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Challenger Season In Review: 20 Storylines In 2019
Challenger Season In Review: 20 Storylines In 2019
Sinner's Statement Season
It was a breakthrough unlike any other. The incredible ascent of Jannik Sinner is arguably one of the biggest storylines on the ATP Challenger Tour in recent history.
From competing in Tunisia and Kazakhstan on the ITF circuit in January to lifting the trophy at the Next Gen ATP Finals in November, Sinner's rapid rise was as awe-inspiring as it was shocking. In just the fourth Challenger appearance of his fledgling career, the Italian lifted the trophy on home soil in Bergamo in February. He was outside the Top 500 at the time and only 17 years of age.
Having chosen to forego a lengthy junior career in order to grit his teeth on the professional circuit, the decision paid dividends. It allowed Sinner to accelerate his maturation and development and that was evident throughout his 2019 campaign.
Sinner's victory in Bergamo not only made him the youngest winner of the year, but the youngest Italian champion ever. Then, his second triumph on the hard courts of Lexington put him in elite company as one of just 11 players aged 17 & under to win multiple titles. That list includes the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro and recently Felix Auger-Aliassime. And Sinner was not done there. His campaign would come full circle with a season-ending triumph on home soil in Ortisei, becoming the second-youngest player to win three titles in a calendar year.
Amidst all the achievements and milestones, it was his rise up the ATP Rankings that stands out most. From a year-end position of No. 763 in 2018 to a Top 100 breakthrough to conclude his 2019 season, the Italian soared a total of 685 spots. To establish your game against world-class competition at such a young age, and have the level of sustained success that Sinner did, is purely remarkable. He would finish with a 28-7 record and was one of just four players with a win percentage of .800 or higher.
Nordic NextGen Revolution
The Nordic renaissance is kicking into high gear on the pro circuit. Never before have the northernmost European nations of Norway, Sweden and Finland enjoyed simultaneous success like they are today.
In recent years it has been top Norwegian Casper Ruud leading the charge. And in 2019, Mikael Ymer and Emil Ruusuvuori carried the #NextGenATP mantle for the Nordic nations.
The soaring Swede and the flying Finn were two of the dominant forces on the ATP Challenger Tour this year, with both featuring atop the titles leaderboard alongside James Duckworth and Ricardas Berankis. Ymer's four crowns guided him to a debut appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals, while 20-year-old Ruusuvuori became the youngest to win as many titles in a season since Hyeon Chung in 2015.
Ymer, who cracked the Top 100 in late September, also finished in fifth among win-loss percentage leaders, posting a 39-10 (.796) record. His dominant finish to the season included back-to-back indoor titles in Orleans and Mouilleron-le-Captif and a first Top 40 win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Ruusuvuori, meanwhile, will be one to watch in 2020 as he continues his Top 100 push. Up to a career-high No. 124 in the ATP Rankings, he rose nearly 300 spots since the start of the year, when he was competing full-time on the ITF circuit. In fact, it wasn't until April that he played his first Challenger this season. And it didn't take long for him to start a ruthless run of 36 wins, capped with a title on home soil in Helsinki.
That feeling when you win the title in your hometown. 😊🙌@EmilRuusuvuori is the champion at the inaugural Tali Open in Helsinki. The FOURTH title of the year for the 🇫🇮. pic.twitter.com/0FlChPK4IK
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 17, 2019
The Duck's Domination
No one enjoyed more success on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2019 than James Duckworth. One year after Jordan Thompson led the tour in victories and trophies, it was his countryman who achieved the feat to conclude the season.
In the penultimate week of the season, Duckworth capped his campaign with a 49th match win and fourth title, prevailing in Pune. After undergoing a litany of surgeries in recent years, including foot, shoulder and elbow operations, the Aussie is finally back inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings for the first time since 2017.
Not only did Duckworth lead the tour with those 49 wins and four pieces of silverware, his rise of 145 spots in the ATP Rankings made him one of the biggest movers to the Top 100. The 27-year-old put in the work, reaching finals and winning titles throughout the world, from Bangkok to Las Vegas and Pune and Playford. The victory in Pune assured him of direct entry into the 2020 Australian Open.
40+ Match Wins & 3+ Titles In 2019
|Match Wins
|James Duckworth
|Andrej Martin
|Gianluca Mager
You Always Remember Your First
A total of 32 players entered the winners' circle for the first time this year. They ranged from 17-year-old Sinner to his 27-year-old countryman Lorenzo Giustino and also included #NextGenATP prospects Ruusuvuori, Ymer, Thiago Seyboth Wild, J.J. Wolf, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Yosuke Watanuki. The 19-year-old Seyboth Wild became the youngest winner from Brazil since 2012, while Ruusuvuori was the first from Finland since 2013.
Dominik Koepfer benefitted greatly from his maiden title on the lawns of Ilkley, earning a Wimbledon wild card and then streaking to the Round of 16 at the US Open. Soonwoo Kwon and Kamil Majchrzak also cracked the Top 100 soon after clinching their first titles, with Kwon also reaching the quarter-finals at the ATP Tour stop in Los Cabos and Majchrzak storming to the third round at the US Open.
With @RhyneWilliams in his corner, @DominikKoepfer is soaring towards the Top 100.
But can they keep it together on camera? The struggle is real. pic.twitter.com/CUQ4fYL1FK
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 22, 2019
Emilio Gomez and Federico Coria won back-to-back titles on the clay of Tallahassee and Savannah in April. Gomez is the son of former World No. 4 Andres Gomez, while Coria is the brother of former World No. 3 Guillermo Coria.
In a unique twist, Lucas Pouille won his first Challenger title just months after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals. Seeking confidence and momentum, he returned to the circuit in Bordeaux and became the first player to win his maiden Challenger title after his first ATP Tour crown since Kei Nishikori and Sergiy Stakhovsky both did it in 2008.
The Italian Onslaught
The red, white and green flag flew proudly on many occasions in 2019, as Italy continued to rack up the titles. The European nation led the ATP Challenger Tour with 15 titles from 10 different players this year. Sinner and Gianluca Mager both lifted three trophies, with Stefano Travaglia capturing a pair of crowns. We all know of Sinner's surge, but Mager and Travaglia also impressed with a combined 80 match wins.
The Arizona Tennis Classic in Phoenix provided two especially memorable moments for Italians. Salvatore Caruso earned the upset of the year with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over World No. 21 David Goffin, while Matteo Berrettini kicked off his journey to the Nitto ATP Finals with a title at the inaugural Challenger. Berrettini became just the fourth player to win a Challenger title en route to qualifying for the season finale since 1995.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo Sonego successfully defended his title on home soil in Genova, leading to a year-end position of No. 52 in the ATP Rankings. He is one of just five players to win on both the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour this year, having also claimed his maiden tour-level crown in Antalya.
The 🇮🇹 renaissance has arrived.
Get to know 17-year-olds Giulio Zeppieri and Lorenzo Musetti, as they continue their #ATPChallenger journeys.
📽 https://t.co/IdCaAmwI23 pic.twitter.com/X0wEyjPTOL
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 21, 2019
On The Comeback Trail: Tsonga, Pospsil & Chung
Working your way back from injury in Challengers can be a difficult process, even for the most established stars on the ATP Tour.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga admitted that "playing in Challenger tournaments helped me find the reasons why I was playing tennis again". The charismatic Frenchman was forced to find his game after undergoing left knee surgery, entering the season outside the Top 250. A perennial Top 20 player for his entire career, he found himself in uncharted territory, competing in his first Challenger since 2007. He lifted the trophy on home soil in Cassis, en route to a 230-spot jump in the ATP Rankings to year-end World No. 29.
Fellow former Top 30 stars Vasek Pospisil and Hyeon Chung are also on the comeback trail after lifting trophies in their returns from injury. Pospisil won 16 of 18 matches to close the season, including back-to-back titles in Las Vegas and Charlottesville. He is one year removed from undergoing back surgery to repair a herniated disc. And Chung was forced to the sidelines for six months early in the 2019 season, but returned with a vengeance. The Korean reeled off 13 of 14 matches including a title in Chengdu in his first tournament back.
Tsonga: Challengers Helped Me Find The Reasons I Was Playing Tennis
Challenger Grads Step Up On ATP Tour
After breaking through on the Challenger circuit in 2018, many players did not waste any time in making strides on the ATP Tour. Juan Ignacio Londero, Reilly Opelka, Christian Garin and Hubert Hurkacz all won their maiden titles after dominating on the ATP Challenger Tour a year ago. Felix Auger-Aliassime took the leap as well, peaking at No. 17 in the ATP Rankings. And fellow #NextGenATP stars Miomir Kecmanovic and Casper Ruud both reached their first finals in Antalya and Houston, respectively.
Who will be among this year's graduates as the calendar flips to 2020?
Moving On Up: Challenger Stars Make Seamless Transition
Feel-Good Story Of The Year: Christopher O'Connell
Since 2014, O'Connell has been battling on the ITF circuit and ATP Challenger Tour to realize his dreams. Many years griding outside the Top 200 can take its toll on any player. Just last year, the Aussie took up a second job cleaning boats just to fund his career. But perseverance pays off and that is certainly applicable for O'Connell.
From not having an ATP Ranking to open the 2019 season to sitting at a career-high No. 120 to conclude his campaign, the Sydney native made the most of his opportunities this year. After reaching nine finals on the ITF circuit from March to July, he took the next step and lifted his first Challenger trophy on the clay of Cordenons. And he was not done there, advancing to three more finals and adding another trophy in Fairfield. There, he earned his first Top 100 win in three years, upsetting Steve Johnson in the championship match.
