MSPM0 Agent Skill
Use this skill for TI MSPM0 firmware projects that use SysConfig and DriverLib through CCS / CCS Theia, Keil/uVision, or CMake + Arm GNU Toolchain + OpenOCD workflows. It is intended for Claude Code, OpenCode, OpenClaw, Continue, Cursor, Codex, and similar CLI/editor agents.
Default Workflow
- Locate the project or , editable source files, generated , and the active project entrypoint: for CCS, plus scatter file for Keil/uVision, or plus OpenOCD files for CMake/GCC/OpenOCD.
- Run
python scripts/check_syscfg.py <project-dir>
when this skill is available.
- Read metadata: device, package, SDK product, SysConfig version, modules, instances, pins, clocks, and interrupts.
- Inspect generated for macro names, IRQ names, instance names, and the exact SysConfig init function spelling.
- Before adding unfamiliar SysConfig fields, inspect the user's existing , , TI SDK examples, or
source/ti/driverlib/.meta/*.syscfg.js
.
- Modify the smallest relevant and application-code surface.
- By default, make the smallest evidence-based edit and run
python scripts/run_sysconfig.py <project-dir>
before rebuilding. Use CCS SysConfig MCP only when the user explicitly requests it or the current session already exposes a confirmed SysConfig MCP tool.
- If flashing or debugging, run
python scripts/detect_probe.py
or python scripts/check_syscfg.py <project-dir> --probe
before selecting a backend. Confirm the configured probe matches the connected hardware and prefer a System Reset after programming.
Core Rules
- Treat as the source of truth for pinmux, peripheral setup, clocks, interrupts, DMA ownership, and generated initialization.
- Prefer SysConfig + DriverLib for GPIO, UART, PWM, Timer, ADC, I2C, SPI, DMA, and clock setup.
- Do not hand-edit generated outputs such as , , the project-root / pair in Keil layouts, , , , object files, maps, or files.
- Preserve metadata such as , , , , , and .
- Do not guess generated names. Read and use the local macros and the local init function spelling, such as .
- Do not invent SysConfig fields, enum values, device metadata, board names, package names, or tool versions. Validate against local examples, SDK metadata, or SysConfig CLI.
- New SysConfig releases may explicitly recommend the CCS SysConfig MCP. This skill does not probe for or require that unverified backend by default: use it only when the user asks for MCP or the current session already exposes a confirmed SysConfig MCP tool. Otherwise use a minimal manual edit followed immediately by standalone CLI validation, and state that this does not provide the MCP's interactive mutation feedback.
- Preserve unrelated user code, comments, copyright headers, project layout, and existing settings. If a requested feature requires a larger rewrite, explain why before making it when possible.
- Do not change device, package, SDK, compiler, CCS version, board, or debug probe without user confirmation.
- If the user asks only to "flash" or "debug", do not silently assume J-Link, XDS110, CMSIS-DAP/DAPLink, or ST-Link. Detect the connected probe first. If detection is unknown, multiple probes are connected, or the project configuration conflicts with the physical probe, stop and ask the user which backend to use.
- Treat an empty probe-detector result as inconclusive, not proof that no probe is connected. Some DAPLink/CMSIS-DAP and XDS110 devices appear only as Windows , , or children. Inspect OS USB/PnP devices and serial ports (
python scripts/serial_console.py --list
on Windows), then try the intended backend's read-only probe/list command or ask the user before concluding the probe is absent.
- If SysConfig emits warnings, report them separately from build/flash success. Do not call a warning-producing generation "clean".
- If hardware behavior is not verified on a connected board, say that validation stopped at source, SysConfig, or build level.
Board-Specific Pin Caution
When the user explicitly says the board is LCKFB Tianmengxing MSPM0G3507:
- Avoid choosing A21/PA21, A23/PA23, A02/PA02, and A18/PA18 for ordinary user-requested pin assignments unless the user asks for those pins or the local project already deliberately uses them.
- PA10 and PA11 are also marked as special, but Tianmengxing routes them as the default UART pins. When choosing pins for a UART, consider PA10 TX and PA11 RX first if they are free and match the requested UART instance. For GPIO, PWM, SPI, I2C, timer, or other non-UART uses, continue to treat PA10/PA11 as special pins and prefer other available pins.
- If the user asks to drive or reuse one of these special pins for a non-default purpose, remind them of the Tianmengxing board note. In particular, explain that repurposing PA10/PA11 can conflict with or remove the board's default UART connection.
- Do not silently move an existing project away from these pins. Explain the board caveat first, then ask or proceed according to the user's intent.
Project Shape Checks
- Simple projects usually keep most logic in , , or a small number of files. It is acceptable to make narrowly scoped edits there.
