S32K144 default program PEMicro Null Exception error

[Phil123]

Hi, I have an NXP development kit (771C reference design) which has the S32K144 micro.

we have finally managed to install S32 Studio, and then get past the missing tools, and then the compilation errors.

Now, when attempting to run the debugger (PE Micro Multilink Universal as reccomended in the manual for the reference design) we run into a null pointer exception. Clearly something in the install is broken.

I am at the end of my tether with NXP now. I got running with an ST dev system in an hour. So far I am 2 days, and a support case further on, and it still is not working!!!!

If anyone has the solution, please shout out - I see a few cases of this online on PE Micro site also, but no definitive solution listed.

Thanks all.

[davidtosenovjan]

Could you show us screenshot of debug configuration and the error reported? Thanks

[Phil123]

[davidtosenovjan]

So you even cannot open debug configuration screen, correct? Could you specify used S32DS version and OS (Windows/Linux)?

You said you had some troubles with installing S32DS - have you tried to uninstall and install again?

[Phil123]

yeah, so I installed 2018 ARM version, and then installed the additional components via the help\install menu to add the latest tool chain. This got me to the point of being able to compile code.

I have also followed the PEMicro instructions to install and update any GDB drivers, and this made no change. 

here is the full list:

ARM Bare-Metal 32-bit Target Binary Toolchain 1.0.0.201803301951 com.nxp.s32ds.cle.arm.mbs.arm32.bare.feature.feature.group NXP
ARM Bare-Metal 32-bit Target GCC binaries for Windows host 6.3.0.201712081638 com.nxp.s32ds.brc.arm.earmv7.win32.feature.feature.group NXP
C/C++ Development Tools 9.2.1.201703062208 org.eclipse.cdt.feature.group Eclipse CDT
C/C++ GCC Cross Compiler Support 9.2.1.201703062208 org.eclipse.cdt.build.crossgcc.feature.group Eclipse CDT
C/C++ GDB Hardware Debugging 9.2.1.201703062208 org.eclipse.cdt.debug.gdbjtag.feature.group Eclipse CDT
C/C++ Memory View Enhancements 9.2.1.201703062208 org.eclipse.cdt.debug.ui.memory.feature.group Eclipse CDT
CDT GNU Debug Patch 1.0.0 com.nxp.cdt.gnu.debug.patch.feature.group NXP
CDT Platform Patch 1.0.2 com.nxp.cdt.platfrom.patch.feature.group NXP
Eclipse Platform 4.6.3.M20170301-0400 org.eclipse.platform.ide Eclipse.org
Eclipse XML Editors and Tools 3.8.2.v201702270442 org.eclipse.wst.xml_ui.feature.feature.group Eclipse Web Tools Platform
Embedded Systems Register View (SFR) 1.0.0.201801242120 org.eclipse.cdt.embsysregview.feature.feature.group EmbSysRegView Project
FreeRTOS Task Aware Debugger for GDB 1.0.1.201610061345 com.nxp.freertos.gdb.tad.feature.feature.group NXP Semiconductors, Inc.
FSL Eclipse Updater Custom Actions Feature for Eclipse 4.4.x 2.0.12.FSL_150303 com.freescale.updater.customActions.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc
Git integration for Eclipse 4.6.1.201703071140-r org.eclipse.egit.feature.group Eclipse EGit
GNU ARM C/C++ J-Link Debugging 4.1.2.201701141320 ilg.gnuarmeclipse.debug.gdbjtag.jlink.feature.group Liviu Ionescu
GNU ARM PEMicro Interface Debugging Support 5.4.1.202212071859 com.pemicro.debug.gdbjtag.pne.feature.feature.group P&E Microcomputer Systems Inc.
Hooks for S32 Design Studio S32K1xx BETA SDK 2.9.0 1.0.0.201808151544 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k1xx_2.9.0.hooks.feature.group NXP
Hooks for S32 Design Studio S32K1xx BETA SDK 2.9.2 1.0.0.201811280640 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k1xx_2.9.2.hooks.feature.group NXP
Hooks for S32 Design Studio S32K1xx RTM SDK 3.0.0 1.0.0.201909210745 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k1xx_3.0.0.hooks.feature.group NXP
Java implementation of Git 4.6.1.201703071140-r org.eclipse.jgit.feature.group Eclipse JGit
MQX 4.2 Halo 0.6, Windows hosted 4.2.0.201709211539 com.nxp.s32ds.brc.mqx.core.win32.feature.feature.group NXP Semiconductors, Inc.
MQX RTOS Task Aware Debugger for GDB 1.0.9.201707031831 com.freescale.mqx.gdb.tad.eclipse.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
PEmicro ARM Device Expansion Plugin 5.4.1.202212071859 com.pemicro.debug.gdbjtag.pne.expansion.feature.feature.group P&E Microcomputer Systems Inc.
Pemicro drivers v.12.7.0 for Windows OS binaries 12.7.0.201902251410 com.nxp.s32ds.brc.pne.drivers.feature.feature.group NXP
Processor Expert for S32 Design Studio 1.1.0.RT7_b1743-0713 com.freescale.processorexpert.s32.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