The Unstoppable Tommy Paul
Of all players with at least 30 matches played in 2019, no one had fewer losses than Paul. The American dominated from start to finish, carrying the momentum from his maiden title in Charlottesville to conclude the 2018 season. This year, he posted a staggering 30-5 record and finished in second place among win percentage leaders (.857), only behind Ricardas Berankis (.889).
Behind a mature approach and more determined attitude, the 22-year-old stepped up under pressure. A first clay-court title in Sarasota was followed by victories in New Haven and Tiburon. It was in New Haven that Paul cracked the Top 100 for the first time, eventually peaking at No. 81 in the ATP Rankings.
Giron Saves Six Championship Points In Houston
On the penultimate Sunday of the season, Marcos Giron turned in arguably the most improbable comeback of the year. The American rallied from 1/6 down in the deciding tie-break to stun Ivo Karlovic for the Houston title. He saved SIX match points in the process, including two on the Karlovic serve.
Giron concluded his campaign exactly how it started, having opened the 2019 season with a maiden title in Orlando. The 26-year-old is just shy of the Top 100, jumping to No. 102 in the ATP Rankings.
A Debut For The Ages: 15-Year-Old Carlos Alcaraz
The month of April was one for the kids on the ATP Challenger Tour. In back-to-back weeks, Carlos Alcaraz became the first player born in the year 2003 to win a match (in Alicante) and Italy's Lorenzo Musetti became the first born in 2002 to win a match (in Sophia Antipolis).
In fact, at the ripe age of 15, Alcaraz became the fourth-youngest match winner since 2000. Only Felix Auger-Aliassime, Rafael Nadal and Nikolai Soloviev were younger when they won their maiden match. And the fact that Next Gen ATP Finals champion Jannik Sinner was the Spaniard's first victim makes the occasion even more special.
Alcaraz would go on to reach the third round in Murcia the following week, securing his first Top 200 win, and added a quarter-final finish in Sevilla in September.
Varillas Puts Peru On The Map
Tennis in South America is on the rise. The continent is steadily making progress on the professional scene, with Nicolas Jarry and Cristian Garin bringing Chile back into the spotlight and Hugo Dellien putting Bolivia on the map. In October, it was Peru's turn to enter the fray.
Juan Pablo Varillas secured his nation's first Challenger crown in 11 years with his maiden title on the clay of Campinas. And one week later, he would notch a second title in Santo Domingo, soaring to No. 142 in the ATP Rankings.
Zhang Makes History For China
In 2016, Wu Di lifted China's first ATP Challenger Tour trophy. One year later, Wu Yibing became its first teenage titlist. And last month, Zhang Zhizhen joined his countrymen in securing a slice of history, claiming the first ever all-Chinese final.
It was a second title for the Shanghai native nicknamed 'ZZZ', having also prevailed in Jinan earlier this year. He is up to a career-high No. 139 in the ATP Rankings – the highest ranking ever earned by a Chinese player.
Purcell & Saville Dominate Doubles Circuit
Playford, Launceston, Zhangjiagang, Anning, Seoul, Binghamton and Traralgon. Seven titles, three continents, one impressive team.
Max Purcell and Luke Saville dominated the doubles circuit in 2019, securing seven trophies and a whopping 41 match wins together. The Aussie pair also appeared in three ATP Tour events together, earning their first match victory on the circuit in Antalya.
20 Years On, Roger Reflects
Two significant 20-year anniversaries arrived in 2019. In April, we reflected on the first Challenger title of former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero – in Napoli 1999. And in October, it was Roger Federer's turn, celebrating 20 years since his lone trophy lift in Brest, France.
Federer's first professional title was a critical moment in his fledgling career. He dropped one set en route to the Brest crown, defeating Max Mirnyi 7-6(4), 6-3 in the championship.
Victor Bids Farewell
It was one of the more emotional scenes to transpire on a tennis court, as Victor Estrella Burgos said goodbye in Santo Domingo. They came in droves for the final act in the career of their legend. For five years, the Santo Domingo Open – the biggest ATP Challenger Tour event in Latin America – has been one big party at Club La Bocha. And for this edition, the home faithful packed the club to support their native son.
On Monday, they danced, sang and cheered in full throat, as the 2017 champion earned the final match victory of his career. And on Tuesday, they danced some more, screamed even louder and cried as Estrella bade farewell with a defeat to Thiago Monteiro. The tears flowed in the stands and on the court, as the 39-year-old sent a backhand into the net and promptly crouched to the green clay.
Read Tribute
Heilbronn, Puerto Vallarta, Vancouver Honoured
It was a party from start to finish, as three tournaments received their 2018 Tournament of the Year awards. The NECKARCUP in Heilbronn, Germany, the Puerto Vallarta Open in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and the Odlum Brown VanOpen in Vancouver, Canada were all honoured in front of the home fans.
The trio of tournaments held special ceremonies as the ATP presented them with their respective trophies. They were fitting tributes for the three events voted highest by the players.
'Murray Trophy' Makes Debut
It was a special season for the Murray brothers on the ATP Challenger Tour. In late August, Andy Murray appeared in his first Challenger since 2005. In search of more matches and confidence in his comeback from hip surgery, the former World No. 1 competed in Mallorca, Spain.
One month later, the circuit welcomed the 'Murray Trophy' for the first time as Challenger tennis returned to Glasgow, Scotland. Jamie Murray was instrumental in making the dream a reality, not only competing in the doubles, but also taking a hands-on approach in the organisation of the event. His passion and commitment to growing the game and making the tournament a success was evident throughout the week.
Chardy Leads New Era In Pau
Jeremy Chardy kicked off a new era in his hometown of Pau, France. While many former ATP stars have assumed the role of Challenger tournament director over the years, none are still competing on the pro circuit. That is, until Chardy undertook the task of starting a tournament in his hometown.
The Terega Open celebrated its inaugural edition in February, as the World No. 51 oversaw the development, management and organisation of the event. With years of knowledge and experience from competing on the professional circuit, Chardy was well-equipped to meet the needs of the players, while giving back to his hometown and the surrounding region.
Four Tournaments Celebrate 20th Anniversaries
The Challengers in Barletta, Italy; Tallahassee, USA; Fergana, Uzbekistan and Bratislava, Slovakia all celebrated 20 years on the circuit. The tournaments have demonstrated steadfast commitment to growing the game at the Challenger level since the 1990s.


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Friday, November 27, 2009
First book deal!
Yes, I have been offered a two book deal! Someone is actually paying me to write! Someone is making a bet that readers will put down their hard earned cash to buy something I wrote! Wow. (Something more than a short story, that is. To read my first published short story, order here. ;-) Already shipping from Amazon in the US. Just saying....)
The offer was made based on a proposal :-) and it's for two YA novels, (young teen, really), a genre I've been flirting with for a long time, but had yet to tackle beyond the ideas stage.
The books will be released in Fall 2010 (yes, that soon **Maureen is writing very quickly**) by Phoenix Books, a Beverly Hills based publisher better known for celebrity non-fiction and audio books than for kids fiction. (But hey, they did publish Carl Reiner's children's picture book.)
And I'm super excited they chose my series to help launch them into this segment of the publishing world. (Not that they don't know the teen/tween market... One of their current titles is "I Heart Robert Pattinson".
The books are the first two in a planned series based on fairy tales, but with a few twists -- including a "make your own adventure" element where the reader gets to choose what the characters do next.
The first two books are:
CINDERELLA: NINJA WARRIOR, wherein Cinderella is not that interested in going to a ball, and uses her martial arts and magic skills to defeat her evil stepmother and win the heart of the prince.
SLEEPING BEAUTY: VAMPIRE SLAYER, wherein a princess is cursed to sleep during the day, and everyone else in her kingdom is cursed to sleep at night -- when the vampires attack. How's a girl to find true love and break a curse when all the non-bloodsucking-type boys are asleep?
We're already talking about books 3 and 4 and I'm excited about those ideas too, and the ones I have percolating for books 5 and 6 and... I'm getting away from myself.
I've always loved the magic, wonder and happy endings offered by fairy tales, but even as a kid was bothered by all the passive heroines in peril, waiting for their princes to save the day. I'm thrilled to be re-imagining these much-loved stories with tons of girl power, lots of action and danger, and yes, handsome, charming princes, too. But in my fairy tale world it'll take more than good looks for the heroines to win a happily-ever-after ending.
And I'm hoping these books will mark a happy beginning for me. After several other projects came so close to making it to the ball, but never quite got there, I feel a bit like Cinderella myself right now. Gotta run, pumpkin carriage outside... ;-)
32 comments:
- Chevy Stevens said...
It was just a matter of time before some lucky publisher nabbed you! The concept sounds so awesome. I've also never really enjoyed the whole oh-please-won't-someone-come-rescue-me type fairytales, so I love that these books will help girls realize they can kick ass all on their own. Although, it's nice to have a boy give you a massage later or something. A girl gets sore after a day of kicking-ass. But I digress.
Good luck and so happy for you!
- November 27, 2009 11:09 am
- out of the wordwork said...
I'm so super, super happy for you, Maureen! This couldn't have happened to a nicer, more deserving person. After giving so much to the writing community you totally deserve this. Your books sound awesome and I can't wait to read them.
- November 27, 2009 11:25 am
- Shannon McKelden said...
Congrats again, Maureen! And I think those sound like completely awesome books. You're now in the class of one of those people where I say, "Why didn't I think of that?!"
- November 27, 2009 11:26 am
- Kimber Chin said...
(Standing up and cheering loudly)
SO thrilled for you, Maureen.
You know I love your women's fiction so I know you'll knock it out of the park with YA.
