mspm0-ccs - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: mspm0-ccs description: Tool-neutral CLI agent rules for TI MSPM0 development with Code Composer Studio, Keil/uVision, CMake/GCC/OpenOCD, SysConfig, and DriverLib. Use when an agent needs to inspect or modify MSPM0 projects, edit .syscfg configuration, avoid generated SysConfig/build files, use DriverLib APIs, validate SysConfig output, package reusable MSPM0 examples, or work on NUEDC-style MSPM0 embedded firmware.

MSPM0 Agent Skill

Use this skill for TI MSPM0 firmware projects that use SysConfig and DriverLib through CCS / CCS Theia, Keil/uVision, or CMake + Arm GNU Toolchain + OpenOCD workflows. It is intended for Claude Code, OpenCode, OpenClaw, Continue, Cursor, Codex, and similar CLI/editor agents.

Default Workflow

Locate the project .syscfg or system.syscfg, editable source files, generated ti_msp_dl_config.h, and the active project entrypoint: targetConfigs/*.ccxml for CCS, *.uvprojx plus scatter file for Keil/uVision, or CMakeLists.txt plus OpenOCD .cfg files for CMake/GCC/OpenOCD.
Run python scripts/check_syscfg.py <project-dir> when this skill is available.
Read .syscfg metadata: device, package, SDK product, SysConfig version, modules, instances, pins, clocks, and interrupts.
Inspect generated ti_msp_dl_config.h for macro names, IRQ names, instance names, and the exact SysConfig init function spelling.
Before adding unfamiliar SysConfig fields, inspect the user's existing .syscfg, examples/*/manifest.json, TI SDK examples, or source/ti/driverlib/.meta/*.syscfg.js.
Modify the smallest relevant .syscfg and application-code surface.
Regenerate SysConfig output or rebuild through the active toolchain's generated build flow.
If flashing or debugging, run python scripts/detect_probe.py or python scripts/check_syscfg.py <project-dir> --probe before selecting a backend. Confirm the configured probe matches the connected hardware and prefer a System Reset after programming.

Core Rules

Treat .syscfg as the source of truth for pinmux, peripheral setup, clocks, interrupts, DMA ownership, and generated initialization.
Prefer SysConfig + DriverLib for GPIO, UART, PWM, Timer, ADC, I2C, SPI, DMA, and clock setup.
Do not hand-edit generated outputs such as Debug/ti_msp_dl_config.c, Debug/ti_msp_dl_config.h, the project-root ti_msp_dl_config.c / ti_msp_dl_config.h pair in Keil layouts, device_linker.cmd, Objects/, Listings/, object files, maps, or .out files.
Preserve .syscfg metadata such as @cliArgs, @v2CliArgs, @versions, --device, --package, and --product.
Do not guess generated names. Read ti_msp_dl_config.h and use the local macros and the local init function spelling, such as SYSCFG_DL_init().
Do not invent SysConfig fields, enum values, device metadata, board names, package names, or tool versions. Validate against local examples, SDK metadata, or SysConfig CLI.
Preserve unrelated user code, comments, copyright headers, project layout, and existing .syscfg settings. If a requested feature requires a larger rewrite, explain why before making it when possible.
Do not change device, package, SDK, compiler, CCS version, board, or debug probe without user confirmation.
If the user asks only to "flash" or "debug", do not silently assume J-Link, XDS110, CMSIS-DAP/DAPLink, or ST-Link. Detect the connected probe first. If detection is unknown, multiple probes are connected, or the project configuration conflicts with the physical probe, stop and ask the user which backend to use.
If SysConfig emits warnings, report them separately from build/flash success. Do not call a warning-producing generation "clean".
If hardware behavior is not verified on a connected board, say that validation stopped at source, SysConfig, or build level.

Board-Specific Pin Caution

When the user explicitly says the board is LCKFB Tianmengxing MSPM0G3507:

Avoid choosing A21/PA21, A23/PA23, A02/PA02, A18/PA18, A10/PA10, and A11/PA11 for ordinary user-requested pin assignments unless the user asks for those pins or the local project already deliberately uses them.
If the user asks to drive or reuse one of those pins, remind them that the Tianmengxing documentation marks these as special pins and says they should not be used unless necessary.
Do not silently move an existing project away from these pins. Explain the board caveat first, then ask or proceed according to the user's intent.