ProcessorExpert source binary provider feature 1.0.0.201910221120 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.zpex.feature.group NXP
Release Notes For S32DS Updates 2.0.0.201807021244 com.nxp.s32ds.update.doc.feature.feature.group NXP
Remote System Explorer End-User Runtime 3.7.2.201610260947 org.eclipse.rse.feature.group Eclipse TM Project
S32 Design Studio ARM Cortex-A Toolchain 1.0.0.201801242127 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.cortexa.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio ARM Cortex-M Toolchain 1.0.0.201801242127 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.cortexm.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio ARM Tools 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio cbg.editor implementation 1.0.0.201710301626 com.nxp.s32ds.ext.cdt.cbg.editor.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio CLE IDE 1.0.0.201801242128 com.nxp.s32ds.cle.ide.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio CLE IDE ARM 1.0.0.201801242129 com.nxp.s32ds.cle.arm.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio Cross Tools Commons 1.0.0.201808141537 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.tools.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio Example Projects 1.0.0.201811172020 com.nxp.s32ds.arm.examples.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio Extensions for Eclipse CDT 1.0.0.201801241546 com.nxp.s32ds.ext.cdt.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio Extensions for Eclipse CDT 1.0.0.201801241546 com.nxp.s32ds.ext.cdt.legacy.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio Extensions for IDE 1.0.0.201808141508 com.nxp.s32ds.ext.ide.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio Extensions for RCP 1.0.0.201801241543 com.nxp.s32ds.ext.rcp.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio for ARM IDE 2.0.0.201808141525 com.nxp.s32ds.arm.ide.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio for ARM Win32 Update 0.0.1 com.freescale.s32ds.UpdateArmWin32.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio for ARM, Version 2018.R1 Documentation 2.0.0.201801241456 com.nxp.s32ds.doc.arm.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio FreeMASTER SDK 1.0.0.201801242147 com.freescale.s32ds.cross.sdk.FreeMASTER.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio GNU 1.0.0.201808141537 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.tools.gnu.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio KEAx AMMCLIB SDK v.1.1.11 1.0.0.201801242147 com.freescale.s32ds.cross.sdk.KEAx_AMMCLIB_1.1.11.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio KEAx AMMCLIB SDK v.1.1.18 1.0.0.201910110758 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.KEAx_AMMCLIB_1.1.18.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio KEAx AMMCLIB SDK v.1.1.8 1.0.0.201801242147 com.freescale.s32ds.cross.sdk.KEAx_AMMCLIB.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio MAC57D5xx support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.mac.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio MQX 4.2 Halo 0.6 Example Projects 1.0.0.201801242132 com.nxp.s32ds.arm.mqx.examples.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio MWCT1014S support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.mwct1014s.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio MWCT1015S support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.mwct1015s.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio MWCT1016S support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.mwct1016s.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio OS Awareness for ARM architecture 1.0.0.201801242122 com.nxp.s32ds.osawareness.debug.ka.arm.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio Platform 1.0.0.201801242120 com.nxp.s32ds.ide.extensions.cdt.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio S32K116 EAR SDK 1.8.7 1.0.0.201804031402 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k116_1.8.7.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio s32k116 support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.s32k116.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K118 EAR SDK 1.8.8 1.0.0.201805031138 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k118_1.8.8.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio s32k118 support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.s32k118.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K11x AMMCLIB SDK v.1.1.18 1.0.0.201910110758 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.S32K11x_AMMCLIB_1.1.18.