I always thought the definition of a real writer was someone who could switch genres with ease (compared to me, the one trick contemporary romance pony).
- November 27, 2009 11:27 am
- Wendy Tokunaga said...
I know how hard you've worked for this and your hard work has paid off. So happy for you!
- November 27, 2009 11:27 am
- Jo Treggiari said...
Congratulations Maureen! What fantastic news!
And the books sound great. My whole problem with fairy tales (and the reason I started re-writing them when I was eight) is that the girls just hang about waiting to be saved. Your slant on the heroines sounds fun and exciting. Good for you!
- November 27, 2009 11:29 am
- Elizabeth Kerri Mahon said...
Congratulations Maureen, it couldn't happen to a nicer person. I can't wait to read these books.
- November 27, 2009 11:32 am
- Melissa Conway said...
Wow, congrats, Maureen! Your books sound wonderful. I'm looking forward to reading them.
- November 27, 2009 11:43 am
- Scotti Cohn said...
This is so exciting, Maureen! Congratulations! You're going to have so much fun writing these books! (My next project involves writing about Illinois history based on maps...)
- November 27, 2009 11:46 am
- Chandra Rooney said...
These sound brilliant! I can't wait to read the Sleeping Beauty one. :D
- November 27, 2009 11:48 am
- Juliana Stone said...
I'm so happy and pleased for you Maureen and can't wait to read them! maybe a sneak peek?
- November 27, 2009 11:53 am
- Maureen McGowan said...
Chevy, thanks so much. I agree that every girl deserves a nice prince as a reward for all the ass-kicking. (maybe I should stop saying ass now I'm a kids writer... LOL)
Nelsa woodwork) Thank you so much.
Hey, and all 3 of us will have books out next year!!! Chevy's Still Missing from St. Martins and Nelsa's Illegally Blonde from Great Plains!
- November 27, 2009 12:07 pm
- Maureen McGowan said...
Thanks so much everyone! Your support means so much to me!
Julianna... I'd give you a sneak peek -- if they were written!!! They sold on proposal so I am writing like a mad woman. Nothing like a real deadline for motivation. ;-)
Oh, and Julianna is another 2010 debut author. We should start a club.
- November 27, 2009 12:09 pm
- Annette Gallant said...
Congratulations, Maureen!!!! Very excited and happy for you! :)
- November 27, 2009 12:35 pm
- Clover Autrey said...
Saw your announcement on the YARWA loop and had to run over to congratulate you. So congratulations. I like your website btw, very pretty.
- November 27, 2009 2:15 pm
Wonderful news Maureen!!!!
Lucky YA readers and those of us who'll just enjoy a good read no matter how old we are!
Best wishes for continued great ideas.
- November 27, 2009 2:35 pm
- Loreth Anne White said...
Squeeee!!! Maureen!!!! I could not not not be happier for someone. You so deserve this girl. The news brings a wee tear to my eye. Many congratulations ... and here's raising a glass to a very bright future down this road.
- November 27, 2009 3:44 pm
- Marilyn Brant said...
Congrats once again, Maureen!! Been looking forward to celebrating this wonderful news with you!!
- November 27, 2009 4:36 pm
- Maureen McGowan said...
Thanks, Loreth! Guess what? My brother is skiing in Whistler, today. He just phoned from the peak to peak gondola...
- November 27, 2009 4:42 pm
- Kwana said...
Maureen this is a happy begining for you as paid writer!!!! You go you. I'm so thrilled for you. I know you will rock it. This is so well deserved. Your talent can't be denied.
- November 27, 2009 4:59 pm
- Maria Geraci said...
I'm so excited and happy for you, Maureen! The books sound absolutely awesome! Congratulations!
- November 29, 2009 8:49 am
- Alyssa Goodnight said...
I LOVE the ideas for these books! Can't wait! And congratulations--truly something to celebrate!
- November 29, 2009 9:37 pm
- Gemma Halliday said...
OMG I am sooooo excited for you!!!! This has been a long time coming, and I can't wait to read these!
- November 29, 2009 10:44 pm
- Kristen Painter said...
Massive congrats! You so deserve this!
- November 30, 2009 9:46 am
- Louisa Edwards said...
I am so so so so so excited for you! I actually got chills reading the story blurbs--those are going to be terrific fun. I can't wait to read them!! YAY!
- November 30, 2009 4:13 pm
- Gena Showalter said...
Major congrats!!! So very exciting, and I love the sound of the books!!
- December 04, 2009 2:36 pm
- Rebecca said...
Congratulations! Congratulations! The books both sound fabulous and I can't wait to see them on the shelves.
- December 05, 2009 1:15 am
- Leeann Burke said...
Way to go Maureen! I'm thrilled for you. You deserve this fabulous news!
- December 08, 2009 8:30 am
- Kristine Cayne said...
Congratulations Maureen!
- December 09, 2009 12:47 pm
- Heather Wardell said...
I'm so happy for you, Maureen! This came up on my blog reader and I was so excited clicking the link... you SO deserve this and your books sound great!
What a great start to my morning! (Yes, I'm way behind on my blog reading. :)
- December 10, 2009 9:09 am
- bathmate said...
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- December 22, 2009 5:20 pm
- av女優 said...
- November 24, 2018 10:02 am

subset: commoncrawl


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text: Hi guys. Well....it's been a while, hasn't it. School is taking a lot of time lately, not that that is bad but just is. Also we have a lot of extracurriculars going on, like I have been shadowing, and we had a really cool trauma opportunity I'm going to tell you about NOW. On Thursday … Continue reading BEST WEEKEND EVER.


text:
Not a pretty picture
WHETHER people like it or not, it is the foreign flow of money into the stock market that really is the fifth gear for market momentum.
The FBM KLCI has been performing poorly since the start of the year and weekly fund flows do not give any confidence that foreign funds are anytime soon going to change their direction of investment. When there is news of hundreds of millions of ringgit every week leaving the market, it is a problem for equities in general.
In the past, when the stock market roared upwards, it was a combination of foreign funds and local funds that drove the market higher.
The large local funds will always provide support and that makes Bursa Malaysia a beta market when sentiment, albeit regionally, turns sour.
But there are few catalysts in the market to drive equities higher and the first-quarter GDP numbers, although beating expectations, are in a range that a growing and young economy like Malaysia should not be bragging about.
The one indicator that people need to watch is investments. Gross fixed capital formation fell by 3.5% in the first quarter and although the headline number of RM129bil worth of approved investments for Penang alone is encouraging, these approvals have to turn into real investments before sentiment, economically at least, changes for the better.
Malaysia is being dragged down by weak palm oil prices, where word of farmers willing to let their fruit rot instead of processing it paints a bleak picture for the commodity.
Then, there is the sluggish property sector, where a different funding option given to prospective buyers paints a picture of almost desperation in getting sales going. The fact that developers are launching fewer homes will not help.
What the market needs are real catalysts. There is hope that the second half would turn out to be better, but the trade war, although able to help Malaysia in the long run, is a damper on sentiment that the market can do without in the short term.
Shareholders come first
FIRSTLY, TDM Bhd should be applauded for having a philanthropy policy, which is rare for a state government-owned entity.
In the plantation group's philanthropy policy, the amount that can be given away for corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the state is clearly defined. The formal structure was put in place in 2012 to enhance governance and transparency.
Under the policy, 2% of the consolidated net profit after dividends can be channelled to approved organisations that support social causes, sports and economic developments.
However, the board wants to amend the rules because it supposedly restricts its CSR programme.
Based on the latest annual report, TDM has been making losses for the past two financial years. The company, with 43,991ha of plantations in Terengganu and Kalimantan, chalked up losses of RM48.39mil and RM77.52mil for the financial years ended December 2017 and 2018.
As a result, it has not been able to undertake CSR activities, which the company feels is important to ensure the sustainable development of the communities it engages its business with. It also says that through the CSR activities, TDM will indirectly have a better image and strengthen the relationship with the state government.
So, the reason why the company is seeking shareholder approval to amend the philanthropy policy is to allow the board to have discretion on the execution of the CSR plan based on priorities and in the best interest of TDM.
To put it in a nutshell, the board does not want to be restricted by TDM's financial performance in deciding on CSR activities.
This obviously does not work in the interest of the shareholders or the company. If the company does not make money or is unable to pay dividends, it should not be doing any CSR activities.
It's as simple as that.
The money lending vortex
Vortex Consolidated Bhd is proposing to make a big change in its business. It is venturing into the money lending business, as well as asset and fund management and investment banking through offshore Labuan. It has appointed a few senior bankers to spearhead this change.
One of them, Lim Kian Boon, who has had stints with HSBC Malaysia, CIMB Investment Bank and Malayan Banking Bhd, has also acquired a substantial stake in Vortex.
Vortex recently changed its name from SKH Consortium Bhd, which, in turn, was previously called The Media Shoppe Bhd.
For its money lending business, Vortex has forked out RM2mil to acquire a firm with a money lending licence.
Vortex is currently involved in IT, construction and property development.
However, the company reported a loss of close to half-a-million ringgit in its third quarter ended Dec 31, 2018. Its nine-month profit up to then amounted to a mere RM98,000. It had RM10mil in cash with no debt.
No doubt, money lending can be a lucrative business, but it also requires capital and risk management to be put in place.
In the past, some companies with extra cash sitting in their books have tended to venture into money lending. The Hap Seng group is an example of having its own finance operations that has been a key contributor to its bottom line.
Others have not been so lucky. In the 1990s, Magnum Bhd, the number forecasting operator, used to have a money lending subsidiary in Hong Kong.
The parent company in Kuala Lumpur used to extend loans to the Hong Kong subsidiary for its money lending operations. However, the saga ended badly, as there were defaults and a large sum of money was not recoverable.
