Any experience with STM32

[shantanu@india]

I found it quite interesting and affordable though without a Wi-Fi like ESP8266.
ST Microelectronics are solid designers.
https://smartsolutions4home.com/how-to-program-stm32/

[JonW]

I have used the M0 and M3 for years in many high volume products.  Very solid ARM cores, packed with peripherals and low(ish) cost. Issues at the moment for most is getting parts.

If Les is doing a compiler for ARM then the STMF103 M3 is a really good part as there are a number of Chinese clones available so sourcing is much easier.  Another good company for low cost applications is Nyquest and Tenx. 

For limited code space and I/O the NY8 https://www.nyquest.com.tw/en/product/HomeAppliances/NY8_Series  series are phenomenal little parts for the price, robust, fast and really cheap must have used over 5Million of the NY8's so far and no issues over -40 to 85C ambient. Similar to the 8 bit 10F series, would be awesome if the compiler could work for a few of these parts!  OTP for the low end devices but emulators are available



 

 

[top204]

Once we are settled in our "home", and I get my workshop back up and running, I have every intention of creating the Positron compilers for ARM microcontrollers. The problem is, is that there are so many different types, so code for one M0 type will not work on another M0 type, because they are different to each other. So I will need to find stable types and make the compiler for them first, then migrate to the other types using the same designation of M0, M3, M4 etc...

It's the same with all microcontrollers now, and a lot of people think that a PIC is a PIC is a PIC, when they are, in fact, "very" different to each other. Even some of the more modern C and C++ compilers only support a percentage of the original language on some ARM devices because they do not have the same capabilities as each other.

[JonW]

That so true on the MCU front Les.  We had major issues getting the NY8 parts but found they were designed by a different Chinese company and produced in one FAB, however they have had some custom tweaks and are not always the same.

Personally I think the STMF103 from ST is the benchmark, its being cloned successfully all over China

Take a look at these https://www.cnx-software.com/2019/02/10/cs32-mcu-stm32-clone-bluepill-board/.  CKS clones are spot on and work right out the box.  Another is from WCH that do the USB Bridges, again some are compatible to ST who seem to be the leaders and from a marketing perspective just look at the sheer amount of Blue Pill boards with the ST32F103 on the market, a sure indicator to how popular the STMF103 actually is http://www.wch-ic.com/products/categories/66.html?pid=5