CoreInk: Flash Firmware & Run Code

1. USB Driver Installation

Before flashing CoreInk firmware, install the FTDI driver first so that the computer can properly recognize the device and generate a virtual serial port, ensuring normal communication between the flashing tool and the device. Follow the steps below:

Connect the device to the PC, open Device Manager, and install the FTDI driver for the device. Using Windows 10 as an example, download the driver file that matches your operating system, extract it, and install it through Device Manager. In some system environments, the driver may need to be installed twice before it takes effect. The unrecognized device name is usually M5Stack or USB Serial. On Windows, it is recommended to install directly through Device Manager using the driver files (custom update). Installing through the executable file may not work properly.

For MacOS users, before installation, enable System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> General -> Allow apps downloaded from -> App Store and identified developers.

2. Flash UiFlow2 Firmware

Refer to the UiFlow2 Web IDE Tutorial to learn the basic workflow of UiFlow2 and install the M5Burner firmware flashing tool.
Download the firmware for CoreInk in M5Burner, as shown below.

Connect the device to the computer with a USB cable. After the device is powered on, insert the USB connector. When M5Burner displays Found New Device, the connection is successful and the device enters programming mode. The screen does not display any content at this time.
In M5Burner, click the Burn button for the corresponding firmware, select the device port, and click Start.

Enter the Wi-Fi configuration that the device needs to connect to, including Wi-Fi SSID and Wi-Fi Password, as well as any other device configuration that needs to be added or modified. Then click Next to start flashing.

Configuration information:

COM: Select the serial port corresponding to the device
BaudRate: Baud rate for serial communication
Server: Server address the device connects to
WIFI SSID/WIFI Password: Wi-Fi name and password used by the device
SNTP Server:
- SNTP0: Alibaba Cloud NTP Server (China)
- SNTP1: Japan NTP server pool
- SNTP2: Global public NTP server pool
Timezone: Time zone setting
Boot Option: Set the device boot mode after firmware flashing
- Run main.py directly: After flashing, directly run the program in main.py without connecting to the network or displaying the UiFlow2 startup screen
- Show startup menu and network setup: The device connects to the network, and devices with screens display the UiFlow2 startup screen
- Only network setup: The device only connects to the network and does not display the UiFlow2 startup screen

When Burn successfully, click here to return is displayed, the firmware has been flashed successfully.

After firmware flashing is complete, if you need to modify the device configuration, keep the USB connection, restart the device, and click Configure. Follow the on-screen prompts to make changes.

3. Device Connection

The device supports connecting to UiFlow2 via Access Code (wireless network) or USB (wired connection to a computer) for program upload and debugging. Refer to the following steps:

Access Code Wireless Connection

Before connecting, use the Wi-Fi icon on the screen to make sure the device is connected to the network. If the network connection fails, check whether the Wi-Fi name and password entered when flashing the firmware are correct, modify them through the Configure option in M5Burner, and flash again.

Check the currently generated valid Access Code on the device's UiFlow2 startup screen.

Visit uiflow2.m5stack.com to open the UiFlow2 Web IDE.
Click Select Your Controller (shown on first entry) or the Controller button on the page to enter the Select Device page.

Click Connect Device, enter the access code and a custom device name, then click Confirm to connect CoreInk to UiFlow2.

On the Select Device page, select the connected CoreInk device and click Confirm to enter the UiFlow2 programming interface.

USB Wired Connection

Visit uiflow2.m5stack.com to open the UiFlow2 Web IDE, and connect CoreInk to the computer with a USB cable.
Click Select Your Controller (shown on first entry) or the Controller button on the page to enter the Select Device page.

Select the CoreInk device in the device list, then click Confirm.

Click the WebTerminal button. In the pop-up window, select the serial port of CoreInk, then click Connect.

When the WebTerminal screen displays Connected to Serial Port!, the USB connection is successful.

4. Program Run and Download

After the device is connected to UiFlow2, you can drag Blockly blocks to edit programs.

After editing the program, click the Run Once button in the lower-right corner to run the test program once, or click Run Always to download the program to the device.