Hence, Vortex ought to tread carefully when venturing into this capital-intensive business.
Did you find this article insightful?


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Cube Litening C:68 Race Frame teamlineThe Cube Litening C:68 Race frame is a featherweight responsive riding machine, that will find favour with perfectionist racers and lightweight connoisseurs alike.If you want to compete at the highest level you can't take any shortcuts to victory. By using the latest carbon technology, optimized tube shapes and our Super HPC Monocoque Advanced Twin Mold technology we managed to create the Litening C68 frame with an almost unbelievable weight while still raising the bar in terms of stiffness and comfort. The geometry is athletic and slightly stretched for maximum power transfer while still maintaining the typically nimble CUBE ride.
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Tapered Steerer
This steerer tube design is stiffer than a conventional straight steerer and yields a more secure ride feel even in difficult terrain. Minimal flex at the front of the frame means the greatest possible steering precision. With the larger steerer, the forks become more rigid. At the same time weight is saved due to the absence of bearing shells as the lower bearing is fully integrated into the head tube. On all of our CUBE carbon models the upper bearing shells are also directly in the frame, so that once more a few grams are saved and the energy transfer is very direct.
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The Advanced Twin Mold process eliminates any dangerous folding by continuous control of carbon fibers during the curing process. This is made possible by an internal form which provides the perfect frame form during the layup process. Each individual fibre remains precisely in position as it cures. In this way less material can be used as the individual layers can be more accurately and reliably positioned. This production method also makes it possible to increase the carbon fibre proportion in line with anticipated loadings at specific points on the frame. All SUPER HPC models from 2014 on are manufactured using this high-tech method.
Wet Paint Surface
On polished, brushed aluminium and all HPC frames, the logos and graphics are applied in multi-layer wet paint. We use this surface treatment technology mainly to save weight.
This article has not yet been reviewed.


text:
London, 14 June 2004.
For immediate release.
Contact the ABD
Press Release
Latest Camera Whitewash from the Government
Drivers' Lives made a misery for nothing
The latest report claiming success for speed cameras is just one of a long line — from the inception of cameras in 1991, the authorities have produced study after study claiming that cameras reduce fatalities by up to 70%!
Trouble is, the overall number of deaths isn't falling. Britain has the WORST record in the EU at reducing road deaths since cameras became widespread, with deaths down just 4% from their 1994-8 average, compared with France down 12.6%, Germany down 22.9% and Portugal down 35.5%.
In the counties where cameras are most aggressivly used, road deaths have tended to increase. In
and Thames Valley, deaths have increased dramatically since the "cash for cameras" schemes started. Northamptonshire showed an initial improvement, but has posted two of the three worst years in the last ten since being blanketed with cameras. In
North Wales
, home of CC Richard Brunstrom, deaths were up last year.
"The price of this failure is high - lives have been lost that would have been saved by a more enlightened safety policy," said Mark McArthur-Christie, the ABD's Road Safety Spokesman. "Also, the quality of life for Britain's safest drivers has been drastically reduced, with millions of tickets being handed out in circumstances that are nothing at all to do with those that cause accidents. Drivers lives are being made a misery for nothing."
Studies claiming cameras are working are all based on very localised "Cherry Picked" statistics, which are wide open to distortions:
Cameras are placed in response to a sudden random blip in accidents which is unlikely to be repeated.
Roads are re-engineered at the same time the cameras are installed, meaning the accidents used to justify them physically cannot happen again.
The ABD has examples of local authorities fixing the figures to justify speed reduction measures - choosing "before" periods carefully, presumably to include as many accidents as possible, or even comparing different time periods or different stretches of road.
"Camera partnerships, local authorities and the Highways Agency all place every possible obstruction in the path of those who want to examine accident reports for themselves. They just won't release the data on which their claims for speed cameras are based, allowing them to make unsubstantiated claims and making those wanting to get to the truth about road safety work in the dark", continued McArthur-Christie. "They probably don't want to admit that they have made millions of peoples lives a misery for absolutely nothing."
Notes for Editors


text:
Nikon might go 'all in' on mirrorless systems. It's about time.
As Nikon celebrates its 100th anniverary in 2017, the company reportedly is going to get serious about mirrorless cameras, according to Yahoo Japan. It includes the possibility of developing multiple mirrorless cameras.
For photography enthusiasts, there are two reactions (and one of them isn't, "Ho, hum.").
- Why would Nikon do that?
- What took so long?
I am in the second group.


text:
PICTOU — A local hockey team is basking in a rewarding experience and looking forward to playing more 55+Games hockey next year.
The 60-Plus team was runner-up at the 2017 Nova Scotia 55+Games last month in Lunenburg County, but two teams in the division are allowed to represent the province at the national event that is being co-hosted by Saint John and Quispamsis, N.B.
"We are looking at going as the second team as reps for 60+ from Nova Scotia at the Nationals in New Brunswick next August," said Clary Melanson, one of the members of the local team.
The Valley Selects edged Pictou County 4-3 by virtue of a shootout in the division final, but Melanson said the team played well despite the loss in the showdown.
"I can't tell you how proud I am of the group of players from Pictou County that went down there and played their hearts out for this team," he said. "We came home with our heads up and smiles on our faces for the way we played. Our games were all so close with just winning in the last three minutes or going to a shootout."
Two late goals by Pictou County snapped a 4-4 tie in the third period of their 6-4 victory over Lunenburg in their first game.
Pictou County followed by a shootout win over the Valley Selects. The Selects tied the game with three seconds left in the third period, and the teams played a five-minute overtime period before Pictou County outscored the Selects 2-1 in the shootout.
More than 1,500 delegates are expected for the 2018 Games scheduled for August 21 to 24.
Canada 55+Games president Bob MacLeod, who resides in Kings Head, said he was pleased with the bid the New Brunswick delegation presented in August.
"We could just see the enthusiasm, interest and excitement by this group of people," he said."They wanted these games."
The 55+Games consist of a multi-activity event open to adults aged 55 and older and have a focus on social, physical and psychological involvement.
There are 18 mandatory events including; 8-ball pool, cribbage, golf, pickleball, tennis, bowling, darts, ice curling, Scrabble, track and field, bocce, duplicate bridge, contract bridge, Whist, slo-pitch, ice hockey, swimming and floor shuffleboard.
Four optional events include badminton, table tennis, cycling and horseshoes, plus two bonus events, 5-K and 10-K road races
All participants qualify through their provincial organizations in order to be eligible to participate in the national event.
Pictou County's 60-Plus hockey team has earned an opportunity to compete in the 2018 Canadian 55-Plus Games to be played in New Brunswick. From row, from left: Sid MacDonald, Clary Melanson, Jim Ryan, Harvey Stiles, Steve Saulnier and John Kerr. Back row: Bayne Barkhouse, Mike Sullivan, Scott MacLean, Preston Lockhart, Al Leck, Leroy MacInnis, Bill Watters, Joe deCoste, Bill Fraser, Colin Dorrington, Weldon Ferguson and Rob MacNaughton. (Submitted photo)


text:
The latest analysis from Startup Europe Partnership confirms what has been evident on the ground for some time - the Nordics are building a vibrant tech ecosystem.
Over $6.5bn has been invested into 430 Nordic start-ups. A key group of companies has led the way with rounds of over $100m including Supercell, Spotify, King.com, Klarna, iZettle and Zendesk.
But it is not just investment, we are seeing very high levels of interest from key acquirers in buying the most promising companies in the Nordics. This is confirmed by the data which shows that 205 companies have been acquired in the last five years with 40% being acquired by US companies.
The Nordics are now established as one of the key clusters in Europe and we expect many more deals in the region.
SEP identified 430 Nordic ICT scaleups that cumulatively raise over $6.5B in investments, 84% from venture capital funds and 16% via stock market. Nordic scaleups raised – on average – $15M each and Sweden is the largest scale-up hub with 149 companies (35% of the total). 3% of scaleups are actually "scalers" – such as Supercell, Spotify, King.com, Klarna, iZettle, Zendesk – able to secure over $100M in capital to fuel their growth. Gaming is the best performing sector of the Nordic ecosystem, Software the most "crowded", Fintech the highest performing in terms of average capital raised. 205 startups exited via acquisitions in the last 5 years. 40% were completed by US companies, in line with what happens in other European countries. But surprisingly, 40% of deals were performed by local companies as well.


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Energy needs in India are projected to grow three times the current figures in the next 10 years. In order to achieve such levels of energy supplies, the country requires a massive pipeline infrastructure redevelopment activity
Pipelines are preferred as a cost effective, energy efficient, safe and environment friendly method of transportation in both petroleum and natural gas. New technologies are emerging in piping material, pipe-laying and automation in monitoring and testing. Simultaneously, several business and trade opportunities are coming up with domestic projects like the National Gas Grid, as well as international transportation of oil and gas.
2nd India Oil & Gas: Pipeline Infrastructure Conference 2011: IOG Pipeline Infrastructure Conference 2011
The theme of the 2nd Annual India O&G 2011 Conference (IOG 2011) Changing Dynamics in O&G Pipelines will be instrumental in bringing you up to date on technologies and business opportunities, as well as provide a valuable networking platform. Over the daylong conference, delegates will learn about project challenges and emerging technologies as well as benchmark cases and the business environment.
