Make proper XIAO ESP32C3 firmware.bin for use with ESP Web Tools?

Products & Technology XIAO
#1

I have been trying with .bin files from both PlatformIO and Arduino to create a firmware that I can use with ESP Web Tools. Both IDEs are able to upload directly to the board just fine.

On PlatformIO I prepare it with:

/tmp/esptool-4.8.dev3/esptool.py --chip esp32c3 merge_bin \
  -o esp32c3.bin \
  --flash_mode dio \
  --flash_freq 80m \
  --flash_size 4MB \
  0x0000 .pio/build/seeed_xiao_esp32c3/bootloader.bin \
  0x8000 .pio/build/seeed_xiao_esp32c3/partitions.bin \
  0xe000 ~/.platformio/packages/framework-arduinoespressif32/tools/partitions/boot_app0.bin \
  0x10000 .pio/build/seeed_xiao_esp32c3/firmware.bin

On Arduino I prepare it with something similar to:

/tmp/esptool-4.8.dev3/esptool.py --chip esp32c3 merge_bin \
  -o esp32c3.bin \
  --flash_mode dio \
  --flash_freq 80m \
  --flash_size 4MB \
  0x0000 /var/folders/jl/35wyjq9s11s42_f8dvsf0j7c0000gn/T/arduino/sketches/DABE31BE92B76264E310C5D6F7227800/hello.ino.bootloader.bin \
  0x8000 /var/folders/jl/35wyjq9s11s42_f8dvsf0j7c0000gn/T/arduino/sketches/DABE31BE92B76264E310C5D6F7227800/hello.ino.partitions.bin \
  0xe000 .../Library/Arduino15/packages/esp32/hardware/esp32/2.0.14/tools/partitions/boot_app0.bin \
  0x10000 /var/folders/jl/35wyjq9s11s42_f8dvsf0j7c0000gn/T/arduino/sketches/DABE31BE92B76264E310C5D6F7227800/hello.ino.bin

Every time I try and flash it, when I monitor I get:

ESP-ROM:esp32c3-api1-20210207
Build:Feb  7 2021
rst:0x7 (TG0WDT_SYS_RST),boot:0x9 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Saved PC:0x40053f88
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
.... <serious number of times> ...
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557
invalid header: 0x434c4557

I appreciate any help anyone can give how might have done this already. Thanks!

#2

Hi there,
Yea, Doesn’t look correct IMO.
Can you post the actual code for arduino compile. use the code tags please , </> above
It’s a process , I can check it I can post back a BIN or HEX or UF2
HTH
GL :slight_smile: PJ :v:

#3

@PJ_Glasso Thanks for replying. Mind expanding on what doesn’t look correct? Note that I removed some identifying information from paths.

Sorry but I am not at liberty to post the code but I get the same exact outcome when doing a simple hello world:

#include <Arduino.h>

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(921600); while(!Serial); delay(200);
  Serial.println(String(millis()) + " Hello from setup: " + String(ESP.getEfuseMac()));
}

void loop() {
  Serial.println(String(millis()) + " Hello from loop: " + String(ESP.getEfuseMac()));
  delay(1000);
}
#4

Hi there,
LOL, Ok
I used Arduino, Compiled and built, flashed individually the group
then combined them and flashed that , in between I flashed a SD card, Read sketch for validation each time.
Well Works Fine,
Compiler Output

esptool.py v4.5.1
Creating esp32c3 image...
Merged 2 ELF sections
Successfully created esp32c3 image.
"C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\2.0.11/tools/gen_esp32part.exe" -q "C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino\\sketches\\1B532610C9C03DA361C31EFFAA5A57CB/partitions.csv" "C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino\\sketches\\1B532610C9C03DA361C31EFFAA5A57CB/sketch_mar21a_hello_9600.ino.partitions.bin"
cmd /c if exist "C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino\\sketches\\1B532610C9C03DA361C31EFFAA5A57CB\\libraries\\Insights" "C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\2.0.11/tools/gen_insights_package.exe" "C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino\\sketches\\1B532610C9C03DA361C31EFFAA5A57CB" sketch_mar21a_hello_9600.ino "D:\\Arduino_projects\\sketch_mar21a_hello_9600"
cmd /c IF 0==1 COPY /y "C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\openocd-esp32\\v0.11.0-esp32-20221026\\share\\openocd\\scripts\\board\\esp32c3-builtin.cfg" "D:\\Arduino_projects\\sketch_mar21a_hello_9600\\debug.cfg"
cmd /c IF 0==1 COPY /y "C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\2.0.11\\tools\\ide-debug\\esp32c3.json" "D:\\Arduino_projects\\sketch_mar21a_hello_9600\\debug_custom.json"
cmd /c IF 0==1 COPY /y "C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\2.0.11\\tools\\ide-debug\\svd\\esp32c3.svd" "D:\\Arduino_projects\\sketch_mar21a_hello_9600\\debug.svd"

"C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\riscv32-esp-elf-gcc\\esp-2021r2-patch5-8.4.0/bin/riscv32-esp-elf-size" -A "C:\\Users\\Dude\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino\\sketches\\1B532610C9C03DA361C31EFFAA5A57CB/sketch_mar21a_hello_9600.ino.elf"
Sketch uses 228422 bytes (17%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1310720 bytes.
Global variables use 13552 bytes (4%) of dynamic memory, leaving 314128 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.

here’s your Serial output (9600) baud BTW.

353 Hello from setup: 150234723153568
353 Hello from loop: 150234723153568
1353 Hello from loop: 150234723153568
2358 Hello from loop: 150234723153568
3358 Hello from loop: 150234723153568
4363 Hello from loop: 150234723153568
5363 Hello from loop: 150234723153568

and here’s the Zip with a Bin
target.zip (141.4 KB)
You can drop that directly on with EspRFTestTool and press reset to get same output as above.
FYI , USB must be plugged in, Your code has (While Serial) So…

HTH
GL :wink: PJ

P.S. I followed my own Guide here, maybe you should too. :v:

#5

@PJ_Glasso Thank you for trying to help. In the end it was not related to esptool.py and everything I was doing to build the merged firmware was correct.

The issue was coming from ESP Web Tools trying to upload a firmware that did not exist.

1 Like