The problem was caused by semi-hosting. This project used -specs=rdimon.specs to linker to support SWO output debug connection. The library support for SWO is too lame to notice no debugger attached, and hangs in the startup code awaiting a debugger connection prior entering main. Oddly, IIRC I used semi-hosting for a couple products I developed using NXP LPC11C14 and LPC Xpresso, and I don't recall seeing this problem before. Anyway, just adjust the linker options:
- Remove: -specs=rdimon.specs
- Add: -specs=nosys.specs
Hope that helps someone else,
Best Regards, Dave