# Main Page

CMSIS-Pack: Main Page

| CMSIS-Pack Version 1.5.0 Delivery Mechanism for Software Packs

- Main Page
- Usage and Description

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CMSIS-Pack Documentation

CMSIS-Pack describes a delivery mechanism for software components, device parameters, and evaluation board support. The XML-based package description (PDSC) file describes the content of a Software Pack (file collection) that includes:

- Source code, header files, and software libraries
- Documentation and source code templates
- Device parameters along with startup code and programming algorithms
- Example projects

The complete file collection along with the PDSC file is shipped in ZIP-format as a Software Pack. The PDSC file is designed for software development environments and describes the user and device relevant context for the files supplied within such a Software Pack. A Software Pack can be used for multiple purposes (see below).

After installing a Software Pack, all included software components are available to the development tools. Software components are a collection of source modules, header and configuration files as well as libraries. Packs containing software components can also include Example Projects and User Code Templates.

The Revision History of CMSIS-Pack lists the main changes between versions.

# Software Pack Use Cases

Software Pack Use Cases

The figure above shows the following use cases for Software Packs:

- Device Family Pack (DFP): contains CMSIS system/startup files, drivers, and flash algorithms for a microcontroller device family.
- CMSIS Software Pack: contains the generic CMSIS components (CORE, DSP Library, and RTOS implementation) supplied by Arm.
- Middleware Pack: contains software components belonging to a middleware (such as source code or libraries).
- Board Support Pack (BSP): contains documentation, schematics, and drivers for a certain development board.
- In-house Software Packs: usually contain software components that can be distributed within a company or engineering group.

Note
  A Software Pack can address multiple use cases at the same time!

The following sections give you more details on the basics:

- Software Packs Overview explains the steps required for creating a Software Pack in general.
- Pack with Software Components gives detailed information on the contents of the PDSC file.
- Pack with Device Support describes additional requirements of Device Family Packs (DFPs).
- Pack with Board Support covers the creation of Board Support Packs (BSPs).
- Pack Example explains the Software Pack example that is part of the CMSIS Pack in more detail.
- Publish a Pack shows the options for publishing a Pack.
- Utilities for Creating Packs caters to programs that are useful during the creation of a Pack.
- Pack Description (*.pdsc) Format describes all XML elements that can be used in a PDSC file.
- Configuration Wizard Annotations can be used to create GUI-like elements in development tools for configuration files.
- Flash Programming are used to erase or download applications to Flash devices.
- Debug Setup with CMSIS-Pack allow to create tool-agnostic debug and trace configurations
- Project Description (*.cpdsc) Format is a environment/tool independent definition of a software project. This helps to create only one set of example projects that can be used by many different tool vendors.
- CMSIS-Pack Index Files

## CMSIS-Pack in ARM::CMSIS Pack

Files relevant to CMSIS-Pack are present in the following ARM::CMSIS directories:

Folder | Content
--- | ---
Utilities | Utilities for Creating Packs
Pack\Example | Reference Software Pack
Pack\Tutorials | Tutorials for Creating Packs