Software development tools

STM32 and STM8 microcontrollers

 Content
MCU/MPU Selection and Configuration

Software Development Tools - Overview Integrated Development Environments

For STM32 For STM8

MCU Utility Tools

Click on the area of interest for more details 2

 A rich portfolio

• Extensive ecosystem of software development tools around the STM32 and STM8
• Find the right solution for your requirements in terms of price, feature, license scheme and support

• Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and utility tools

Partner software proposed by many leading-edge technology companies
Development tools • Some free of charge others as Commercial products
• Supported by partners

ST-designed software • Built in-house, making the most of the STM32 and STM8
• Free of charge
Development tools • Supported by ST

• Limited portfolio under scrutiny, free of charge

Open-source software
• Proposed by community or partners
development tools • Supported by open-source community or partners

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 STM32 MCU overview

A C/C++ flow in three steps

FREE
IDEs

/ / /

STM32CubeMX, GUI/AI builders ST and Partner IDEs STM32CubeProgrammer/Monitor

Configure & generate code Compile and Debug Monitor, Program & Utilities

Click on the area of interest for more details 4

 STM32 MPU overview

A C/C++ flow in three steps

FREE
tools

STM32CubeMX ST and Partner tools STM32CubeProgrammer

Configure & Generate Code Compile and Debug Program

Click on the area of interest for more details 5

 STM8 overview

A C/C++ flow in three steps

FREE
IDEs

STM8CubeMX ST and Partner IDEs STVP, STLink-Util., STMStudio

Configure Compile and Debug Monitor & Program

Click on the area of interest for more details 6

MCU/MPU selection and configuration

STM32 STM32 STM8

MCU MPU MCU
 Selection and configuration

STM32

STM8
Free ST Tool Description

MCU

MPU
ST-MCU-FINDER-PC ✓ ✓ ✓ PC utility to select the MCU or MPU and the board that best fits your application.

STM32 Finder ✓ ✓ Smartphone and tablet utility to select the STM32 and board that best fits your application.
STM8 Finder ✓ Smartphone and tablet utility to select the STM8 MCU and board that best fits your application.
STM8 Micro eXplorer, hardware and software configurator, project configuration reporter, and power
STM8CubeMX ✓
consumption calculator

STM32 Micro eXplorer, hardware and software configurator, project and code generator, power
STM32CubeMX ✓ ✓ consumption calculator and embedding free ST GUI builders (TouchGFX and STemWin) for MCU and a
DDR tuning tool for MPU

STM32 Clock configurators ✓ STM32 legacy device clock configurators

MCU application-specific code generators for graphics, audio and motor control are listed among the MCU Utility tools.
All ST tools are Free editions.
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STM32 MCU IDE portfolio

STM32
MCU
 A large community of IDE providers

Offering general-purpose, free IDEs

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 A large community of IDE providers

Offering special-purpose, free IDEs

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 A large community of IDE providers

Offering general-purpose, commercial IDEs

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 A large community of IDE providers
A complete offer of general-purpose and special-purpose,
free and commercial IDEs

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 STM32 free IDEs

Linux
Purpose

OS X
Provider Product and labels Cores Framework Compiler Debugger

Win
General Specific
gdb /
STMicroelectronics STM32CubeIDE All Eclipse ✓ gcc ✓ ✓ ✓
OpenOCD
ac6 System Workbench (SW4STM32) All Eclipse ✓ gcc OpenOCD ✓ ✓ ✓
Atollic Atollic TrueSTUDIO All Eclipse ✓ gcc gdb ✓ ✓
iSystem iSYS-WinIDEAOpen All Proprietary ✓ gcc gdb ✓
Arm KEIL MDK5-Cortex-M M0, M0+ Proprietary ✓ llvm/ARM uVision ✓
Arduino Arduino IDE All Proprietary ✓ gcc ✓ ✓ ✓

Framework and Purpose descriptions are available in this section.

