If you are working with embedded software system, you should know what Minicom is and what we need to do with the Minicom. Those who do not know anything about Minicom or have a very less idea about the embedded software system, for those I just want to write one or two lines. The answer of “why we need to use Minicom and what is the purpose of it?” is that suppose you have created one BSP image from your source code and now you want to burn the source code in your test device. Then at first you need to copy the BSP image in an SD card from your computer and then you need to insert that SD card inside the test device and then you need to burn the image in the test device. But, you need to give command to your test device though some software and that software is Minicom.
You can get the software Minicom from the Ubuntu software system. Just search with Minicom and install it. After installing it, the next important step is to set up Minicom. You can easily do it just by following the below instructions:
To get the communication port number of your computer, you need to type the below command:
dmesg | grep tty
You can get output either ttyS0 or ttyUSB0 according to the type of your communication port. If it is usb port then you will get USB0 and if it is just normal communication port with pins then you will get ttyS0.
Now, you need to configure the name of the communication port inside the Minicom and to do so you need to type the below command:
$ sudo minicom -s
As you are using sudo, it will ask for your computer password. Just enter your password and you will get the below screen:
You will have to select the third one which is “Serial Port Setup”. Just enter on that and you will get the below screen:
Here, you need to enter capital “A” and then you will go to the option “Serial Device”. Set up your serial device either ttyS0 or ttyUSB0 and click enter. Then you need to press E if your console baud rate (console means that console which is connected to your test device and also with your computer) is other than 115200 8N1. Then you need to enter F and then ” Hardware Flow Control ” will become NO.
Now, you need to press “Esc” and then need to drop down upto “set Setup as dfl” and press enter and when the configuration will get saved, you will have to “Exit” from the configuration. If everything is okay then your Minicom screen will look like below:
If you now turn on your test device, you will be able to get some message in the minicom screen and you will have your own instruction or command to burn the image in your test device.