Key Topics For Discussion
In addition to an inaugural session, which will include a Keynote Address and a policymaker's address, and lays down the broad agenda for the rest of the conference, the following sessions will be addressed:
Challenges in Execution of Pipeline Project : A Panel Discussion
• Land/ROU Acquisition issues
• Environmental Issues
• Procurement Issues
• Govt./Statutory clearances
Design and Technology Advancements
• Aspects of Pipeline Welding
• Pipeline Coating
• Trenchless laying of XXL pipelines
Pipeline Integrity, Mitigation and O&M Practices
• Pipeline Integrity and Mitigation Strategies
• Pipeline Inspection and O&M of Gas Pipelines
• Use of Smart Plug to Isolate Operating Pipelines for Construction and
Maintenance Activities
• International Best Practices for Interphase Manbuy kamagra soft usaThere man should simply purchase generic kamagra online. There he could simply purchase buy kamagra online in uk generic. Secure kamagra online generic.8ae14520-23d5-4031-82b6-d83c816ab04e
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Blue Turquoise Inlay Set
This Navajo earring and pendant set has 14 Beautiful Blue Turquoise stones are inlayed into a classy 18″ adjustable necklace. A matching pair of 2 stone blue turquoise earrings complete the set. This set is perfect for the office or an evening out. You will get a lot of wear out of this simple, elegant set.
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text:
The Big Question: Keith Thurman - Hope or hype?
Boxing Monthly
14/07/2015 9:50am
In light of his laboured win over Luis Collazo – is Keith Thurman worthy of the next shot at Floyd Mayweather or has he been exposed as another American hype job?
In the internet age, we are quicker to write off fighters than ever before. Underwhelming performances don't erode all the positives that have preceded them. Much is made of how deep a division welterweight is but in reality there are few viable options for Floyd Mayweather to choose from. Tim Bradley is the best opponent available but due to boxing politics it won't happen. Amir Khan, Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman remain as the most realistic candidates. Although my personal preference would be to see Khan get the call, Thurman is the most deserving of those three having gathered a number of wins against solid contenders. Thurman may never live up to the early hype but few prospects do. Once you strip away the hyperbole, what you are left with is a good fighter who may not beat Floyd but has at least earned the right to attempt to. – John MacDonald.
Maybe I got to the Thurman party a little bit late, but I've never seen what the big deal was with him. Most of his performances over the last few years have been lacklustre. We keep hearing about this incredible power and skill to compete with the top guys, but we continue to see mediocre performance after mediocre performance. When it comes to competing with the division's elite, I'm saying he's another American hype job. – Shawn W. Smith.
It's not fair for some to say he's hype just because he got caught with a good body shot. Thurman didn't go down and bangers are likely to get caught from time to time. This doesn't make him a poor fighter. His level of opposition has steadily been improving, but he's not been in with a top-10 welterweight yet, so it seems unfair to decide on his value while he's still learning. If his 'team' think short-term, put him in with Mayweather Jr and he loses badly, will his confidence ever recover? Promoters sell the sizzle, so they won't say it, but perhaps Thurman needs more time to develop - and there's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, good things take time. – Martin Chesnutt, TKO Radio.
I'm struggling to understand the amount of criticism Keith Thurman has started to receive. Of course, everybody loves a puncher and it's understandable that the 'One Time' hype train is picking up fewer passengers now that the Floridian has begun to box more than bang. I'm of the opinion that Thurman has actually added an extra dimension to his game, making him more dangerous than before. If Thurman fought, say, Andre Berto or Shawn Porter next, could you honestly make a firm prediction as to how he would choose to fight them? Probably not and neither could they. Leonard Bundu, Robert Guerrero and Luis Collazo aren't knockover jobs and Thurman has beaten them all with relative ease. He may have been hurt by Collazo on Saturday night but have we now reached the point where a fighter has been exposed simply by taking a punch? If Timothy Bradley's promotional allegiance rules him out of the Floyd Mayweather sweepstakes then Keith Thurman would be as solid a choice as anybody. – John Evans.
Thurman is as worthy as any other fighter between 140lbs and 154lbs to fight Mayweather. There is no stand out candidate at this point as Floyd is so much better than the rest. What disappointed me about Thurman's performance was his reluctance to engage with the 34-year-old Collazo. While I admired his evasiveness, he spent too much time on his bike against a fighter who was walked down and hurt repeatedly by the seemingly lighter punching Amir Khan last May. With Mayweather's win over Pacquiao he has put himself in a league of his own, the onus is now on the next generation of welters, Thurman included. to create their own legacy by beating those around them, instead of begging for the opportunity to take Mayweather's legacy away from him. - Callum Rudge.
I think Thurman is a legitimate 'hope'. The problem right now is that everything is relative and, at anywhere close to 147lbs, this means relative to Mayweather. If not for the Money Man still holding the titles to ransom, Thurman would be the legit WBA champion instead of only holding that piece of tin they currently give to him (mind you, at least he's not 'interim' anymore, which is worthless tin, in my book) and that is the problem. I have no problem (WBA second-tier title aside) with his career-path so far and his last six wins haven't been bad at all: victories over Chaves, Bundu and Guerrero have all been nice scalps and, seeing as how Khan was praised for his distance-win over Collazo only 12 months ago, I'm surprised Thurman is getting a rough deal for one punch, which was taken, in a win which finished five rounds earlier. He's as good as anyone else to run the talent-rich 147lbs division for the next few years, but needs Mayweather to go, Pacquiao and Marquez to decide what they're doing and to step up and face someone like Bradley or Brook in a big time fight. – Colin Harris.
He's certainly more hope than hype. It's the same old problem with a hyped prospect who turns into a serious contender. One or two average performances and all of a sudden he's not worthy. He made hard work against the likes of Collazo and Bundu, and of late he's been making the headlines for what he's been saying out of the ring rather than what he's doing in it. Is he worthy, is he ready for Mayweather? His unbeaten 26 fight record, to date, says he's not 100% ready but if a 2015 Andre Berto is deemed acceptable to Floyd then Thurman must be, too. The list of possible opponents for the supposed TBE isn't as lengthy as it used to be. Khan, Brook, Porter, Bradley... Berto (ugh) - why shouldn't Thurman be in that mix? On any given day he more than holds his own against all of them, some he beats, some he doesn't. I don't think he's been exposed, but I do think a win against one of the aforementioned (other than Berto) is needed. – Shaun Brown.
The recent criticism of Thurman seems especially venomous. I have always been one to bide my time before backing anyone as 'the next big thing', but the fact that so many seem keen to see him fail makes me wonder whether fans are actually searching for a legitimate opponent for Mayweather at all - or whether it engages and amuses them far more to simply envision others falling at his feet. Thurman has, quite rightly, attempted to add an extra dimension to his craft by boxing intelligently — even if he arguably hasn't mastered it yet. I consider him as worthy and watchable as any other realistic Mayweather opponent, but I feel the quality of the fight (and of Thurman as a fighter) could be seriously jeopardised if it is rushed. – Jessi Jackalope.


text: Media Show all In the Press Video Interviews In the Press2018.12.08The Edge Malaysia| Building on trust to create a sustainable business In the Press2018.09.27The Edge Malaysia| Cover Story: The first 100 days – Make Malaysia the leader of the Asean digital revolution In the Press2018.09.03Tech in Asia| Southeast Asia's top 30 tech startup founders In the Press2018.08.20The Australian Financial Review | How the rich invest: tech guru Patrick Grove's top investment picks In the Press2018.07.31The Malaysian Reserve | Rev Asia inks MoU with Catcha to buy foreign firm In the Press2018.07.30The Edge | Rev Asia inks MoU in bid to regularise GN2 condition In the Press2018.07.28The Star | Customers at the core of digital transformation In the Press2018.07.10Digital News Asia | MDEC wants to raise the visibility of local success stories In the Press2018.07.05Vulcan Post | M'sia's Communications Minister On Improving Our Tech Footprint: "Keep Up Or Get Left Out." In the Press2018.07.05Digital News Asia | Gobind moves to accelerate Malaysia's digital economy In the Press2018.07.05Vulcan Post | SEA's Tech Scene Is About To Explode. Here's Why MDEC Thinks M'sia Can Lead The Charge. In the Press2018.07.04The Edge | MDEC to expand market immersion prog to 7 Asean countries 123…5


text:
Referring to the by-now-viral-on-social-media item on the Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey being photographed with a poster bearing a call to "Smash Brahminical Patriarchy" – the authors start out their very first paragraph saying
"Controversy arose as the interpretation of this message shifted from a rallying cry against intersecting power hierarchies to accusations of hate speech against India's small but powerful caste group of Brahmins. Author Advaita Kala drew a parallel between the supposed demonisation of Brahmins and the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany. Referring to casteism as a mere "historical ill", Kala suggested that Brahmins were the real victims here, who, like Jews, comprise a minority group "touted to be privileged" and scapegoated for political gain. Congress leader Manish Tiwari latched on to this parallel, and Twitter was soon abuzz with claims that "Brahmins are the new Jews of India".
I have italicized the phrases that these two authors chose to illustrate the modern academic "Humanities" linguistic tactics of subtly placing words and expressions into the mind of the reader to associate negativities or positivities as per "Humanities" academic's underlying beliefs or projected beliefs and world views they seek to impose on the public. By claiming that the "interpretation shifted" they are pretending that there was already a prior – "correct interpretation" or the "interpretation that should have been unchallenged" which was "shifted". Further they already declare and probably unintentionally identify the "message" as a "rallying cry" against "intersecting power hierarchies" – thereby more openly admitting or making the "message" an essentially politically motivated activist defined agenda. In doing so, and even in the use of jargon used within the subdomain of "Humanities" the authors belong to – like "intersecting power hierarchies" (which most common readers will not be able to immediately place in the context of their own readings), the authors beautifully expose many of the tools of the trade with which specific and selected political and religious ideologies are now being legitimized from within the "Humanities" academics as worthy of projecting on to the public domain as the "norm" against which all other rival claims should be measured or judged.