Basic IDE selection criteria are described here.
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 STM32 commercial IDEs

Linux
Safety Free edition or

OS X
Provider Product and labels Cores Framework Compiler Debugger

Win
edition use, limitation

IAR Systems EWARM All Proprietary IAR IAR ✓ ✓ Code limit: 32KB
MDK5-Cortex-M All Proprietary llvm / Arm uVision ✓ ✓ Code limit: 32KB
Arm® Keil®
Keil Studio All Theia llvm uVision ✓ ✓ ✓ Online
Emprog ThunderBench All Eclipse gcc OpenOCD ✓ Time limit: 30-day
iSystem iSYS-WinIDEA All Proprietary gcc, others gdb ✓ WinIDEAOpen
Rowley CrossWorks All Proprietary gcc Rowley ✓ ✓ ✓ Time limit: 30-day
Segger Embedded Studio All Proprietary gcc / llvm Segger ✓ ✓ ✓ Build/Run warning
SysProgs VisualGDB Embedded All Proprietary gcc / llvm OpenOCD ✓ ✓ Time limit: 30-day
Tasking TaskingVX All Eclipse Tasking Tasking ✓ ✓ ✓ On request
Cosmic IDEA All Proprietary Cosmic Cosmic ✓ Code limit: 32KB
Green hills MultiIDE All Proprietary Green hills Green hills ✓ ✓

Free edition highlights the most attractive option when either time or size limited editions are available.
Full details available at IDE provider website
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 STM32 validated MCU devices

Validated Device MCU Series Details here

IDE F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F7 G0 G4 H7 H7 L0 L1 L4 L5 U5 WB
Dual Core

STM32CubeIDE All Link

System Workbench (SW4STM32) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Arduino IDE ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Forum Link
Arm® Keil® Studio ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Link
Atollic TrueSTUDIO ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Link
ThunderBench ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Link
EWARM All Link
iSYS-WinIDEA ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ MCUs / Examples
MDK5-Cortex-M All Link
Rowley Associates CrossWorks ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ MCUs / Boards
Embedded Studio ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Link
VisualGDB Embedded ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
TaskingVX ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Link

Full list of supported and validated boards, STM32 product lines or STM32 devices can be found at the IDE provider websites.
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 IDE centralized online resources

YouTube Blogs/News/Tutorials
IDE Channel
Forums
Video Tutorials Webinars App notes White papers Blog News/Events
STM32CubeIDE Link Link YouTube Link Link
System Workbench (SW4STM32) Scattered Videos Link Link Link
Arduino IDE Several Videos Link YouTube Link
Arm Keil Studio Several Videos

Atollic TrueSTUDIO Link

ThunderBench Link Link
EWARM Scattered Videos Link Scattered Link Link Link
iSYS-WinIDEA Link Link
MDK5-Cortex-M Scattered Videos Link Scattered Link Link Link
Rowley Associates CrossWorks Link Login Link RSS feed Link Link
Embedded Studio Link Link Link Link
VisualGDB Embedded Scattered Videos Link Link Link
TaskingVX Scattered Videos Link Link Link

Links might be out of date between regular updates of this presentation

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STM32 MPU tool portfolio

STM32
MPU
 STM32 MPU tool providers

A wide offer of software development tools

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 STM32 MPU tools

Linux

OS X
Win
Provider Product and labels Cores Description Free edition

System Workbench for

ac6 Cortex-A Eclipse plug-in No ✓ ✓ ✓
Linux (SW4Linux)
Arm ARM Development Studio All Heterogeneous core IDE Time limit: 30-day ✓ ✓
MDK5-Cortex-M Cortex-M Cortex-M limited IDE Code limit: 32KB ✓
Arm Keil
Keil Studio All Theia based IDE Online ✓ ✓ ✓
Crank Software Inc. Storyboard Designer Cortex-A Graphical User Interface designer Trial version ✓ ✓ ✓
IAR Systems EWARM Cortex-M Cortex-M limited IDE Code limit: 32KB ✓
Qt Qt Development Tools Cortex-A Graphical User Interface designer and IDE Trial version
Hardware and software configurator, project and
STM32CubeMX All Yes ✓ ✓ ✓
code generator
STMicroelectronics
STM32CubeIDE All Eclipse based IDE Yes ✓ ✓ ✓
STM32CubeProg All Flash Programmer Yes ✓ ✓ ✓
Timesys TimeStorm IDE Cortex-A Cortex-A limited IDE Time limit: 30-day ✓ ✓

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STM8 IDE portfolio

STM8
MCU
 STM8 IDE providers

Offering general-purpose, free IDEs

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 STM8 IDE providers

Offering special-purpose, free IDEs

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 STM8 IDE providers

Offering general-purpose, commercial IDEs

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 STM8 IDE providers
A complete offer of general-purpose and special-purpose,
free and commercial IDEs

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 STM8 IDEs

Linux
Framework

OS X
Safety Free edition,

Win
Provider Product Compiler Debugger
Proprietary Eclipse edition limitations
Cosmic IDEA ✓ Cosmic Cosmic ✓ FREE, unlimited
STMicroelectronics STVD ✓ Cosmic STMicroelectronics ✓ FREE, unlimited
Time limit: 30-day
IAR Systems EWSTM8 ✓ IAR IAR ✓ ✓ Code limit: 8 Kbytes
iSystem iSYS-WinIDEA ✓ Cosmic iSystem ✓ Time limit: 30-day
Arduino Arduino IDE ✓ Cosmic ✓ FREE, unlimited

