STM32 MCUs Programming

Please let me generalize this question:  What are low/no cost ways to program ARM in the Wintel and Linux contexts that you guys would recommend?  Ones that do not turn into a pumpkin through code or time limits.

Please let me generalize this question:  What are low/no cost ways to program ARM in the Wintel and Linux contexts that you guys would recommend?  Ones that do not turn into a pumpkin through code or time limits.

There are two good commercial toolsets that I know of, Keil and IAR. Both offer free code size limited versions. I use the Keil toolset which is limited to 16k. I think the IAR limit is the same but you would need to check.  If you are working with ST processors some of the dev boards have a built in debug dongle but if you make your own board you can buy an STLink for about £17.

Once you want to go over that 16k limit you are into GCC if you want to keep free and the GCC debugging isn't very good (check up on this if it really matters to you because the situation changes.) There are lots of commercial GCC based ARM dev tools, some may have larger code limits before you have to pay - look at Code Red, Raisonance, Rowley.

If you don't mind being stuck using Atmel's Cortex processors then I think the Atmel Dev Studio is the nicest free tool (slightly dodgy opinion this, because I don't use Atmel processors so haven't used the tools in anger.)

MK

Don Hersey wrote:

 

Please let me generalize this question:  What are low/no cost ways to program ARM in the Wintel and Linux contexts that you guys would recommend?  Ones that do not turn into a pumpkin through code or time limits.

I've had good luck in the past with CodeSourcery, which has a free "lite" version for both Windows and GNU/Linux.  The most recent one I've used is "Sourcery G++ Lite 2011.03-41 for ARM GNU/Linux" which I use to create BeagleBoard/Bone executables that run on Ångström GNU/Linux.  I've used the Windows version in the past, using Cygwin to provide a good programming environment with GNU tools like "make".

Basically, Sourcery Lite is GCC compiled to run on a PC but generate code for ARM.  Be sure to select the correct Cortex-M variant for STM.  I use the ARM GNU/Linux version which has the ABI (Application Binary Interface) for GNU/Linux libraries.  For STM, you probably want EABI which I think is the Embedded ABI for bare metal programming.

Sourcery Lite comes with no support, so you either have to have lots of experience using cross compilers for embedded targets or have a good Google noise filter.

CodeSourcery was acquired by Mentor Graphics, so Sourcery Lite is now at: http://www.mentor.com/embedded-software/sourcery-tools/sourcery-codebench/editions/lite-edition/

I have used CoIDE from Coocox (Free and Open ARM Cortex MCU Embedded Development Tools), it uses GCC compiler.

I have used with STM32F4 discovery, CoIDE admits ST-Link/V2 so can debug.

I think it is great, and free!!

I had a quick look at their web site and although they only directly support  a very limited number of processors it certainly looks worth a try if you need a free tool.

If you are wondering why processor support matters .........

Modern micro-controllers are complicated with large numbers of on chip peripherals. If the tools "knows" about these then debugging is a much faster and more satisfactory experience. If you are happy with more basic debugging with no peripheral awareness then processor support hardly matters. I do this kind of stuff for a living and I would be very reluctant to do without  a fully peripheral aware debug tool.

If I ever get time I'd certainly try the Coocox tool on a project where they support the processor.

MK