CMSISPack

CMSISPack is a packaging format developed as part of the ARM CMSIS ecosystem to distribute software resources for ARM Cortex-M devices. A CMSIS-Pack is a self-contained archive that groups device support files, middleware, examples, and tool configurations for a given vendor or project. It enables portable, repeatable distribution of components across IDEs and toolchains.

A pack is delivered as a ZIP-like archive with a Pack Description (PDSC) file in XML at its root. The PDSC declares metadata such as packId, name, version, vendor, license, and description, as well as dependencies and target devices. It also lists the components included in the pack, with file mappings that describe where to place headers, sources, libraries, and tool configuration in a consumer project. Packs may also declare device variants, toolchains, and required CMSIS sub-components.

CMSIS-Pack Manager (CPM) and IDE integrations resolve packs from online repositories, locate compatible devices, and install the necessary files into a project, exposing headers, libraries, and middleware to the compiler and linker. Repositories are described by a catalog that the manager uses to discover packs; packs can be updated or removed, and dependencies between packs are supported.

Usage is centered on adding packs to a project via CPM or integrated IDE tooling, which then configures include paths, library paths, and device-specific settings. The CMSIS-Pack approach is designed to be vendor- and toolchain-agnostic, promoting compatibility across IDEs and build systems that understand CMSIS-Packs.

See also: CMSIS, PDSC, CMSIS-Pack Manager, Cortex-M, embedded software packaging.

---