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Install on macOS

Platform tools for NSX on macOS, using Homebrew. These are steps 1–3 of Install and Setup — when you're done, return there to install the CLI and run nsx doctor.

1. System Prerequisites

NSX generates CMake projects that cross-compile for Arm Cortex-M targets. Install these host tools first:

Tool Version Purpose
Python 3.10+ Runs the NSX CLI and module resolver
uv latest Fast Python dependency management
CMake 3.24+ Build-system generator
Ninja any Parallel build backend
Git any Fetches module sources from their upstream repos 
brew install python uv cmake ninja git

2. Compiler Toolchain

GCC (the Arm GNU Toolchain) is the default and builds every example. You only need one toolchain to get started.

brew install --cask gcc-arm-embedded

Verify the compiler is reachable:

arm-none-eabi-gcc --version

Optional Toolchains

GCC is all most users need. NSX also supports two alternates — select either with --toolchain armclang or --toolchain atfe on any build command.

Arm Compiler for Embedded (armclang) — 6.22+

A licensed commercial compiler (Arm Compiler 6). Install it from Arm, ensure armclang is on your PATH, and NSX detects it automatically. No environment variable is required.

Arm Toolchain for Embedded (ATfE) — experimental, 22.1+

ATfE is Arm's free LLVM-based bare-metal toolchain (clang + lld + picolibc with a newlib overlay).

  1. Download the macOS build from the Arm Toolchain for Embedded releases.
  2. Extract it to a stable location, e.g. /Applications/ATFEToolchain/ATfE-22.1.0.
  3. Also extract the matching ATfE-newlib-overlay on top of that same directory — NSX (and nsx doctor) require the bundled newlib.cfg.
  4. Point ATFE_ROOT at the install directory (ATfE does not need to be on PATH — NSX invokes its binaries by absolute path):
export ATFE_ROOT="/Applications/ATFEToolchain/ATfE-22.1.0"   # add to ~/.zshrc

See Toolchain Support for build-flag and linker details.

3. Debug Probe (Optional)

A SEGGER J-Link is required to flash firmware (nsx flash) and stream live SWO output (nsx view). The Apollo510 EVB includes an onboard J-Link.

brew install --cask segger-jlink

Next Steps

Platform tools are in place — return to Install and Setup to install the nsx CLI and verify with nsx doctor.