An STM32 Bare Metal C++ Framework with Examples

This repository contains an experimental bare metal framework written in C++ for use with STM32 microcontrollers. Everything here is subject to change and will hopefully evolve into something useful

Currently the examples run on an STM32 Nucleo-64 evaluation board, see https://www.st.com/en/evaluation-tools/nucleo-f446re.html for details of the specific board used whilst developing this project

Note, this project has been set up to be cross compiled from a Windows machine. However, it's not difficult to tweak the build environment and use a Linux box

It is assumed that you have some knowledge of embedded programming on STM32 or similar microcontrollers and are familiar with C++

This project was inspired by the Jason Turner talk at CppCon 2016: "Rich Code for Tiny Computers: A Simple Commodore 64 Game in C++17", see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBkNBP00wJE This is an excellent talk and is well worth watching, as is his "C++ Weekly" channel

Notes

• The simple flight controller project is incomplete. When it's finished it will be able to fly an RC Quadcopter using the Nucleo-64 board described above. This board will also need a plugin hat to host the 3-axis gyros, the RC interface and the speed controller PWM connectors. The KiCad PCB design and layout will be included here once it's complete
• This project is also currently configured to build with ninja, see PreLoad.cmake for details. Watch this space for further updates...

Prerequisites

• CMake v3.27 (older versions are probably OK)
• Nmake v14.34.x or Ninja v1.11.1
• GCC 13.2.1

Notes

• Microsoft nmake is installed as a component of Visual Studio but is also available separately as a download
• The ninja build tool is available from https://www.ninja-build.org/
• If building on a Linux box, edit the PreLoad.cmake files to specify Unix Makefiles and then use make
• The mingw-w64-i686 AArch32 bare-metal target (arm-none-eabi) GCC 12.3 compiler was used
• A Linux version of the CGG cross compiler is also available
• These can be download from https://developer.arm.com/downloads/-/arm-gnu-toolchain-downloads
• If necessary edit the stm32_toolchain.cmake file to suit your cross compiler toolchain

On Going Development tasks

• Review and test the no local echo behaviour of the TextReader.readln() methods
• Implement the SBus, PWM out and PID controller classes

Build

In the desired example directory perform the following steps

• mkdir build
• cd build
• cmake ..
• nmake or ninja -j0 for the simple flight controller, random numbers and time provider test projects

Execute

• Plug the Nucleo into a PC, it will mount a drive
• Drag the .bin file to the drive mounted by the Nucleo
• The code should now execute on the Nucleo

Notes

• Use the generated .hex file with a JTAG/SWD style programmers
• The compiled assembler is available in the .asm file

Help

Please feel free to ask questions via max.vandaalen@bitparallel.com