Getting Started with CH32V003

After watching David Jones's YouTube "EEVblog 1524 - The 10 CENT RISC V Processor! CH32V003",
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Wrv7nW-S8&ab_channel=EEVblog
I had to learn more about this chip.

Dallas Makerspace Workshop, Wednesday, Sept 25th, 7-9PM

For those who have signed up for the CH32V003 Workshop,  Welcome !
I have already heard from some of you, and I'm getting excited to see what I can learn as well.
Some of you have already installed the tools, and are programming your CH32V003 boards with
example code, installing command-line example, learning what happens when you attempt a 32-bit
read on an unaligned boundary, and making code comments. Thank you for the interaction! I love it!

If possible, please spend a little time downloading the tools and example code:
IDE: http://www.mounriver.com/
LinkE Software: https://www.wch.cn/downloads/WCH-LinkUtility_ZIP.html

Example Code: https://github.com/wuxx/nanoCH32V003
OR: https://github.com/openwch/ch32v003/tree/main/EVT/EXAM

The CH32V003 microcontroller

32-bit RISC-V core - 48MHz operating frequency
2KB SRAM
16KB program FLASH
System power supply: 3.3V or 5V
Factory-trimmed 24MHz RC oscillator (HSI)
DMA, ADC (8 external, 2 internal signals), 2 Timers, USART,
I2C, SPI, up to 18 GPIOs
The 20-pin CH32V003F4U6 is $0.15 in "onesie-twosie" quantities.
The 8-pin CH32V003J4M6 is available for $0.10.

Data Sheet: https://github.com/wuxx/nanoCH32V003/blob/master/doc/CH32V003DS0_EN.PDF
Reference Manual: https://github.com/wuxx/nanoCH32V003/blob/master/doc/CH32V003RM_EN.PDF
Instruction Set: https://riscv.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/riscv-spec-v2.2.pdf

Where to get a CH32V003 development board

I ordered five development kits (Nano Dev board, LinkE programmer, USB cable) for $53.18 in April, 2023, from aliexpress.com.
I obtained another four kits from a coworker.  Sorry, this kit is no longer available.
Amazon will sell these development boards and LinkE boards for $10 (or more) each.
aliexpress.com will sell these development boards for $1.  The WCH-LinkE boards run $5.45.

My favorite development board includes a CH340 USB-Serial chip on-board. (I REALLY like this feature!)
https://www.amazon.com/CH32V003-Development-Minimum-Interface-fepart303799/dp/B0CSJYQ94L/ref=sr_1_3
I don't like the price the seller is asking.  Search AliExpress for better pricing...
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805693233146.html

Repository for board with documentation and example code: https://github.com/wuxx/nanoCH32V003
The github repo's README.md file: https://github.com/wuxx/nanoCH32V003#readme
Schematic: https://github.com/wuxx/nanoCH32V003/blob/master/hardware/nanoCH32V003.pdf

I created a RISC-V folder under Documents like so:
C:\Users\Jim\Documents\RISC-V

While inside the RISC-V folder, I cloned the repository like so:
 git clone https://github.com/wuxx/nanoCH32V003.git

Inside the "doc" folder is the zipfile, CH32V003EVT.ZIP, with "EVT" folder inside.
Unzip the EVT folder into "doc", so you have the example code available.
This zip file was provided by WCH, providing examples for the CH32V003,
not specifically for the nanoCH32V003 board.

Github Examples: https://github.com/openwch/ch32v003/tree/main/EVT/EXAM

MounRiver Studio IDE

Download the latest version of MounRiver Studio IDE from the official website:
http://www.mounriver.com/  and install it.

More info concerning the board

According to the schematic, the LED is connected to PD6
If using the GPIO example project, need to change source code to use PD6, not PD0.

