The xPack OpenOCD Frequently Asked Questions

My JTAG probe XXX is not supported, can you add it?

Unfortunately not. The xPack OpenOCD is only a binary distribution of the standard source code OpenOCD, and does not intend to add new functionality. Please use the official OpenOCD support channels to ask for new features.

I cannot find a connection script for my board XXX, can you add it?

Unfortunately not. The xPack OpenOCD is only a binary distribution of the standard source code OpenOCD, and does not intend to add new functionality. Please use the official OpenOCD support channels to ask for new features.

libusb_open failed: LIBUSB_ERROR_ACCESS

You are using GNU/Linux and your user has no permission to write to USB. Please review the Install Guide page.

Nix also provides reproducible builds, why not use it?

The short answer is… “because of Windows”.

Nix is a remarkable project that carefully controls versions down to individual libraries. However, it relies on file links, which are either unavailable or unreliable on Windows.

As a result, Nix is currently only available on GNU/Linux and, with some limitations, on macOS. Additionally, mastering the Nix language requires significant effort.

Flatpack & Snap also promise universal packages, why not use them?

The short answer is… “because they run only on GNU/Linux”.

Both Flatpack and Snap hold promise as the future of application distribution. While they may eventually achieve this, they are currently specific to GNU/Linux, with very little chance of expanding to other platforms.