Flashing via the instructions in README.md fails in boot mode

[rkuester]

When reflashing bitaxe-raw, after powering up in boot mode by holding the BOOT button while connecting power, attempts to flash via the commands in the README consistently fail with the error:

leda » cargo flash --release --chip esp32s3
    Finished release profile [optimized] target(s) in 0.19s
    Flashing /home/rkuester/mujina/bitaxe-raw/target/xtensa-esp32s3-none-elf/release/bitaxe-raw
thread 'main' panicked at /home/rkuester/.cargo/registry/src/index.crates.io-1949cf8c6b5b557f/probe-rs-0.27.0/src/f
lashing/loader.rs:414:53:
called Result::unwrap() on an Err value: CoreDisabled(1)

The command in the README does work if the Bitaxe is running esp-miner. In fact, my current workaround is to reflash esp-miner according to its README and then reflash bitaxe-raw.

[skot]

@korbin we talked a little bit about this.. But I was surprised that cargo flash doesn't work with the Bitaxe ESP32 in the bootloader already?

[korbin]

I am unable to reproduce this issue on a Bitaxe/ESP32S3 Devkit. cargo flash uses probe-rs - which isn't perfect for Espressif devices but seems to work.

When booting with the BOOT button held, the device enumerates as: Espressif USB JTAG/serial debug unit - probe-rs, cargo-flash, and espflash work from this state.

Try espflash if you are continuing to have issues:

espflash target/xtensa-esp32s3-none-elf/release/bitaxe-raw

[rkuester]

Weird, it's annoyingly consistent here. I'll try a few more permutations of my environment and report back.

Thanks for trying to reproduce.

[rkuester]

This issue persists despite the these permutations of my environment:

• A brand-new Bitaxe Gamma
• An entirely different development machine: a fresh toolchain on an Apple silicon MacBook Air (original was x86-64 with Debian testing)
• Supplying a pristine 5V from a quality bench supply

espflash is working reliably. I'll stick with that. 🤷‍♂