Free edition highlights all options. Several commercial editions may exist.
Full details available at IDE provider website.
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Additional info about IDE
characteristics
 IDE scope
• IDEs allow more or less abstraction on:
• The build/run/debug tools in use (compiler, linker, …)
• Environmental attributes (project structure, optimizations, ….)
• Programming language attributes (compiled/Interpreted, syntax
highlight at editing, …)
• User interface (GUI, browser, command line)
• RTOS and pre-defined APIs and libraries
• Pre-defined projects, examples or constructs
• Code versioning and advanced debugging capabilities
• If code is stored locally or in the cloud
• Most common for STM32 portfolio are general-
purpose IDEs
• Standalone application
• GUI based
• C/C++ compiler (GNU gcc, llvm, ARM or proprietary)
• Common debugger (gdb or OpenOCD)
• RTOS and C/C++ standard libraries in source form
• Locally stored

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 Special-purpose IDEs
• Special-purpose IDEs can offer:
• Higher code abstraction level, for beginners
• Interpreted language option

i.e. Arduino
• Public library of high-level functions
• Basic examples (aka ‘Sketches’)
• No explicit debug tool

• Browser-hosted GUI
• Online IDE
• Cloud-stored development i.e. Mbed

• Basic examples (aka ‘Programs’)

• Command line UI
• Manual project setup
• Syntax-aware character-oriented code editor
• Not too ‘integrated’ but still an IDE

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 General-purpose IDE families
• General-purpose IDEs are available in several major
flavors with main differences at:
• IDE look-and-feel
• Project setup and configuration
• Capabilities to embed tool extensions
• Microsoft Visual Studio like
• Simpler UI, identical to classical PC Development, small footprint
• Concise and intuitive menus
• C/C++ oriented, easy project configuration (i.e. debug/release and
optimization level toggling)
• Eclipse based
• Being Java-based, easy porting to different hosts
• Seamless integration of custom plug-in modules and new features
• Programming language flexible
• Perspective based
• Theia based
• Built on Web technology for browser launch on any host
• Online and Offline versions
• Custom plug-in modules, including proprietary tools and toolchains

STM32
IDEs 30
 IDE selection

• IDE feature set varies at tool edition • Selection goes through simple questions
• Basic IDEs allow minimal features • Need a special-purpose IDE?
• Premium IDEs allow much powerful editing, debug, trace, • Which programming language and toolchain?
optimization tools and safety certified editions • Which IDE platform do I like (Eclipse, Visual Studio, Theia)?
• Free-of-charge editions allow IDE early discovery • Which host system?
• Feature demoted
• Do I need a Premium edition?
• Time limited
• How much am I ready to pay?
• Special editions for a given Silicon Vendor or Device Series or
Part Number are often on sale at special price The IDE ‘used last time’ most times wins

• IDE license cost scales with the feature set

BASIC FREE

PREMIUM COMMERCIAL

STM32
IDEs 31
MCU utility tools

STM32 STM32 STM8

MCU MPU MCU
 A large community of tool providers
Offering Free utility tools
(Trace/Monitors, GUI builders, …)

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 A large community of tool providers
Offering Commercial utility tools
(Trace/Monitors, GUI builders, …)

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 A large community of tool providers
Offering free and commercial utility tools
(Trace/Monitors, GUI builders, …)

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 ST MCU code generators

Application specific
Description Applicability
Free ST Tools
ST-MC-SUITE Online tool to select the motor control solution that best fits your application STM32/STM8
X-CUBE-AI Artificial Intelligence software development kit
X-CUBE-MCSDK Motor control software development kit All STM32
STM32 MAT/TARGET MATLAB-based signal processing filter tool
TouchGFXDesigner Free GUI builder utility previously known as Draupner TouchGFX
High
STemWin GUI Builder Free GUI builder utility derived from Segger emWin GUI Builder Performance
STM32 Series
Free audio filter configuration tool, 160 basic filters available, derived from DSP Concepts
ST-AudioWeaver (F4/F7/H7)
AudioWeaver

STM32 application-specific configuration tools generate code integrating the related software library
All ST software tools are free editions
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 Partner STM32 code generators