- Framework projects often have multiple source directories such as , , , , , , , or . First identify ownership boundaries before adding peripherals or changing control logic.
- Do not assume every MSPM0 project is CCS-like or single-file. A framework project can still use CCS, Keil, or CMake/GCC/OpenOCD.
- For control code, confirm whether timing comes from a timer ISR, RTOS task delay, hardware PWM/ADC trigger chain, or a main-loop poll before changing periods or priorities.
Keil Project Checks
- Treat and / as the configuration source surface for Keil-based MSPM0 projects that keep SysConfig outputs at the project root.
- Treat a Keil as the project entrypoint, the scatter file as the linker source of truth, and , , , build logs, and generated outputs as inspection-only unless a request explicitly targets them.
- For a project's application code, follow its own source layout rather than assuming CCS defaults.
CMake / GCC / OpenOCD Checks
- Treat , toolchain files, and OpenOCD files as the project entrypoints for CMake/GCC/OpenOCD projects.
- Build through the existing CMake build directory when present, for example
cmake --build cmake-build-debug --target <target>
.
- MSPM0 OpenOCD flashing usually requires a TI MSPM0-capable OpenOCD build or TI extension branch. If OpenOCD reports
unable to find a matching CMSIS-DAP device
, report that as probe discovery failure rather than firmware failure.
- Do not require CCS when the active project uses OpenOCD instead of DSLite.
FreeRTOS Checks
- If , , , , or are present, treat the project as RTOS-aware.
- Keep RTOS handling lightweight: respect existing task, queue, ISR, and blocking-call boundaries; do not impose a specific framework architecture unless the user asks.
Ambiguous Requests
If the user omits important hardware parameters, do not silently choose risky values.
- For low-risk defaults, use this skill's or local TI SDK examples, then tell the user which defaults were applied.
- For important parameters, ask before editing and offer a concrete recommendation.
- Important missing parameters include pin, peripheral instance, UART baud/data/parity/stop bits, Timer period, PWM frequency/duty/polarity, ADC channel/reference/sample time, DMA direction/source/destination, interrupt priority, and external-module power/logic levels.
Example: if the user asks "add a timer interrupt", ask which timer and period they want, and recommend a starter such as TIMG at 1 ms or 10 ms if they are unsure.
External Modules And Hardware Debugging
When asked to drive an external module, sensor, motor driver, servo, display, radio, or custom board:
- Ask for the module datasheet, schematic, pin map, supply voltage, logic level, communication protocol, and key parameters when they are not available.
- Verify wiring assumptions before blaming code: power, ground, pull-ups, level shifting, reset/enable pins, boot pins, chip select, UART TX/RX crossover, I2C address, SPI mode, PWM polarity, and shared pins.
- If repeated attempts fail and SysConfig, build, flash, and code logic look correct, explicitly raise the possibility of wiring, power, module mode, datasheet mismatch, damaged hardware, or wrong test procedure.
- Separate "firmware looks correct" from "hardware proved correct".
Reference Selection
Read references only when needed:
references/project_workflows.md
: editing, CCS / Keil / CMake project layout, SDK schema lookup, SysConfig CLI, builds, DSLite/J-Link, and OpenOCD.
references/driverlib_runtime_rules.md
: DriverLib usage, interrupts, clock tree, delays, and common runtime mistakes.
references/hardware_validation_notes.md
: verified Tianmengxing MSPM0G3507 lessons, HFXT warnings, flash/reset behavior, and real-board caveats.
references/debug_backends.md
: CCS-DSS and OpenOCD/GDB probe, flash, breakpoint, retry, and manual-unlock workflows.
Use
as one source for reusable tested patterns. Prefer
to inspect available examples before opening individual example files, but do not assume packaged examples outrank the user's existing project structure or official TI SDK examples.
Examples
Each reusable example should contain:
text
examples/<name>/
├─ example.syscfg
├─ README.md
├─ manifest.json
└─ src/
└─ source files copied from the minimal relevant project surface
Do not require users to drop full CCS projects into
. Use
scripts/capture_example.py
to extract a compact example package from a real project.
When applying an example to a user project:
- Treat skill examples as proven references, not mandatory project templates.
- Copy only the needed fields, generated-name expectations, code pattern, or debugging lesson.
- Preserve the user's existing file layout and naming. If an example uses , do not create in the user project unless the user asked for that structure or the project already follows it.
- Prefer the user's local style when it conflicts with an example's directory names, wrapper names, or layering.
- Consider official TI SDK examples and local SDK metadata at the same or higher priority when they better match the user's board, SDK version, peripheral, or toolchain.
- For DMA UART examples, keep TX buffers per UART instance, avoid shared static printf buffers, and choose RX handling per port: ISR callback for the one port that needs immediate line parsing, for extra receive ports, or TX-only init for ports that do not receive.
