BBB-BareMetal
FreeWorks on the beaglebone black (bare metal)
FreeFree tier
About BBB-BareMetal
BBB-BareMetal is an open-source GitHub repository containing bare metal programs, examples, and low-level code for the AM335x processor used on the BeagleBone Black board. It provides step-by-step examples ranging from basic LED blinking to UART communication, I2C, USB bootloading, and a U-Boot-based SD card loading method. The repository includes links to essential reference manuals (TI AM335x Technical Reference Manual, datasheet, schematics) and is intended for developers interested in bare metal programming without an operating system. It also includes instructions for loading applications via USB (tftp/bootp) or via U-Boot from an SD card.
Key Features
Bare metal example projects for AM335x (BeagleBone Black) covering GPIO, LED, UART, I2C, USB bootloader, and low-level initialization
U-Boot integration for loading bare metal applications from SD card
Reference to official TI documentation (TRM, datasheet, schematics) and elinux wiki
Includes blinker, GPIO, UART, I2C, and C++ test examples
USB tftp/bootp loading method for on-chip RAM
Bootloader examples (07_Bootloader, 09_USB_Bootloader)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open source with permissive license
- Step-by-step examples with clear folder structure
- Includes practical loading methods (USB and U-Boot SD card)
- Curated links to official documentation and community resources
- Active community (140 stars, 47 forks on GitHub)
Cons
- Limited to the BeagleBone Black (AM335x) platform
- Requires solid understanding of embedded systems and ARM assembly/C
- USB boot method may not work for all configurations (author notes boot from USB only as of writing)
- No built-in IDE or debugging support; relies on external tools
- Documentation and examples are primarily within README and code comments
Best For
Learning bare metal embedded programming on the BeagleBone BlackDeveloping low-level firmware or bootloaders for AM335x-based systemsExploring processor initialization and peripheral control without an OSExperimenting with U-Boot as a bare metal application loader
FAQ
How do I load a bare metal application using U-Boot?
Prepare an SD card with FAT32, copy MLO and u-boot.img from the Uboot folder, place your application binary on the SD card, create a uEnv.txt file with the command to load and jump to the binary, then boot the BeagleBone Black with the SD card inserted while holding the S2 button.
What hardware is required?
A BeagleBone Black board and a microSD card (for U-Boot method) or a USB connection (for tftp/bootp method).