# 3. Programmer usage
You may program your devices in any way you want. The easiest way in our opinion is to use st-link utility.
# Connection example diagram
The example of connection is shown below.
Fig. Example of SWD connection with can-mini node.
SWD-NEEDLE connector (opens new window) is designed for easy acces to TARGET device SWD.

# 3.1. Most common issues
WARNING
Please, read this section carefully to avoid most common issues!
- SWD and CAN sockets look similar and they use the same 4-pin cable. SWD has 3.3V, but CAN has 5V. Don't mix them up.
- Be sure that your SWD pins are connected correctly (3.3 to 3.3, GND to GND)
- On the sniffer
VUSB
led should be orange,3.3
led should be red,ST-link
led should be blue, andblink
led should blink with yellow. If they are not, probably you are making something wrong. It also may indicate that the board works incorrectly. - If your node already has a correct firmware, after such connection it should blink. If it is not, probably the firmware is wrong or the connection is mistaken.
# 3.2. Windows
Install
ST-LINK utility
from the official site (opens new window)Open
ST-LINK utility
, connect the programmer to the PC via USBConnect target device to the programmer via SWD connectors as shown on the picture above with respect to the warnings. If you gen an error, check the Windows issues section.
Choose option
Target -> Connect
. Device should be successfully connected. If you get an error, check the issues below.

- You should see
Device ID
if everything fine (as shown in picture below)

- Choose
file -> open file ...
and navigate to the downloaded firmware .bin as shown in the pictures below


- Choose
Target -> Program & Verify ... CTRL+P

- Wait until downloading is in progress

- You should see
Verification...OK
if everything is ok.

At that point, the firmware is succesfully downloaded. You can verify the software version by using gui_tool
.
Windows issues
Wrong connection may leds to one of 2 following errors:
- Can not connect to target

Programmer is successfully detected, but your device is not detected via SWD by the programmer. Either SWD connection is not ok, or there is a problem on the target side.
Sometimes it may happen that the 3.3 and GND is connected, but SWDIO and SWCLK are not ok enough. In this case the node blinks because it has a power, but connection is not stable enough to start a programming. Just make more tension by pushing jumpers a little bit and then press
Program & Verify
one more time.
- No ST-LINK detected

Either your programmer is not connected to your PC, or it is broken. Check the leds on the programmer device.
# 3.3. Linux
- Install
st-link
using the instruction from the official GitHub repository (opens new window) - Type the following to program your device with desired .bin file:
st-flash write desired_bin_file.bin 0x8000000
where desired_bin_file.bin
is the name of the binary file.
# 3.4. Alternatives (Dronecode Probe)
As alternative way to upload firmware Dronecode Probe (opens new window) can be used.
First you will need next stuff:
Name | Pics |
---|---|
1. SWD Needle connector | ![]() |
2. DEBUG-WIRE | ![]() |
3. Dronecode Probe | ![]() |
Connect all relative to the diagram below