- For periodic timer interrupts, configure the TIMER instance and interrupt in , confirm the generated load value against the generated CPU clock, enable the generated IRQ in application code, and keep the ISR short.
Tools
Run bundled scripts with Python 3.10 or newer.
additionally requires
; if import fails, tell the user to run
python -m pip install pyserial
. TI SDK, SysConfig, CCS/UniFlash, OpenOCD, and GDB remain external workflow dependencies and are not installed by this skill.
python scripts/check_syscfg.py <project-dir>
: static project check for , generated files, pins, init spelling, project shape, CCS/Keil/CMake/OpenOCD clues, build output, target config, and validation hints.
python scripts/run_sysconfig.py <project-dir>
: discover the project-declared SysConfig and MSPM0 SDK versions, then validate the selected into an isolated temporary directory without overwriting project outputs. Use or only for an intentional explicit override.
python scripts/detect_probe.py
: read-only connected-probe detection for common CMSIS-DAP/DAPLink, J-Link, XDS110, and ST-Link hardware; an empty result is explicitly inconclusive and requires OS/backend fallback checks.
python scripts/check_syscfg.py <project-dir> --probe
: run the static check, detect connected probes, compare them with project hints, and suppress unsafe flash suggestions when a CCS conflicts with the physical probe.
python scripts/list_examples.py
: list packaged examples from .
python scripts/capture_example.py <project-dir> --name <example-name> --include <glob>
: package selected source files and from a user project into .
python scripts/index_syscfg_examples.py <mspm0-sdk-root> --board LP_MSPM0G3507 --module UART
: search local TI SDK examples and module metadata.
python scripts/serial_console.py --list
: list serial ports.
python scripts/ccs_dss_debug.py <project-dir> probe --leave-running
: connect through CCS Debug Server Scripting, read reset/register state, verify the configured debug path, and continue the target before disconnecting.
python scripts/ccs_dss_debug.py <project-dir> load-symbols --symbol main
: load debug symbols from without programming flash.
python scripts/openocd_debug.py <project-dir> probe
: connect through OpenOCD, halt briefly, report target state, and resume.
python scripts/openocd_debug.py <project-dir> flash
: flash, verify, and reset-run an auto-detected , , , or output through OpenOCD.
python scripts/openocd_debug.py <project-dir> run-to-symbol --symbol main
: use OpenOCD + to reset and run to a symbol breakpoint.
For the verified CH340 setup, use
python scripts/serial_console.py -p COM6 -b 115200 --timestamp --duration 10
after closing other serial tools such as VOFA+.
For line-based MCU parsers, send one test frame and wait for the echo with
python scripts/serial_console.py -p COM6 -b 115200 --send "ping" --send-line --timestamp --duration 3
. Use
when testing binary payloads.
Flash Backends
Before selecting a flash backend for a vague request such as "flash this project", run:
text
python scripts/detect_probe.py
python scripts/check_syscfg.py <project-dir> --probe
Probe detection is read-only. Do not flash when multiple probes are connected, detection is unknown, or the physical probe conflicts with the project configuration until the user confirms the intended backend. On Windows, if no probe is identified, inspect
Get-PnpDevice -PresentOnly
and
python scripts/serial_console.py --list
; a debug probe may expose a CMSIS-DAP/XDS interface or virtual COM port outside the generic USB device class.
The verified CCS flash path is DSLite / UniFlash with J-Link. For automated flashing after clock-tree changes, prefer DSLite System Reset:
text
dslite -c <target.ccxml> -e -r 2 -u <project.out>
For CMake/GCC/OpenOCD projects, use the project's existing flash target or explicit OpenOCD config. The packaged
helper can also flash an existing compatible output. Keep the backend explicit and report probe-discovery errors separately from build success.
Debug Backends
Keep CCS-DSS and OpenOCD/GDB as separate backends. Read
references/debug_backends.md
before debugging or diagnosing repeated probe failures.
For CCS / CCS Theia / UniFlash-style projects with a matching
:
text
python scripts/ccs_dss_debug.py <project-dir> probe --leave-running
For OpenOCD-capable MSPM0 projects:
text
python scripts/openocd_debug.py <project-dir> probe
The CCS-DSS physical probe is selected by
; it is not inherently J-Link-only. Use symbol-only loading when firmware is already flashed and rewriting flash is unnecessary. For OpenOCD, do not run concurrent operations against one probe. Neither backend should silently issue destructive recovery. If the target appears locked or protected, stop and ask the user to perform their manual unlock procedure. Debug actions can halt the CPU, so report that risk before using breakpoints or register inspection on real-time control hardware.