But more crucially, the more the authors expand on their initial comments, they actually expose two fatal weaknesses in their arguments and their version of the narrative:
(1) they reveal and actually lend credence to their critic's claims that the whole "anti-Brahminism" project is a political and possibly religiously motivated modern project.
(2) they end up showing that there are actually uncanny similarities between the "Jew" and the "Brahmin" in the context of the modern anti-Jew/anti-Brahmin paradigms – both often covered up under labels that would allow wriggling out of accusations of "identity-based-hatred" by tagging the "Humanities" obfuscation device of "ism" ["oh no we are not against A or B/we are against A-ism or B-ism"]. The device is actually quite deceptive as by adding "ism", Humanities/political activists can construct, add, delete, suppress, imagine, relabel, any or all aspects of an entity and stretch it to suit their contemporary political, ideological, religious or other agenda.
Most of the times this device acts as a double edge sword – as the same "ism" device is then selectively applied to also protect favourite religions or politics, as and when opportune. For example, "Islamism" can be "bad" if something crops up in real life that cannot be denied or falsified in public perception but is perpetrated with openly proclaimed elements identifiable with historical claims within Islam but is not deemed glorifying by modern claimed-to-be-universally-applicable standards, but by adding the "ism", both "Islam" and "Muslim" can be detached from the negatives associated with the "bad".
The authors next explain why they cannot simply let go of this "reaction" to the "poster", even though they are careful in avoiding a direct statement as to "why" they feel it is "worthy" to "reflect upon this discourse", for a direct statement would make their project and drives appear more politically or ideologically driven.
"It is tempting to dismiss these claims as feigned outrage or the whimpers of "Brahmin fragility" and simply wait for the controversy to pass. Yet, there is value in reflecting upon this discourse that attempts to conflate two groups with very different historical trajectories – briefly considering what it evokes, what it masks, and why it has provided a useful vehicle for claims of Brahmin victimhood."
Note the two key phrases I have italicized as continuing illustrations of the "academic humanities" linguistic techniques of subtly trying to associate negative/positive value judgments in the mind of their readers. By using the word "attempt" they want to make the reader think that the "conflation" is a construction, that there is no basis for it, that the reader must start normalizing the belief that these are "two groups" with "very different historical trajectories" – both in turn being claims in their own right, and which can only be done by strictly defining the identities in a certain way, and therefore critically depends on who is constructing these two as "groups" and what constitutes "difference" in historical trajectories. Note that the authors are not stating their own definitions or characterizations of these groups or their histories – for both depend on perception and construction by other authors who came before these two – all having their own opinions and "interpretations" of the past, all coloured by political and religious undertones in those authors, with attendant fallacies of selective highlighting or suppression and approval or disapproval of elements that align with what those authors themselves had approved or disapproved. Note the authors themselves do not feel the need to clarify that they too are constructing these two "identities" and claiming "historical trajectories" which are themselves possibly contaminated by historical biases in reconstruction.
"Anti-Brahminism and anti-Semitism
The parallel suggests that Brahmins today (like Jews back then) are persecuted for their success. By celebrating caste-based successes in education and profession but denying any advantages of group membership, Brahmins deploy what anthropologist Ajantha Subramaniam calls the "politics of meritocracy". The parallel also allows for what academic MSS Pandian has called "the subtle act of transcoding caste and caste relations into something else". As Pandian astutely notes, caste always belongs to someone else, it is somewhere else, it is of another time. The act of transcoding caste into merit allows the group to acknowledge feelings of persecution and disavow caste privilege at once."
I have italicized the phrases that the authors are using again first to point out their linguistic technique I have been repeatedly drawing attention to, and secondly, to start pointing out their methods of constructing the "Brahmin" as an "identity" in a way that suits their underlying ideological agenda here. Pandians "observation" also acts for excuses on jihadi or evangelist violence: "the subtle act of transcoding Islamist/Evangelist of imperialist conquest and destruction of the other and dominance-submission relations into something else – violence always belongs to someone else, it is somewhere else, it is of another time. The act of trasncoding the results of dominance or success of jihad/inquisition into legitimacy/peaceful winning over allows the group to acknowledge feelings of persecution and disavow religious privilege at once".
Note that they have avoided the tricky task of defining the "Brahmin", by default, making the "Brahmin" a label denoting a homogeneous subgroup, which is rigorously "caste" aligned, and which as a single homogeneous "caste" identity has monopolized privilege, and educational success. Like the device of Marxian "class", and its concretization into abstract rival categories of "bourgeois" and "proletariat" which over the history of Marxist experiments in real life politics, was always suitably stretched or shrunk, here the authors too casually use the label "Brahmin" to tag into the "educationally successful" "class", and those who seemingly therefore also derive privilege. Suddenly all the usual "nuance and context", the "inhomogeneities and heterodoxies" which "must be taken into account" when "Jihad" or many other problematic social and political phenomena are discussed, the loud claims that "Islam or muslim is not a homogeneous category, with wide diversity of opinions, values, even marital or social practices" are no longer applicable.
Is this just an error of omission not to support claims of and use of a single category of "Brahmin" in discussing privilege, in an opinion piece? Perhaps not. If it was the case of "islam/jihad" the same subject area within humanities discipline would be ultra-cautious to find counterexamples and their favourite method of "case studies" (that can avoid answering questions of how representative are the claims being made on these case studies on broader identities or phenomena which are however still be placed in context – directly or indirectly – while doing the "case studies", in another subtle linguistic and psychological manipulation of the reader to associate hoped for imagery and conclusions about the wider phenomena based on carefully selected "case studies").
So did the authors not do any homework on possible counterexamples to "Brahmin" "by caste exclusive" privilege and dominance over "hierarchies of power"? In a "humanities area" which is super diligent on doing such homework on chosen or apparently approved-of-identities, this appears more a deliberate silence – so that the imagery of a "homogeneous" power hierarchy monopolizing privilege – is not jeopardized. There have been two cases that have refused to be erased in the public perception even after endless and arduous attempts by academia, and "mainstream" media, with the first refers to the rape and eventual death from injuries of a female student in a Delhi bus 2012_Delhi_gang_rape.
For a long time, the media avoided giving out the name of the student, preferring to mask it under excuses of "privacy" and claiming that by dubbing her "Nirbhaya" (a word derived from Sanskrit "bhaya/fear"- and supposedly "Brahminical language" which therefore needs to be hated, or removed or replaced because it is the language of the "Brahmin" – as per many in the "anti-Brahminical" political spectrum), they were actually glorifying the courage she had shown in trying to resist. Given that names, or identities, that give out "caste/religious/social-subgroup" context of victims of criminal assaults are quite common in Indian media, if the victim, especially women come from assumed to be violently repressed identity categories such as "Muslim", "Dalit", it was rather curious that media avoided any and all details that would reveal the "caste/social layer/" identity bits in this particular case. When it leaked out much later, that the name of the student was "Jyoti Singh Pandey", that she and her family came from very poor background from a rural area that has not seen any or much "development", it became clear why the media initially hesitated. Jyoti was a Hindu, not a Muslim or a Christian. She was also a Pandey – a surname indicating "Pandit", and therefore, by "caste" mappings, indicating a traditional "Brahmin" descent. Did she show high educational success on the road to privilege?
From wiki, "Her father sold his ancestral land to educate her, and worked double shifts to continue to pay for her schooling. In an interview he related that as a youth he had dreamed of becoming a school teacher, but at that time education was not considered important and girls were not even sent to school. "Attitudes are changing back home now, but when I left 30 years ago, I vowed never deny my children so sending them to school was fulfilling my desire for knowledge."[28][29] He said that he put his daughter's education above that of even his two sons, stating: "It never entered our hearts to ever discriminate. How could I be happy if my son is happy and my daughter isn't? And it was impossible to refuse a little girl who loved going to school."
A "Brahmin" who by "caste" has "monopolized educational success and privilege" only "dreaming of becoming a school teacher" but unable to? A "patriarchal Brahmin" (whose "ism" is to be smashed as per the poster in whose defence the authors are writing) putting his daughter's education "that of even his two sons"?! We can perhaps see why such "case studies" will not find place in these kinds of "academic exercises" in opinion pieces.
The second case, a recent one, is strangely but not unexpectedly absent in mainstream discourse with a few social media voices sharing the story: incident in UP, Varanasi where a Brahmin girl was raped with a stark absence of activists or the media. In sharp contrast to these two, with the latter never making the hallowed sphere of liberal "unbiased and authentic" journalism of the likes of Guardian, or both international and Indian media that gleefully ran claims of India's "patriarchal" culture of "violence against women" (the "patriarchal" gets more stressed if the attackers cannot be conclusively identified as "Upper/forward caste Hindu", and more so if they are non-"privileged classes" or Muslim, and even non-Hindu "attackers" would be blamed to have been inspired by "Hindu patriarchy") – both the name and the "religious identities involved" made immediate headlines – even as far as the Guardian – on the following case: theguardian.com/killing-of-muslim-girl-india-hindu-religious-tensions.
But the fact that emerges is that if either of the first two cases were explored in details as to social background, income level, education, one would immediately start doubting the representation of the "Brahmin" as a unique "caste based category that monopolizes educational success, privilege, and dominate power hierarchies". The authors chose not to as it would jeopardize their model. How will they excuse their omission? Let me anticipate: they will hide behind their deliberate mixing in of both "Brahminism/Brahmin" to claim that they were critically analyzing the "ism" which represents the "monopoly/hierarchy/privilege/education" paradigm. But to defend that excuse they should have shown an awareness of the counterexamples, an honest acknowledgment that their "term" for "Brahminism/Brahmin" is an abstract construction, on which they have slapped on all the hallmarks typical of any elite anywhere – all of which tend to become overt or covertly endogamic, seeking to protect privilege within blood descent, and who use all relevant and contemporary tools to engage with contemporary levels of technology and economy to leverage material success. But they did not clarify, and chose to retain the imagery of a "caste" with all its colonial era constructions that were in turn driven by imperialist need to project superiority and delegitimize pre-existing cultural categories especially social subgroups who might most compete with them.
