kflash, A Python-based Kendryte K210 UART ISP Utility

Usage

usage: kflash.py [-h] [-p PORT] [-c CHIP] [-b BAUDRATE] [-l BOOTLOADER]
                 [-k KEY] [-v] [-t] [-B BOARD] [-n]
                 firmware

positional arguments:
  firmware              firmware bin path

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -p PORT, --port PORT  COM Port
  -c CHIP, --chip CHIP  SPI Flash type, 1 for in-chip, 0 for on-board
  -b BAUDRATE, --baudrate BAUDRATE
                        UART baudrate for uploading firmware
  -i, --isp             choose which built-in ISP_PROG
  -l BOOTLOADER, --bootloader BOOTLOADER
                        bootloader bin path
  -k KEY, --key KEY     AES key in hex, if you need encrypt your firmware.
  -v, --verbose         increase output verbosity
  -t, --terminal        Start a terminal after finish (Python miniterm)
  -B BOARD, --Board BOARD
                        Select dev board, dan or kd233 or goD or goE, default dan
  -n, --noansi          Do not use ANSI colors, recommended in Windows CMD

Attention

Maixgo with openec firmware, BOARD must choose -B goE, and should choose sencond com port.

with cmsis-dap firmware(before 2019.02.21), BOARD must use -B goE.

you can update new cmsis-dap firmware ,it is same as openec.

Sample Usage

# Linux or macOS
python3 kflash.py firmware.bin
python3 kflash.py -t firmware.bin # Open a Serial Terminal After Finish

# Windows CMD or PowerShell
python kflash.py firmware.bin
python kflash.py -t firmware.bin # Open a Serial Terminal After Finish
python kflash.py -n -t firmware.bin # Open a Serial Terminal After Finish, do not use ANSI colors

# Windows Subsystem for Linux
sudo python3 kflash.py -p /dev/ttyS13 firmware.bin # ttyS13 Stands for the COM13 in Device Manager
sudo python3 kflash.py -p /dev/ttyS13 -t firmware.bin # Open a Serial Terminal After Finish

Requirments

• Python3
• PySerial

Windows

• Download and Install Python3 at python.org
• Download the get-pip.py at https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py
• Start CMD or PowerShell Terminal and run the following command

python get-pip.py 
python -mpip install pyserial

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macOS

# Install Homebrew, an awesome package manager for macOS
/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)" 
brew install python
python3 -mpip3 install pyserial

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Ubuntu, Debian

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip
sudo pip3 install pyserial

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Fedora

sudo dnf install python3
sudo python3 -m pip install pyserial

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CentOS:

sudo yum -y install epel-release
sudo yum -y install python36u python36u-pip
sudo ln -s /bin/python3.6 /usr/bin/python3
sudo ln -s /bin/pip3.6 /usr/bin/pip3
sudo pip3 install pyserial

Troubleshooting

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Could not open port /dev/tty*: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/dev/tty*'

For Windows Subsystem for Linux, you may have to use sudo due to its docker like feature

• Add your self to a dialout group to use usb-to-uart devices by

sudo usermod -a -G dialout $(whoami)

• Logout, and log in.

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UART Auto Detecting is Not Working, or Select the Wrong UART Port

Windows

• Check the COM Number for your device at the Device Manager, such as USB-SERIAL CH340(COM13).

python kflash.py -p COM13 firmware.bin

Windows Subsystem For Linux(WSL)

• Check the COM Number for your device at the Device Manager, such as USB-SERIAL CH340(COM13).

sudo python3 kflash.py -p /dev/ttyS13 firmware.bin # You have to use *sudo* here

Linux

• Check the USB Device Name, Usually presented as ttyUSB*

ls /dev/ttyUSB*

• It will print :

$ ls /dev/ttyUSB*
/dev/ttyUSB0
/dev/ttyUSB2
/dev/ttyUSB13

• Choose the one you think belongs to your device, or you may try multiple names.

python3 kflash.py -p /dev/ttyUSB13 firmware.bin

macOS

• Check the USB Device Name, Usually presented as cu.*

ls /dev/cu.*

• It will print :

$ ls /dev/ttyUSB*
/dev/cu.wchusbserial1410
/dev/cu.wchusbserial1437
/dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART2333

• Choose the one you think belongs to your device, or you may try multiple names.

python3 kflash.py -p /dev/cu.wchusbserial1410 firmware.bin

You may be unable to find the device even in the /dev, check the link below for drivers.

• For K210 and Sipeed Dan -> WCH CH34x USB2UART Chip

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