Selecting a specific processor for a project

ddusty21 — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 19:28:27 GMT

This is my first foray into NXP chips, so there likely is some ridiculously obvious way to accomplish this--but I have yet to find it...

I've designed a PCB around an LPC5506 MCU: https://www.nxp.com/part/LPC5506JHI48

Time to write code. So I downloaded the VSCode MCUXpresso extension, and after downloading addons, toolchains, etc. via the MCUXpresso Installer, I have the complete MCUXpresso Repository version 24.x "main" downloaded, and can successfully compile an example "LED Blinky" for the LPC55S06. (Yes, LPC55S06, not the LPC5506.)

However, when creating a new project against the MCUXpresso SDK version 24.x, MCUXpresso will only allow me to select EVK/EVM boards. The closest option that MCUXpresso allows me to choose is the LPC55S06--and no, I can't type in LPC5506: the "Create Project" button is disabled unless I click on an existing EVK option...which is only the LPC55S06 or 55S69:

I don't think this is close enough to allow me to program an LPC5506, as it is quite different from the LPC55S06.

The only hint I've yet been able to find is in this thread where an LPC5506 is apparently successfully being leveraged: https://community.nxp.com/t5/MCUXpresso-Config-Tools/LPC5506-platform-drivers-power-error/m-p/1239927/highlight/true#M1171

where I notice that the SDK is "SDK_2.x_LPCXpresso5506 version 2.8.2", instead of the "SDK _24.x" version I downloaded. (Likely also is not the VSCode extension.)

But this doesn't make sense, as folders for the LPC5506 (and all the other variants) are scattered all throughout the entire SDK 24.x version I already downloaded:

Digging around, I found that I could download a "Remote Archive" specifically for the LPC5506:

And then I could "Import Example from Repository", and select the LPC5506-specific repository I'd downloaded.

But once again, I was forced to select the LPC55S06 development board:

And the resulting project configuration clearly shows the CPU specification as LPC55S06, not the LPC5506 I had specifically targeted with the repository:

So my question is this: HOW do I create an empty (or even "Hello World") project specifically targeting the LPC5506 with the VSCode MCUXpresso setup?

Or is the VSCode MCUXpresso extension simply not ready for real life use?

Re: Selecting a specific processor for a project

EdwinHz — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 20:43:07 GMT

Hi @ddusty21,

Currently VSCode's project creation is currently board focused. Since the LPC55S06's features encompass LPC5506's (LPC55S06 = LPC5506 + security features). You can use LPC55s06's board without any issues. That said, I have already talked about this board-based limitation of VSCode with the internal team, and are currently working on it to expand its capabilities.

If you don't want to risk any possible discrepancies that might block your development (although there shouldn't be any), you can use MCUXpresso IDE standalone, which allows you to develop MCU-specific projects using chip specific SDKs.

BR,
Edwin.

Re: Selecting a specific processor for a project

ddusty21 — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 21:42:24 GMT

Thanks. I will try programming the LPC5506 MCU with an LPC55S06 project, and see if it works.

if not, I will drop to the standalone MCUXpresso IDE.

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Selecting a specific processor for a project

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Re: Selecting a specific processor for a project