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1. 

   gbulmer
   Moderator

   Mubase - What does "what is the bestt set of tools for building a maple program??" mean? What are you criteria for best?

   How much experience have you at building embedded software?
   What C/C++ command-line development tools have you used?
   Which C/C++ IDE's have you used?
   Do you understand what a C/C++ compiler, assembler, librarian and linker does?

   You have three basic directions, with some options:
   1. Modify the Maple IDE file system, replacing Maple libraries, link script and source code with STM32F4 versions, and use the Maple-like bootloader you've installed with dfu-util
   2. Use command line tools, and the STM32F4 libraries and source code, and use the Maple-like bootloader you've installed with dfu-util
   3. Use a 3rd party IDE, e.g. Keil/Atollic/CooCox/Rowley Crossworks and use the ST-LINK/V2 built on the board to load programs

   All of those can be made to work.

   There is a guide on how to use Unix/Linux/Mac OS X command line tools at http://leaflabs.com/docs/unix-toolchain.html
   There is some advice on putting chibios on it http://www.chibios.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=chibios:articles:stm32f4_discovery
   There is some advice on how to use the STM32F4-DISCOVERY board with coocox http://www.coocox.org/forum/topic.php?id=2319
   (That was to a person called Mubase too.)

   You could get a free license for Keil for limited-size programs, I know this worked for someone who understands MCU's, but had never used C/C++. You could get a free limited time license from Rowley Crossworks. I have used that on an STM32F4-Discovery. They both have manuals, and documentation, but are still not trivial to get working.

   You may get much more advice on using an STM32F4-Discovery at ST Micro's STM32 Discovery forums.

   Posted 3 years ago #
2. 

   Mubase
   Member

   Hi G. Thanks for the reply!

   in answer to you questions:

   "How much experience have you at building embedded software?"
   I have most experience in Arduino programming (hence the interest in MapleIDE) and have built devices based around MIDI, MIDI to CV and wireless projects using the NRF24l01+ 2.4GHz transciever boards. Also experience of 3.2" TFT screens.
   I have some experience of programming 8 bit AVR uC's in C and assembler ( and am still learning..) I have experience in using freescale demojm boards using Rich Testardi's Stickos:
   http://www.cpustick.com/ This is brilliant. If it was ported to the STM32f4 discovery I would be in heaven..(maybe one day)
   and I am just starting to get a grip on how the STM32s work.

   2. "2. Use command line tools, and the STM32F4 libraries and source code, and use the Maple-like bootloader you've installed with dfu-util"

   I have only used the command tools to build the libmaple.a library. I haven't worked out how to compile "sketches" for the STM32f4 port yet & am having difficulty...I am using Windows XP.

   3." Use a 3rd party IDE, e.g. Keil/Atollic/CooCox/Rowley Crossworks and use the ST-LINK/V2 built on the board to load programs"

   Yes, I have Atollic, KeilMDK and Coocox on my system and can build and debug programs to my board.

   You say I can rebuild the MAple IDE system for the f4 ?
   I would love to know how that is done...

   if not, what steps would I need to take to be able to write and compile programs from Coocox or another 3rd party...? In other words, what files would I need to include in the project folder for it to compile properly....
   I'm not a total beginner but still have some teething issues...

   Any help seriously appreciated.
   Thanks again,
   Steve ( mubase (as in Coocox mubase!)

   Posted 3 years ago #
3. 

   gbulmer
   Moderator

   Mubase - I am confused.

   You say "Yes, I have Atollic, KeilMDK and Coocox on my system and can build and debug programs to my board."
   You also say "what steps would I need to take to be able to write and compile programs from Coocox or another 3rd party...? In other words, what files would I need to include in the project folder for it to compile properly"

   If you can compile and load programs into your board using "Atollic, KeilMDK and Coocox", then aren't you done? IMHO, it would take more effort to modify the Maple IDE file system than just use what already works.

   The main thing that Maple IDE gives, which isn't part of those other IDE's, is the pre-processor. The pre-processor scans source code and removes the need to #include <header.h> or declare a function before it is used. You could just declare functions before they are used, and #include headers, and use an ordinary compiler.

   gcc or g++ will take a bunch of source code files, libraries and a link script and build a .elf
   Those IDEs can do that too. The dumb/simple approach is to put every source file into a project, including the STM32F4 libmaple source. Then compile the lot. It should only take a couple of minutes, and the IDE will keep the object files and not recompile if not needed. As you already have three IDEs working, this should be straightforward for you.