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio s32k142 support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.s32k142.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio s32k146 support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.s32k146.feature.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio s32k148 support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.s32k148.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio S32K14x AMMCLIB SDK v.1.1.18 1.0.0.201910110758 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.S32K14x_AMMCLIB_1.1.18.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K14x BETA SDK 1.9.0 1.0.0.201805311422 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k14x_1.9.0.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K14x EAR SDK 0.8.6 1.0.0.201803221112 com.freescale.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k14x_0.8.6.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K14x RTM SDK 2.0.0 1.0.0.201807031618 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k14x_2.0.0.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K14x_AMMCLIB SDK v.1.1.11 1.0.0.201801242147 com.freescale.s32ds.cross.sdk.S32K14x_AMMCLIB_1.1.11.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K14x_AMMCLIB SDK v.1.1.8 1.0.0.201801242147 com.freescale.s32ds.cross.sdk.S32K14x_AMMCLIB.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K1xx BETA SDK 2.9.0 1.0.0.201808291544 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k1xx_2.9.0.brc.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K1xx BETA SDK 2.9.2 1.0.0.201811280640 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k1xx_2.9.2.brc.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K1xx RTM SDK 3.0.0 1.0.0.201909210745 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k1xx_3.0.0.brc.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K1xx SDK RTM 3.0.2 Patch for SDK RTM 3.0.0 1.0.0.201910221120 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.s32k1xx_3.0.2.brc.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32K1xx support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.kfa.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio S32V common support 1.0.0.201801242127 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.s32v.common.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio S32V support 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.arm.s32v.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 Design Studio S32V234 AMMCLIB SDK v.1.1.11 1.0.0.201801242147 com.freescale.s32ds.cross.sdk.S32V234_AMMCLIB_1.1.11.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio S32V234 AMMCLIB SDK v.1.1.18 1.0.0.201910110758 com.nxp.s32ds.cross.sdk.S32V234_AMMCLIB_1.1.18.feature.group NXP
S32 Design Studio SDK extension 1.0.0.201904021015 com.nxp.s32ds.arm.sdkext.feature.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
S32 KEAx SDK 1.0.0 1.0.0.201801242147 com.freescale.s32ds.cross.sdk.KEAx.feature.group Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Segger Jlink drivers v.6.42a binaries 1.0.0.201902251409 com.nxp.s32ds.brc.segger.drivers.feature.feature.group NXP

[Phil123]

Also, Windows11

[davidtosenovjan]

Thanks

This is however outdated version of Design Studio.

Newest version suitable for S32K1 device is either
S32 Design Studio for S32 Platform v3.5
https://www.nxp.com/design/software/development-software/s32-design-studio-ide/s32-design-studio-for...

or possibly
S32 Design Studio for ARM 2.2 (which is latest version what you have installed):
https://www.nxp.com/design/software/development-software/s32-design-studio-ide/s32-design-studio-for...

I would recommend to use v3.5 as it is maintained.

If you are using 2018 ARM version, you could try to run it with windows 7 compatibility mode:

[Phil123]

Hi, OK, so I have a solution.

I have removed the 2018ARM version.

I attempted to install 3.5 onto Windows11, but the install failed.

I did succesfully install onto an older Windows10 machine, and with the PEMicro code updated I have nos sucessfully built, programmed and debugged the example code.

In summary -

Windows11 seems to be an issue?

Windows10 OK

Forget 2018ARM version, just use the latest 3.5,

Thanks All!

[davidtosenovjan]

Have you tried to run the installer in win7 compatibility mode? I guess it will be possible with Windows 11 as well.

I just discussed with DS expert and I have been confirmed version 3.5 should work with Windows 11.