At the same time, the parallels being drawn between Jews and Brahmins mask the systemic nature of Brahminical oppression originally referenced on Dorsey's placard. Like patriarchy, Brahminism is a social system that reflects not just oppression by the group at the top of the ritualistic structure (Brahmins or men), but the violence engendered by its categorical inequalities. In contrast to colonial depictions, India's caste system has varied geographically and has transmuted over time, as mid-tier caste groups have asserted power in matters of territory, politics, and property. Yet, Brahmins have remained the structural constant, the core around which the locally specific Brahminical system has been formed and reformed. Supporting this durable social system, Brahmin agency and self-valourising ideologies – including patriarchy – have allowed this numerical minority to occupy and retain positions of hegemonic power.
Noting that their abstract categorization is problematic, the authors quickly try to close the loophole by briefly mentioning the problem in constructing a homogeneous "Brahmin" minority dominating "power" – as if this somehow makes them academically honest, but immediately try to dilute their own acknowledgment by reaffirming the "Brahmin" not as an abstract category – but a real social subgroup of individuals, the "Brahmins" who are the "structural constant" and thereby falsifying their own initial "masking" of their underlying target as the group of real human beings and not just the supposed "abstract" "ism". In this they also throw in the jargon, which in turn can be stretched in any direction as per immediate agenda – such as "self-valourising ideologies" and "patriarchy", as somehow being part of the "Brahmin" social existence. Which ideology in the world has ever been not "self-valourising"? Was "feminism", "Marxism/communism", or the religious ideologies of various flavours of Christinaity or Islam or even Buddhism self-de-valourising? Can any ideology survive if it does not self-valourize? If all ideologies share the same property, why make it specifically "Brahmin" as a social group?
Then again the problems of the historical assumptions on "Brahmin" power are not addressed, the authors simply perpetuate the colonial constructions of caste and its alleged role in history, even though they pretend to know of the problems with the colonial construction. The reality of Brahmins as a social group occupying "seats" of power over historical times, is not addressed, and not "contextualized" (as the favourite term goes) against analysis of any possible similar roles of various other categories of "intellectual elite" connected to non-Brahmin constructions, like role of lay and theological hierarchy of Buddhist Sangha or Jaina orders, or Ulema of both Sufi and non-Sufi orders.
The discursive association with Jews in Nazi Germany has been effective in discrediting anti-caste movements and legitimising the rejection of anti-Brahminism simply for its new association with anti-Semitism. But anti-Brahminism, as a movement that has taken shape over the past 100 years, has no resemblance to anti-Semitism. Rather, anti-Brahminism is aimed at dismantling the structure of Brahminism that has legitimated the oppression of Dalits not just by Brahmins but by all caste groups. Taking distinct forms across the country, including the Dalit Panthers in Maharashtra, the Self-Respect Movement of Periyar, and the Justice Party's Non-Brahmin Manifesto, these movements have noted that despite their significant numerical minorities, Brahmins have stood as an elite because of their institutionalised access to education, religious authority, economic power, political influence, and social prestige. These movements have at times been criticised for pinning blame too heavily on the Brahmin and ignoring the roles mid-tier and lower castes have played in reproducing structures of caste oppression. But while these groups may slip too casually from anti-Brahminism to anti-Brahmin, they have not engaged in the kind of ethno-religious scapegoating and systematic dehumanisation experienced by Jews in Nazi Germany. Moreover, by brushing over the attempted genocide and mass extermination, the parallels between anti-Brahminism and anti-Semitism stretch beyond acceptable hyperbole.
I have again italicized the expressions that expose the inner line in the authors. By dubbing it "discursive" they are trying to make readers think, it's just a "construction by association" – even though they do the same thing themselves by linking "Brahmin" with their model of "Brahminism" in a linguistic technique, while ignoring every aspect of reality that jeopardize their "discursive" linking.
Their first objection is essentially that of political strategy – they are resenting and objecting to an assumed political response to a political agenda, so that even if the reaction had no political drive (as most mainstream political parties do not claim to, neither do they have any reason to appease the "Brahmin" as an identity, as electorally, non-Brahmin "caste" identities and religious mobilizations are reflected in the real games of hierarchies of power: nor are any traditionally ascribed Brahmin concerns reflected in Indian state power's treatment of Hindu ritualistic or cultural practices which are supposed to be key aspects of Brahmin "control").
Among countless examples available, I have cited just two, which shows that the alleged "institutionalized" access to "power/privilege/dominance/violence/authority/patriarchy" claimed by the authors and directly equated to "Brahmanism" which in turn is equated by them to "Brahmins" as a social group – is a carefully selective abstraction, which denies reality, which perpetuates constructions of "Brahmin" and "Brahminism" by colonial imperialists and aggressive proselytizing organized religions which acted as arm or spearhead of imperialism, and which avoids acknowledging the fact that just like the "Jews" in Europe, the vast majority of "Brahmins" eked out a meager existence, often without much educational or material success, while their few elite top tier attained a success under patronage by ruling elite.
It is interesting that the authors try to focus only on the "Nazi" era experience of the "Jew" and that too equating the whole experience with the specifics of the officially labour and unofficially extermination camps – in Europe, while perhaps even within the Nazi era there were differences between time periods and areas, and European anti-Semitism stretches back to late classical, all the way through post-Roman and medieval period to the pre-modern. That Jews were periodically targeted is well recorded, and often proudly displayed in narratives, and in this particular pastime, the reactions of pagan Imperial Rome towards Jewish religious claims spilled over into both Christian Europe and Mediterranean Islam each often drawing inspiration from the other in symbols and methods of anti-Semitism as well as genocide. Nazis were the latest in a long and illustrious history of genocides, in which Spain, France, Germany, and England once played their glorious roles. While genocides in the past were restricted by sparse and distributed nature of the Jewish populations, they did happen, and the underlying matrix of ideological justifications as and when the genocide became opportune never went away.
The authors are trying to falsify the parallel by pretending that "anti-Semitism" or even the "Nazi" version of "anti-Jew(ism)" is entirely characterized by "genocide". Even here, the authors are perhaps deliberately keeping silent on historical narratives, especially that from the Persian sources during the Islamic regimes in most parts of India, of specific targeting of the "Brahmins" and their social situation, frequently amounting to pogroms and mass executions or executions through spectacular tortures, and often simply for practising their rituals or religion in the privacy of their homes – reported against by Muslim neighbours. The Portuguese Catholic church did the same in Goa, specifically mentioning extermination of Brahmins as their objective. Brahmins were targeted for conversion in most parts of India, tortured, executed, humiliated in public, forced to give up their women and daughters to Muslim armies, commanders or rulers, with gleeful records of their plight in records of jihadi rulers and narrators in "Islamic" Kashmir, Sultanate and Mughal India. Calls of uniting of "Islamist" activists, and a section of "Dalit" activists which try to claim promotion of an Islamist-Dalit axis against "Brahmins" will revive the image of historical genocides of "Brahmins" in many quarters.
"Pitfalls of parallelism
If it was not Jack Dorsey but an Indian chief executive officer (or even an Indian-American chief executive officer) who had held the placard, this controversy may not have grown nearly as large as it did. While caste and casteism have been debated internally, their ascendance to the global stage has made people uncomfortable. Most commentators critical of Dorsey have highlighted his limited understanding of Indian social structures and expressed discomfort with the parallel he implied – as a non-Indian – between Brahminism and white supremacy, by displaying the sign designed by Dalit rights activist Thenmozhi Soundararajan.
And while that parallel simply suggests that patriarchy intersects with other systems of hegemonic power, we do agree that one should tread carefully when making claims of parallel experience and parallel oppression. We do not suggest that comparison in and of itself is the problem, but it can become a problem when another group's experiences are decontextualised and used to mask systemic oppression. Anti-Semitism amounted to an entire group of people being stripped of voice, agency, and life. Brahmins, on the other hand, have regularly asserted their voice, authority, and interests over the course of history in assuming the role of spokespeople for the Indian social milieu."
The authors try to represent that the reaction came from "discomfort" on "caste and casteism" being, implied "adversely", raised to status of "international issues", thereby trying in turn to represent the "reactionaries" as inherently guilty who are getting their just desserts in the court of "international opinion". I doubt they would similarly characterize the reaction in UK to exposure of the "systemic" protection afforded to the infamous Rotherham "grooming" scandal, or the latest rush of denials of "sharia law dominates UK" in case of alleged refusal by the British Prime Minister to grant asylum to Asia Bibi, as discomfort from exposure in "international court of public opinion" – as both point to a long term and persistent indication of a minority becoming so powerful socially and politically that states and governments are proved to be scared in "hurting their sentiments". The reason I suspect Prof Weinstein and Postgraduate researcher Diwakar will refuse to treat these at par with their "caste and casteism" paradigm is that perhaps their internal value system already prejudices them against anything in defense of "Brahmin=Brahminism" while the same value system prejudices them questioning "parallels" with other possible "minority dominance" cases, especially if it is in the "Atlantic – Anglo-US axis" of "power hierarchies" and in favour of Islam.