Project Shape Checks

Simple projects usually keep most logic in main.c, empty.c, or a small number of files. It is acceptable to make narrowly scoped edits there.
Framework projects often have multiple source directories such as app/, bsp/, components/, core/, drivers/, hal/, middleware/, or tasks/. First identify ownership boundaries before adding peripherals or changing control logic.
Do not assume every MSPM0 project is CCS-like or single-file. A framework project can still use CCS, Keil, or CMake/GCC/OpenOCD.
For control code, confirm whether timing comes from a timer ISR, RTOS task delay, hardware PWM/ADC trigger chain, or a main-loop poll before changing periods or priorities.

Keil Project Checks

Treat system.syscfg and ti_msp_dl_config.c / ti_msp_dl_config.h as the configuration source surface for Keil-based MSPM0 projects that keep SysConfig outputs at the project root.
Treat a Keil .uvprojx as the project entrypoint, the scatter file as the linker source of truth, and Objects/, Listings/, *.uvoptx, build logs, and generated outputs as inspection-only unless a request explicitly targets them.
For a project's application code, follow its own source layout rather than assuming CCS defaults.

CMake / GCC / OpenOCD Checks

Treat CMakeLists.txt, toolchain files, and OpenOCD .cfg files as the project entrypoints for CMake/GCC/OpenOCD projects.
Build through the existing CMake build directory when present, for example cmake --build cmake-build-debug --target <target>.
MSPM0 OpenOCD flashing usually requires a TI MSPM0-capable OpenOCD build or TI extension branch. If OpenOCD reports unable to find a matching CMSIS-DAP device, report that as probe discovery failure rather than firmware failure.
Do not require CCS targetConfigs/*.ccxml when the active project uses OpenOCD instead of DSLite.

FreeRTOS Checks

If FreeRTOSConfig.h, FreeRTOS.h, task.h, xTaskCreate, or vTaskStartScheduler are present, treat the project as RTOS-aware.
Keep RTOS handling lightweight: respect existing task, queue, ISR, and blocking-call boundaries; do not impose a specific framework architecture unless the user asks.

Ambiguous Requests

If the user omits important hardware parameters, do not silently choose risky values.

For low-risk defaults, use this skill's examples/ or local TI SDK examples, then tell the user which defaults were applied.
For important parameters, ask before editing and offer a concrete recommendation.
Important missing parameters include pin, peripheral instance, UART baud/data/parity/stop bits, Timer period, PWM frequency/duty/polarity, ADC channel/reference/sample time, DMA direction/source/destination, interrupt priority, and external-module power/logic levels.

Example: if the user asks "add a timer interrupt", ask which timer and period they want, and recommend a starter such as TIMG at 1 ms or 10 ms if they are unsure.

External Modules And Hardware Debugging

When asked to drive an external module, sensor, motor driver, servo, display, radio, or custom board:

Ask for the module datasheet, schematic, pin map, supply voltage, logic level, communication protocol, and key parameters when they are not available.
Verify wiring assumptions before blaming code: power, ground, pull-ups, level shifting, reset/enable pins, boot pins, chip select, UART TX/RX crossover, I2C address, SPI mode, PWM polarity, and shared pins.
If repeated attempts fail and SysConfig, build, flash, and code logic look correct, explicitly raise the possibility of wiring, power, module mode, datasheet mismatch, damaged hardware, or wrong test procedure.
Separate "firmware looks correct" from "hardware proved correct".

Reference Selection

Read references only when needed:

references/project_workflows.md: .syscfg editing, CCS / Keil / CMake project layout, SDK schema lookup, SysConfig CLI, builds, DSLite/J-Link, and OpenOCD.
references/driverlib_runtime_rules.md: DriverLib usage, interrupts, clock tree, delays, and common runtime mistakes.
references/hardware_validation_notes.md: verified Tianmengxing MSPM0G3507 lessons, HFXT warnings, flash/reset behavior, and real-board caveats.
references/debug_backends.md: CCS-DSS and OpenOCD/GDB probe, flash, breakpoint, retry, and manual-unlock workflows.

Use examples/ as one source for reusable tested patterns. Prefer scripts/list_examples.py to inspect available examples before opening individual example files, but do not assume packaged examples outrank the user's existing project structure or official TI SDK examples.

Examples

Each reusable example should contain:

examples/<name>/
├─ example.syscfg
├─ README.md
├─ manifest.json
└─ src/
   └─ source files copied from the minimal relevant project surface

Do not require users to drop full CCS projects into examples/. Use scripts/capture_example.py to extract a compact example package from a real project.

