ST releases low cost devt kits to support its STM32 MCU

STMicroelectronics has released four low-cost evaluation and development kits, from leading third-party tool suppliers, designed to support its recently-announced STM32 MCU, which is based on ARM Cortex-M3 core. This broad line of starter kits—from Hitex, IAR, Keil and Raisonance—make it quick and easy for users to explore the STM32's features and to start serious application development, with minimum investment of time and money; kits range in price from Rs Rs.4,408.86 ($109) to Rs.9667.14 ($239).

The simultaneous introduction of this complete line of products, with the STM32 now widely available, gives developers the freedom to choose the best solution for their needs. All the kits are based on proven tool solutions that are well known to application developers working with ARM core-based devices worldwide.

Development solutions
The Hitex starter kit (STM3210B-SK/HIT) is based on the HiTOP5 IDE, offering a full range of project management, source-code editing and debugging features through an intuitive graphical interface. The included Tasking VX C/C++ compiler has no code-size limitation when used with the kit hardware. The kit includes a USB stick with STM32F103B and integrated debugging/programming capability, an extension I/O board with peripheral evaluation features, and the DashBoard GUI for MCU performance monitoring. The kit has a recommended resale price of Rs.4,408.86 ($109).

IAR's KickStart kit (STM3210B-SK/IAR) is based on the IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM (EWARM) development environment, running on an STM32F103B KickStart development board. It includes the IAR C/C++ compiler for up to 32Kbytes of code, the J-Link in-circuit debugger/programmer (USB/JTAG), a built-in flash loader, and sample projects for all of the STM32 device peripherals. The kit has a recommended resale price of Rs.9,667.14($239).

The Keil starter kit (STM3210B-SK/KEIL) features the Keil RealView MCU Development Kit software, including the µVision3 IDE for application programming and debugging, and the ARM RealView C/C++ Compilation Tools for up to 16Kbytes of code, plus a full-featured STM32F103B-based evaluation board, with the ULINK in-circuit (USB/JTAG) debugger/programmer. The kit has a recommended resale price of Rs.7,644.73 ($189).

The Raisonance REva starter kit (STM3210B-SK/RAIS), based on the RIDE development environment for code up to 32Kbytes, offers application debugging and seamless control of the included GNU C/C++ compiler through an intuitive graphical interface. The kit hardware has a modular design based on the USB-powered REva universal evaluation motherboard with embedded RLink in-circuit debugger/programmer (USB/JTAG), and comes with an STM32F103B daughterboard with device-specific evaluation features. The kit has a recommended resale price of Rs.8,453.($209).

All of the kits—which are available now from ST sales offices and distributors worldwide—contain everything required to enable users to quickly and easily evaluate the new MCU's features, and to start development at very low cost. They include many ready-to-run code examples to demonstrate the device peripherals, with source files that can be adapted for users' applications.