MCUXpresso SDK Guide

Complete resource for using NXP's MCUXpresso SDK and tools for LPC, Kinetis, and i.MX RT microcontrollers.

Introduction to MCUXpresso SDK

MCUXpresso SDK (Software Development Kit) is NXP's comprehensive software platform for LPC, Kinetis, and i.MX RT microcontrollers. It provides a consistent development experience across NXP's ARM Cortex-M based microcontroller portfolio with drivers, middleware, and example projects to accelerate your development process.

Key Components

  • Board Support Package (BSP) with initialization code
  • Peripheral drivers for all on-chip peripherals
  • Middleware components (USB stack, TCP/IP stack, etc.)
  • Example projects demonstrating peripheral usage
  • Documentation and API references
  • Integration with MCUXpresso IDE

Supported Device Families

  • LPC5500 series (Cortex-M33)
  • LPC54000 series (Cortex-M4F)
  • Kinetis K series (Cortex-M4F, M0+)
  • Kinetis E series (Cortex-M4F)
  • i.MX RT series (Cortex-M7)
  • LPC1800/4300 series (Cortex-M0+, M4)

Getting Started with MCUXpresso SDK

Follow these steps to get started with MCUXpresso SDK development:

  1. Visit the contact page to request access to development tools from our FAEs
  2. Download MCUXpresso IDE and SDK for your target device
  3. Set up your development environment
  4. Create or import your first project
  5. Build and debug your application

For device-specific setup instructions, refer to our detailed guides or contact our technical support team.

SDK Features

Driver Layer

Provides standardized APIs for all on-chip peripherals with consistent interfaces across device families.

Configuration Tools

Pin muxing and clock configuration tools to simplify hardware setup.

Power Management

Advanced power management drivers for ultra-low-power applications.

Security Features

Cryptographic libraries and secure boot implementation support.

Best Practices

Recommended approaches when using MCUXpresso SDK:

  • Start with Examples: Use provided examples as starting points for your projects
  • Use CMSIS Standard: Leverage CMSIS-compliant APIs for portability
  • Configure Clocks Carefully: Use clock configuration utilities to ensure proper performance and power consumption
  • Implement Power Management: Use SDK power management APIs to optimize energy consumption
  • Security Considerations: Apply security features early in your design process

For implementation-specific guidance, consult our technical support team or reference our detailed application notes.

Additional Resources

Explore more resources to enhance your MCUXpresso development experience:

Support

Need assistance with MCUXpresso SDK? Our NXP-certified FAEs can help:

  • Project-specific SDK configuration
  • Migration from other SDKs or toolchains
  • Performance optimization techniques
  • Debugging and troubleshooting assistance
Contact Technical Support