GUI Builder Product Toolchain compatibility Applicability Free edition

Microsoft GuiX
High-
MikroElektronika VisualTFT Compatible with MikroElektronika C/Basic/Pascal compilers performance Component limit: 7
Segger emWin GUI Builder STM32 series STemWin GUI Builder
(F4/F7/H7)
TARA Systems Embedded Wizard ST evaluation edition

Audio tools Product Attributes, compatibility Applicability Free edition

DSP Concepts AudioWeaver Commercial Golden version of ST-AudioWeaver, MATLAB-ready STM32F4/F7/H7 ST-AudioWeaver

State Machine
Product Attributes, compatibility Applicability Free edition
tools
State Machine code generator.
IAR Systems IAR Visual State All STM32 Time limit: 30-day
Fully integrated with IAR-EWARM

STM32 application-specific configuration tools generate code integrating the related software library
Free edition highlights the most attractive option. Full details available at IDE provider website STM32
CONF.. 37
 Partner STM32 code analyzers

Code Analyzer Product Toolchain compatibility Applicability Free edition

C/C++ code static analyzer, covering MISRA C:2012 and MISRA
C++:2008.
Arm KEIL MDK plugins All STM32 No
Provided by Gimpel Software and Parasoft
Fully integrated with MDK5

C/C++ code static analyzer, covering MISRA C:2012 and MISRA

C++:2008.
IAR Systems IAR C-STAT All STM32 No
CWE and CERT C/C++ aware.
Fully integrated with IAR-EWARM

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 Hardware debug probes
ST Debug Probes On-board STM32 STM8 Description
ST-Link v2 ✓ ✓ Stand-alone hardware debug probe available as commercial product
ST-Link v2-1 ✓ ✓ ✓ On-board hardware debug probe, described with the relevant board
ST-Link v3E ✓ ✓ Latest generation on-board hardware debug probe, described with the relevant board
ST-Link v3S ✓ Latest generation stand-alone hardware debug probe available as commercial product

Commercial Debug Probes

STM32 STM8 Description
Provider Product
I-jet ✓
IAR
I-jet Trace ✓ ETM, 256MB memory buffer
ULINK2 ✓ ETM, Streaming trace
Arm KEIL ULINKpro ✓ ETM, Streaming trace
ULINKplus ✓ ETM, Streaming trace
J-link ✓ Streaming trace
Segger
J-link Trace ✓ ETM, 16MB memory buffer
ic5000 ✓ ✓ ETM, 256MB memory buffer
iSystem
ic5700 ✓ ETM, 1GB memory buffer

Free software upgrade for ST-Link v2 hardware probes to support the J-Link protocol
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 ST program/monitor tools

Free ST Programming Tools STM32 STM8 Description

STM32CubeProg ✓ STM32 microcontroller Programmer tool
STLink-Utility ✓ Programmer based on ST-Link probe, including support for external memories
STVP (STM32) / STVP (STM8) ✓ ✓ Programmer based on ST-Link probe
FLASHER-STM32 / FLASHER-STM8 ✓ ✓ Flash loader through UART
DfuSe ✓ Device firmware upgrader through USB, including support for external memories

Free ST Monitoring Tools STM32 STM8 Description

STM32CubeMonitor ✓ STM32 microcontroller runtime variable monitoring and visualization tool
STM32CubeMonPwr ✓ STM32 microcontroller Power Monitor tool
STM32CubeMonRF ✓ STM32 microcontroller Radio Performance Monitor tool
STM32CubeMonUCPD ✓ STM32 microcontroller USB Type-C Power Delivery Monitor tool
STMStudio (STM32) / STMStudio (STM8) ✓ ✓ Data Monitor tool relying on the ST-Link channel

All ST provided Software tools are Free editions

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 STM32 partner monitor/trace tools

Monitor/Trace Product Channel OS awareness and IDE compatibility Free edition

Microsoft TraceX J-Link ThreadX OS aware, Multi-core supported Time limit: 30-day

ST-Link FreeRTOS/uc-OS/embOS/Linux/VxWorks/Linux aware, IAR plug-in,

Percepio Tracealyzer J-Link STM32CubeIDE dedicated Eclipse plug-in and generic Eclipse plug-in

J-Scope J-Link Data visualization FREE

Segger
SystemView J-Link FreeRTOS/embOS aware FREE

Debug Engines Product OS awareness Free edition

PLS (Universal Debug Engine) UDE Nucleus/uc-OS/Keil RTX-OS aware

Full details about free edition available at IDE provider website

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Releasing your creativity

/STM32

@ST_World

community.st.com

www.st.com/STM32SoftwareTools

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 Find out more at www.st.com/STM32SoftwareTools

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