Flash Magic Production System

Flash Magic Production System is an NXP flash programming toolkit for microcontrollers, built on the proven Flash Magic platform. It includes scripting, command-line control, and professional driver DLLs, so you can automate programming tasks and integrate them into your own software. Use it to set up reliable production-line programming for all NXP (Philips) 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit flash MCUs, or to build end-user firmware update tools. .NET assemblies are included with the .NET version only.

The Production System provides a production-line license for Flash Magic and everything you need to develop custom PC applications on top of the Flash Magic platform.

Production lines

Want to use Flash Magic in manufacturing? The free version isn’t licensed for production use. With the Flash Magic Production System you can run Flash Magic on up to 10 PCs at a single company site. Need more seats or multiple locations? Additional licensing options are available on request.

Custom PC applications

If you’re building your own tools for programming NXP microcontrollers, Flash Magic gives you a head start. Its ISP functionality is exposed through professional driver DLLs that your application can call directly.Every Flash Magic installation includes the driver DLLs, so your software immediately gains access to years of development and a platform used by thousands of engineers worldwide. .NET assemblies are available with the .NET version only.

LabVIEW support (.NET version only)

Included in the .NET version is a complete 32-bit LabVIEW VI that erases, programs, and verifies NXP ARM Cortex devices via UART bootloader or SWD. This lets you drop Flash Magic straight into existing engineering, test, and production workflows.

About Flash Magic

Flash Magic is a feature-rich Windows tool for downloading code into NXP flash microcontrollers using ISP (In-System Programming). ISP allows reliable serial data transfer between a PC and the target device.

Beyond basic ISP, Flash Magic adds smarter operations and safety features. You can erase selected pages or blocks, only the areas used by your HEX file, or the entire device. On MCUs where the ISP bootloader lives in flash, Flash Magic protects it from accidental erasure.

Advanced features include automatic checksum programming, switching into ISP mode via serial command, Just-In-Time modules for flexible data handling, and full control of RS232 signals and timing to place devices into ISP mode.

Flash Magic has been freely available for years and supports all current NXP 8-bit (8051), 16-bit (XA), and 32-bit (ARM) flash microcontrollers.

Typical uses

Here are some common ways people build on Flash Magic:

• In-house ISP tools with a simplified UI for production programming
• End-user firmware updaters, with embedded HEX files or online download support
• Gang programmers running multiple DLL instances in parallel threads across COM ports
• Future-proof programming tools: new device support arrives automatically via DLL updates instead of you rewriting your own ISP stack

Features

The Flash Magic DLLs provide a broad range of functions. Not every feature applies to every device, since availability depends on the MCU.

• Read device signature
• Erase some or all flash memory
• Program a HEX file
• Verify programmed HEX file
• Read and program security bits
• Check flash for blank areas
• Read flash data
• Read, erase, and program boot vector and status byte
• Read flash into a buffer
• Reset device
• Select debug mode
• Place device into ISP mode
• Read/program clocks bit
• Read/program device configuration
• Page-based erase
• Read CRCs from device
• Cancel autobauding
• Set/reset/verify passwords
• Select timeout length / restore defaults
• Enter SoftICE mode
• Python scripting system for automated tests and production routines

What's included

The Production System contains:

• GUI and command-line Flash Magic, licensed for production use
• Flash Magic C-based driver DLLs
• Flash Magic .NET assemblies (.NET version only)
• C header files
• Library/import files for Microsoft Visual C++ and Borland C++ Builder
• Example applications for Microsoft Visual C++
• Manual for DLL usage
• Manual for .NET assembly usage (.NET version only)

Requirements

Flash Magic Production System runs on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11.
To build custom applications you need a PC development environment. Library/import files are provided for Microsoft Visual C++ and Borland C++ Builder. For other toolchains, you can generate your own import files from the headers and DLLs. If you use the .NET assembly, you’ll also need a suitable .NET development environment.

Support limitations

General support is available for any PC development system and covers standard questions about DLL and .NET functionality, if applicable. Detailed, project-specific support can only be provided for Microsoft Visual C++ or C#.