the TF-M platform services specific to the nRF Connect SDK.

It allows the non-secure application to request the system to enter the System OFF mode using a secure service call.

The System OFF mode is part of the power and clock management system and is available on selected Nordic Semiconductor devices, including the nRF54L Series devices that support TF-M. For more details about the System OFF mode, see the device datasheet, for example the nRF54L15 Power and clock management page.

To enable the System OFF service in the nRF Connect SDK, enable the CONFIG_TFM_NRF_SYSTEM_OFF_SERVICE Kconfig option.

Zephyr’s System Off sample demonstrates how to use the System OFF service.

Building and programming with nRF54L SoC series

Building for the application core only

Building for the application and FLPR core

Standard build

Separate images

Enabling the System OFF service

Building for the application core only 

Building for the application and FLPR core 

Standard build 

Separate images 

Enabling the System OFF service 