WCH-LinkE v1.0

After plugging in the WCH-LinkE USB-Serial programmer, the device should display in Window Device Manager

The programmer comes with a 4-conductor cable, wire colors: brown (1), red (2), orange (3), yellow (4)
I connected the LinkE programmer to the nanoCH32V003 target board as follows:
Target         LinkE
GND  - brown  - GND
DIO  - yellow - SWDIO
3V3  -  red   - 3V3

NOTE:
The LinkE programmer includes a USB-Serial adapter to send/receive USART data to/from
your development board to/from your host computer.  I recommend TeraTerm for a terminal emulator.
https://teratermproject.github.io/index-en.html

WCH-Link Utility

This software tool connects with the WCH-LinkE programmer, and allows the user to read, write, examine
program data written to the RISC-V device.
https://www.wch.cn/downloads/WCH-LinkUtility_ZIP.html

Building "Blinky" using MounRiver Studio

1) Unzip/install CH32V003EVT.ZIP discussed earlier. This provides our Software Development Kit (SDK).
2) Within MounRiver Studio, select:
   File->Load->Navigate to the unzipped SDK->EVT\EXAM\GPIO\GPIO_Toggle\GPIO_Toggle.wvproj
   Click "OK"
   The project will display within MounRiver Studio's Project Explorer
3) Configure the output GPIO of choice....  (The default may not be your LED pin)
   Edit User->main.c->GPIO_Toggle_INIT()
   Change "GPIO_Pin_6" to be the pin number of choice
   
   Change "GPIOD" to be the port letter of choice
   
   Edit User->main.c->main() function, editing the port and pin within GPIO_WriteBit() call.
   
4) Click the "Build" button
   
5) Click the "Download" button
   
If "Download" has trouble finding the .hex file, see "Create Intel Hex output files" below.
Hopefully, if all goes well, the moon is in the correct position,
and you're holding your tongue correctly, the LED on your development board will blink as programmed.

Create Intel Hex output files

Here's how you instruct MounRiver Studio to create Intel Hex output files:
1) Right-click on the project within the Project Explorer
2) Select Properties

3) Navigate to C/C++ Build -> Settings -> GNU RISC-V Cros Create Flash Image -> General.
   Using pull-down menu, select "Intel HEX(.hex)"

4) Click on "Apply and Close"

Enable/Display MounRiver Studio's Built-in Terminal

1) Select Window->Show View->Other

2) Select Show View->Terminal->Terminal

3) After the Terminal view appears, select the "Open a Terminal" icon at the top of the Terminal view

4) Configure the terminal as needed.
   Select the Serial port
   Select the Baud rate
   Click "OK" - You should be good to go
Note: This terminal has NO FEATURES..
   No line termination support.
   No ANSI color support..

Notes & References

As noted in the YouTube EEVblog, the TSSOP20 package for this part appears to be pin
compatible with the STM8S003F3, https://www.st.com/resource/en/datasheet/stm8s003f3.pdf, at 1/3rd the price.
The UFQFPN20 package doesn't appear to be pin compatible.
Other websites for the CH32V003:
https://www.cnx-software.com/2023/02/22/ch32v003-risc-v-mcu-gets-1-5-development-board-open-source-gcc-toolchain-and-flasher-utility/
https://hackaday.com/2023/03/02/a-ch32v003-toolchain-if-you-can-get-one-to-try-it-on/
https://github.com/AlexanderMandera/arduino-wch32v003
https://www.tindie.com/products/adz1122/ch32v003-risc-v-mcu-development-board/
Example code provided by the processor manufacturer: http://www.wch.cn/downloads/CH32V003EVT_ZIP.html
https://www.wch.cn/downloads/file/409.html
guide: https://pallavaggarwal.in/2023/09/20/ch32v003-programming-guide/
guide: https://community.element14.com/technologies/embedded/b/blog/posts/low-cost-microcontrollers-using-a-ch32v003-risc-v-device
I2C Assembly Example: https://github.com/IanWraith/CH32V003-RISC-V-Assembly-Examples/blob/main/i2c.s

I2C Example using AT24C256 EEPROM - Link:
https://pallavaggarwal.in/2023/10/05/ch32v003-programming-i2c-eeprom/

My CH32V003 Projects

Currently storing my CH32V003 projects on github:
1us Timer : https://github.com/JimMerkle/CH32V003_Timer_1us
command_line: https://github.com/JimMerkle/CH32V003_command_line
I2C Read/Write w DS3231: https://github.com/JimMerkle/CH32V003_I2C_7bit