When applying an example to a user project:

Treat skill examples as proven references, not mandatory project templates.
Copy only the needed .syscfg fields, generated-name expectations, code pattern, or debugging lesson.
Preserve the user's existing file layout and naming. If an example uses BSP/, do not create BSP/ in the user project unless the user asked for that structure or the project already follows it.
Prefer the user's local style when it conflicts with an example's directory names, wrapper names, or layering.
Consider official TI SDK examples and local SDK metadata at the same or higher priority when they better match the user's board, SDK version, peripheral, or toolchain.
For DMA UART examples, keep TX buffers per UART instance, avoid shared static printf buffers, and choose RX handling per port: ISR callback for the one port that needs immediate line parsing, UART_poll() for extra receive ports, or TX-only init for ports that do not receive.
For periodic timer interrupts, configure the TIMER instance and interrupt in .syscfg, confirm the generated load value against the generated CPU clock, enable the generated IRQ in application code, and keep the ISR short.

Tools

python scripts/check_syscfg.py <project-dir>: static project check for .syscfg, generated files, pins, init spelling, project shape, CCS/Keil/CMake/OpenOCD clues, build output, target config, and validation hints.
python scripts/detect_probe.py: read-only connected-probe detection for common CMSIS-DAP/DAPLink, J-Link, XDS110, and ST-Link hardware.
python scripts/check_syscfg.py <project-dir> --probe: run the static check, detect connected probes, compare them with project hints, and suppress unsafe flash suggestions when a CCS .ccxml conflicts with the physical probe.
python scripts/list_examples.py: list packaged examples from examples/*/manifest.json.
python scripts/capture_example.py <project-dir> --name <example-name> --include <glob>: package selected source files and .syscfg from a user project into examples/<example-name>/.
python scripts/index_syscfg_examples.py <mspm0-sdk-root> --board LP_MSPM0G3507 --module UART: search local TI SDK examples and module metadata.
python scripts/serial_console.py --list: list serial ports.
python scripts/ccs_dss_debug.py <project-dir> probe --leave-running: connect through CCS Debug Server Scripting, read reset/register state, verify the configured .ccxml debug path, and continue the target before disconnecting.
python scripts/ccs_dss_debug.py <project-dir> load-symbols --symbol main: load debug symbols from .out without programming flash.
python scripts/openocd_debug.py <project-dir> probe: connect through OpenOCD, halt briefly, report target state, and resume.
python scripts/openocd_debug.py <project-dir> flash: flash, verify, and reset-run an auto-detected .out, .elf, .axf, or .hex output through OpenOCD.
python scripts/openocd_debug.py <project-dir> run-to-symbol --symbol main: use OpenOCD + arm-none-eabi-gdb to reset and run to a symbol breakpoint.

For the verified CH340 setup, use python scripts/serial_console.py -p COM6 -b 115200 --timestamp --duration 10 after closing other serial tools such as VOFA+. For line-based MCU parsers, send one test frame and wait for the echo with python scripts/serial_console.py -p COM6 -b 115200 --send "ping" --send-line --timestamp --duration 3. Use --send-hex "00 00 80 3F" when testing binary payloads.

Flash Backends

Before selecting a flash backend for a vague request such as "flash this project", run:

python scripts/detect_probe.py
python scripts/check_syscfg.py <project-dir> --probe

Probe detection is read-only. Do not flash when multiple probes are connected, detection is unknown, or the physical probe conflicts with the project configuration until the user confirms the intended backend.

The verified CCS flash path is DSLite / UniFlash with J-Link. For automated flashing after clock-tree changes, prefer DSLite System Reset:

dslite -c <target.ccxml> -e -r 2 -u <project.out>

For CMake/GCC/OpenOCD projects, use the project's existing flash target or explicit OpenOCD config. The packaged openocd_debug.py helper can also flash an existing compatible output. Keep the backend explicit and report probe-discovery errors separately from build success.

Debug Backends

Keep CCS-DSS and OpenOCD/GDB as separate backends. Read references/debug_backends.md before debugging or diagnosing repeated probe failures.

For CCS / CCS Theia / UniFlash-style projects with a matching targetConfigs/*.ccxml:

python scripts/ccs_dss_debug.py <project-dir> probe --leave-running

For OpenOCD-capable MSPM0 projects:

python scripts/openocd_debug.py <project-dir> probe

The CCS-DSS physical probe is selected by .ccxml; it is not inherently J-Link-only. Use symbol-only loading when firmware is already flashed and rewriting flash is unnecessary. For OpenOCD, do not run concurrent operations against one probe. Neither backend should silently issue destructive recovery. If the target appears locked or protected, stop and ask the user to perform their manual unlock procedure. Debug actions can halt the CPU, so report that risk before using breakpoints or register inspection on real-time control hardware.