RAS304 Software Install

By Dan Aukes and Vivek T

    Introduction

    You will need to install some or all of the software listed below on any personal computer you plan to use for lab work and assignments this semester.

    While engineering software historically targeted Windows, most modern tools in this course (KiCad, MPLAB X, VS Code, Python, Git, Arduino, and Saleae) run natively on macOS and Linux.

    Operating System Guidelines

    Windows 10 / 11

    • Native Support: All course software, drivers, and CAD packages run natively on Windows.
    • Installer Tip: Always right-click installers and select “Run as Administrator” when setting up device drivers or Visual Studio build tools.

    Prerequisites

    NameLinknotes
    .net 3.5 framework SP1download
    direct link
    visual c 2013 x86 redistributabledownload
    direct link
    Visual Studio Build ToolsDownload PageSelect C++ build tools during installation

    macOS (Intel & Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3)

    • Native Software: KiCad, MPLAB X IDE, XC8/XC16 compilers, VS Code, Git, Python 3, Arduino IDE, Fusion 360, Inkscape, PrusaSlicer, and Saleae Logic all run natively on macOS.
    • Serial Terminals: You do not need PuTTY. Use the native macOS Terminal with screen or minicom, or use the Serial Monitor extension inside VS Code.
    • Windows-Only Exceptions (SolidWorks):
      • Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs can run Windows 11 ARM via Parallels Desktop or UTM.
      • Alternatively, use Autodesk Fusion 360 natively or access SolidWorks remotely via ASU MyApps / lab workstations.

    Linux (Ubuntu / Debian / Fedora)

    • Native Software: Virtually all embedded programming, E-CAD, version control, and analysis tools run natively on Linux. Many can be installed via your distribution’s package manager or Flatpak.

    • USB & Serial Permissions: To access microcontrollers and serial adapters without sudo, you must add your user account to the dialout and plugdev groups:

      sudo usermod -aG dialout,plugdev $USER

      (Log out and back in for changes to take effect).

    • Serial Terminals: Use native command-line tools such as picocom, minicom, or screen instead of PuTTY:

        sudo apt install picocom
  picocom -b 115200 /dev/ttyUSB0

    • CAD Exceptions: SolidWorks is not natively supported on Linux. Use Autodesk Fusion 360 (via browser/web wrapper), Onshape, or the lab PCs for 3D modeling assignments. |

    E-CAD

    NameLinkNotes
    KiCaddownload

    304 Embedded Programming Tools

    NameLinkNotes
    Microchip MPLAB Xdownload
    Microchip Code Configuratordownload
    XC8 Compilerdownload
    XC16 Compilerdownload
    Visual Studio Code (VSCode)downloadSetup instructions, then learn how to use it with pymakr-preview (optional for pic programming)

    Hardware Drivers & Debugging Utilities

    NameLinkNotes
    CP210x USB to UART DriverDownloadSilicon Labs serial drivers
    CH340 / CH341 USB DriverDownloadCommon driver for budget dev boards & serial converters
    FTDI VCP DriversDownloadVirtual COM port drivers for FTDI chips
    Saleae Logic 2DownloadLogic analyzer software for SPI, I2C, UART debugging
    Serial StudioDownloadReal-time sensor data & telemetry plotter

    Git Version Control

    NameLinkNotes
    Visual Studio Code (VSCode)downloadSetup instructions Install the “Git Graph” Extension.
    Gitdownload
    Git extensionsdownload(optional)
    KDiff3download(optional) comparison tool for git extensions

    3D CAD

    NameLinkNotes
    SolidWorksdownload
    Autodesk fusion 360download

    Graphics, Vector Drawings and PDF support

    NameLinkNotes
    Inkscapedownload
    Adobe Creative Cloud (Acrobat, Premiere Pro, Illustrator)ASU provided

    General Purpose Tools

    NameLinkNotes
    Arduinodownload
    7-zipdownload
    Firefoxdownload
    ffmpegdownload
    LibreCADdownload
    PuTTYdownload
    Trackerdownload