If we start thinking along the lines of these authors, we may wonder if their spirited "attack" against the "parallel" also stems from discomfort at the exposure of the underlying political agenda and strategy of "anti-Brahminism", and "anti-Brahminism" would not have drawn their spirited defense had it not been perhaps aligned to the rather ancient and moldy colonial agenda of humiliating, denigrating, or delegitimizing "Hinduism", with the constructed "Brahmins" as the source of all evil in "evil pagan Hinduism", which in a certain perception, obstructed the advance and conquest of the subcontinent under Islam or Christianity. Absence of similar critical finding by the same category of "academic humanities" as a supposedly "scholarly discipline" of similar elements or elite behaviour and their contribution on hierarchies among christian and Muslim subcultures over the subcontinent, seems to strengthen this speculation.
The authors acceptance of the political face of "anti-Brahminism" has led them to adopt the image and categorization of the abstract "Brahmin" which was more a construction actively encouraged by the colonial regime over the subcontinent, and as represented by the "Dalit" movement – both the modern version of "Brahmin" and "Dalit" itself are abstract and created categories, where the definitions were shaped by political need and strategy in colonial regimes as well as social identities they decided to create and foster in "confrontation" to what they considered the majority – "Hindu". Early British reliance on textual authority, and their alliances with Islamic scholarship and theologians skewed their models of the "Hindu" in a caste context that even at the time of formulation in 19th century was actually protested widely. But both the modern European insistence on this so-called caste "realism" as well as its use by "Dalit" "elite" is based on created and invented categories of political convenience, which once formed can get a seeming life of their own and therefore seemingly self-justified as to historical existence. This is the deeper parallel between the modern treatment and use of the "Brahmin(ism)" as reflected in the authors together with its use by "Dalit" or Christian and Islamic groups that is uncannily parallel to the way the 19th century "Jew" was constructed in Europe, for a specific political purpose and serving certain international political objectives. Going into the details of the European scenario would unnecessarily lengthen this post but I am sure that the background of scholarship of these two authors will enable them to identify the sources and research I am hinting of.
Yes, it can become a problem when another group's experiences are decontextualised and used to mask systemic oppression – just as the experience of the large majority of Brahmins who do not make it into any hierarchies of power or privilege or education or wealth and their systematic historical repression at the hands of the Christian and Muslim regimes, with the marginalization of the majority of them happening over many centuries as a social group, suggests.
Anti-Semitism amounted to an entire group of people being stripped of voice, agency, and life, just as anti-Brahmanism is seeking to strip an entire group of people of their voice, agency, and in some parts of India, increasingly seemingly, also of life. Yes, some Brahmins, like some Jews, on the other hand, have regularly asserted their voice, authority, and interests over the course of history but only in a personal context and not in assuming the role of spokespeople for the Indian social milieu. While many Jews have spoken out in favour of their "identity", most of "Brahmins" who are being touted as having "reasserted" their voice were actually only allowed to say things that would strengthen the anti-Brahminical position, and none of India's so-called "Brahmins" in "power" have spoken a single item that has reinforced the imagery constructed by the authors. From "Pundit Nehru" to most of the "eminent historians" who are supposedly "Brahmins by birth caste" or judicial luminaries who have "redefined" Hinduism and supposedly "Brahmins by birth caste" and who have never wavered from judicial activism or rulings that favour the referred "repressed non-Brahmin" or ruled against "Brahminical ritual practices" they deem personally unsupportable, there is not a single example to show that the "Brahmin voices" in power have actually done anything to "assert" or "consolidate" anything the authors characterize "Brahmins" with in their alleged ritualistic, religious, social views which allegedly characterizes them.
Thus in a way, the actual track record of the small number of "Brahmins" successful in education, or privilege, who loom large as they appear to be in a large proportion of elite/state-patronized positions but which taken in the context of the overall population still leaves out the overwhelming portion of Brahmins as surviving at the margins of economic and educational opportunities and entitlements, and thus do not represent their entire "caste group". Further, once in privilege or power they do not do anything to perpetuate their "Caste identities" grip or role in power as "Brahmins" – rather the reality of their overt and often persistently vicious "anti-Brahminical" positions simply indicates the weakness and marginalization of the "Brahmin" as an identity, and "Brahminism" as a culture. Claims and representation that these authors make, places patriarchy as a seemingly purely "Brahminical" contribution and dangerously removes the possibility of role of other ideologies and religions than the "Hindu" or the "Brahmin" as having contributed to it.
Hatred of "Brahminism" is not only about removing the abstract "Brahmin" who supposedly dominates society, but everything that can be linked to the "Brahmin" theologically or religiously as constructed by the self-appointed "enemies" of "Brahminism" – this has led to claims to suppress, reject, eliminate, refuse space to languages deemed "Brahminical", or texts, philosophies deemed "Brahminical", in effect cultural or knowledge base aspects that may not have anything to do with "power". In fact most "rituals" of the "Hindu" are target, often under the excuse of same labels the authors use – by linking anything and everything Hindu with "brahmin" and "Brahminism", in a sense the anti-Brahminical agitation gets so much traction in the formal academic humanities simply perhaps because it helps delegitimizing the "Hindu". The same category and group of academics are however in sharp contrast very cautious in criticizing rituals of Islam, sometimes showing rather positive keenness in trying to rationalize or find "scientific" roots or "legitimate perceptions of a different time and society – in nuanced and contextual" way. No such consideration for the "ritualistic/hegemonistic" practices of the abstract "Brahmin/Brahminical Hinduism".
Delegitimization of the social media voices drawing parallels between the "Jew" and the "Brahmin" as attempted by these two "academic" authors, is mischievous, and perhaps deeply disturbing as it does resemble many initial reaction to Nazism or its precursor movements – that perhaps facilitated the initial passage towards the extreme that it became under the closing days of WWII – sort of "well they had it coming".


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CMake and IDE setup
This tutorial really does not bring anything new in the meaning of code. Basically we have copied
all source files from the previous post and put them under
hw and
src folders.
But we also added one small file called
CMakefile.txt that dramatically changes the way of how you think
about building C/C++ projects.
The good practice when you building CMake project is to create a separate build directory and start cmake utility from there. This method is called "out of source build". A significant advantage of this method is that this way you keep intact all your source codes and all object or temporary files will be created in a separate folder. As a side, for instance, you can use Qt Creator during normal development workflow, but when, for some reason, you want to see the raw output from build tools you can build the project from command-line.
Building CMake projects using QtCreator
There are a lot of IDEs which you may use during this course. But, from our perspective, the easiest one to set up will be Qt Creator.
- Download and install most recent distribuption of QtCreator using link http://www.qt.io/download/.
After installation finished, run Qt Creator and navigate to
About Plugins…menu.
- In opened dialog "Installed Plugin" under
Device Supportsection select
Bare Metalplugin if it is not already selected.
- Navigate to
Preferences/Devicesand click
Add…button. Then in Device configuration Wizard select
Bare Metal Deviceand hit
Start Wizardbutton.
- In the wizard dialog you need to type a few settings in.
These are GDB Host which need to be set to
localhost. GDB Port -
Initial script is a list of GDB commands which will be executed right after
arm-none-eabi-gdb command connect to GdbServer. So for this project it will be
load %{DebuggedExecutable:FilePath}
break reset_isr_handler
The reason why break point is added to the script is because QtCreator automatically continues program execution upon startup. Reset commands script at this moment should be:
monitor reset halt
You can change all of this settings later in
Preferences/Devices dialog.
- Navigate to
Build and Run/Debuggerssection and manually add
arm-none-eabi-gdbexecutable to the list of available debuggers.
Recent QtCreator versions, in order to make debugging work properly, require GDB been built
with python scripting support. So you may need to use
arm-none-eabi-gdb-py executable
instead of
- Switch to "Compilers" tab and add new
arm-none-eabi-gcccompiler as follows:
- Define new "Bare Metal Cortex-M" kit on the "Kits" tab.
Despite that during this course we going to use CMake as our primary build system, specifying the compiler and Kit are required steps to make Qt Creator's debugging GUI feature works. You may also mark the newly added Kit as default one.
- Navigate to "Open File or Project" menu and choose CMakeLists.txt in file browser.
Right after you have opened
Run CMakedialog will be shown. You have to provide at least one argument:
It tells to CMake which toolchain will be used during build process. If
arm-none-eabi installation is not on the
PATH, then you can also add argument:
One more available option is
-DQEMU_PATH= should point to a directory where
qemu-system-arm executable is located. For example:
If you did everything correctly then executing CMake will produce necessary Make files
cmake-project-build directory. All build artefacts will be created in this
directory as well.
By default Qt Creator sets
Qt Kitfor all imported CMake projects. Thus debugging will not work unless you set
Bare Metal Contex-Mkit as one to use within. In order to do this navigate to the
Projecttab and add the kit. You also may want to remove
Qt Kitfrom project settings so it does not disturb you.
As you can see on the picture bellow, the run configuration is also has to be changed to
Run custom executableand it executes
make runcommand in a new terminal window.
From this point you can build and run the project in the same manner as you would do it with any other type of projects.
This screenshot illustrate the result of program execution.
Step which you need to take in order to setup debugging a little bit different. You need to add to additional run configuration at first.
Than you will need to manually start Qemu GdbServer. To make this step simpler a custom build target was added to CMakeLists.txt which shapes correct command line and then executes qemu-system-arm. So in a terminal you need to go to the "cmake-project-build" directory and run following command:
make gdbserver
Unfortunately currently qemu-gdbserver does not support "monitor reset" command for Bare Metal targets, so you will need to restart gdbserver every time you want to restart your debugging session.
And also please note that to gracefully terminate qemu you need to press CTRL-A X key sequence.