   Would you take your questions into a separate thread as it isn't actually about this topic? Maybe a title like 'Help needed to use STM32F4 with libmaple or Maple IDE' or whatever it is you actually need.

   Posted 3 years ago #
4. 

   gargantua
   Member

   Hello !

   I've found this thread the closest from my own case.
   I'm using not a Maple device but an Olimex STM32 based on ST Micro STM32F103RBT6

   First I want to express my pain ! How difficult it is to find an environment !
   Fortunatly Maple appears to be the one not to miss. So it's installed. Everything runs.

   I've followed carefully the instructions from http://leaflabs.com/docs/unix-toolchain.html#linux
   Everything has compiled gently as if (rare case) makefile are perfect and code clean (no W)
   So finally I tried to execute on the target... little problem begins...

   I use a mini-USB cable.
   After having set the env var BOARD to olimex_stm32_h103 an run "make ram" and then "make install" nothing seems to have really started (main.cpp was modified to have an unregular blinking 100 / 300) But it's like if no execution started after the upload.

   The ending line of the compilation output was :
   > 14048 2664 648 17360 43d0 build/olimex_stm32_h103.elf
   The uplaod was very fast (less than 1 sec) and end by the lines :
   > Starting download: [##################################################] finished!
   > tate(8) = dfuMANIFEST-WAIT-RESET, status(0) = No error condition is present
   > Done!
   > Resetting USB to switch back to runtime mode

   DO I HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THE EXECUTION START AFTER THE UPLOAD ?
   IS THE CODE WRITTEN AT THE RIGHT PLACE IN MEMORY TO RUN REALLY FOR THIS BOARD (I GUESS YES)

   I will make other attempts tomorrow...
   Thanks for any help

   Posted 3 years ago #
5. 

   feurig
   Member

   Nope. You look like you successfully loaded code. If your code works, and is appropriate for your board, then that is it. You might want to make flash if you are in doubt.

   Posted 3 years ago #
6. 

   gargantua
   Member

   Hello Feurig !

   thanks for your intervention. The last steps are not ok unfortunatly. The code doesn't work.

   I guess I haven't the right mapping for my board. Compilation options are OK but not code constants

   What I would like is to have a code (just a small one) that works, that have been tested and approved for the Olimex STM32 Rev D. Do you know if this kind of jewel exist ?

   Have a nice day and thank you.
   JNP

   Posted 3 years ago #
7. 

   feurig
   Member

   I havent purchased an olimex but it seems that one of one of the olimex guys is usually on here. Maybe a new thread asking for working sample code for the board might do it.

   Posted 3 years ago #
8. 

   spas
   Member

   Hi,
   I have just received an Olimex board and have found it to function perfectly with the Maple IDE; no problems at all.

   Posted 3 years ago #
9. 

   mikep
   Member

   Hi gargantua,
   Which board do you have exactly?
   Is it this one: https://www.olimex.com/Products/ARM/ST/STM32-H103/

   If so, I do not think the board comes with the Maple bootloader installed.

   The bootloader is what starts the execution of your code after it has been uploaded. You first need to get a bootloader flashed onto the board.
   I apologize if you have already done that, it just wasn't mentioned in your post.
   The bootloader jumps to a certain address to execute your code, so that would be another thing that could be wrong.

   It's generally a little bit harder to use some other boards that are different hardware than the Maple, sometimes you have to hunt down differences in the schematic, where the pins are located etc.

   Olimex makes another board, the Olimexino-Stm32: https://www.olimex.com/Products/Duino/STM32/OLIMEXINO-STM32/
   This one should be directly Maple compatible. If you have this board, the bootloader should be already on there.
   Your environment variable BOARD might be set wrong. If you have the Olimexino board, then the env var should say something like "maple" or so,basically the standard Maple (sorry, I am not using Linux, so it might be called a bit different).

   Sorry if this is a bit vague, but I hope it helps.

   Mike

   Posted 3 years ago #

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