Cube IDE mystery file

[PHolt.1]

Does anyone know what the productname.xml file in a Cube IDE directory does?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<targetDefinitions xmlns="http://openstm32.org/stm32TargetDefinitions" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://openstm32.org/stm32TargetDefinitions stm32TargetDefinitions.xsd">
  <board id="xxx">
    <name>XXX</name>
    <mcuId>stm32f417vgtx</mcuId>
    <dbgIF>JTAG</dbgIF>
    <dbgDEV>ST-Link</dbgDEV>
  </board>
</targetDefinitions>

Mine is dated 2019 so may not be used.

I am on Cube IDE 1.14.1. ST32F417/437. Later versions do nothing new and just carry on with the same bugs e.g. the random file opening.

[Florian LR]

Hi ​@PHolt.1, 

This looks like an old OpenSTM32/SW4STM32 board definition file. It mainly describes the target MCU and debug settings (ST-Link, JTAG/SWD, etc.).

As far as I know, current STM32CubeIDE versions don't actively rely on this file for normal project operation, so if it's from 2019 it may likely be just legacy metadata that has been carried over. I wouldn't expect it to have any impact unless you're using a custom board integration that specifically references it.

Best Regards,

Florian LR

[PHolt.1]

That indeed seems to be true. The project builds fine after deleting that file.

What would be “custom board integration”?

This project started on one of the DISCO boards and rapidly went to a custom PCB where it carried on.

[Florian LR]

By "custom board integration", I mean a custom board definition that was added to the IDE to describe a specific hardware platform (MCU, debugger, interface settings, etc.). The XML you shared looks like that type of board description. Unless your workflow includes custom board definitions carried over from an older OpenSTM32/SW4STM32 setup, I wouldn't expect CubeIDE 1.14.1 to depend on it.

And your confirmation that the project builds fine without it confirms you don’t need it.

Best Regards, 
Florian LR

[erajbrooks]

 

That XML looks like a target definition file used by CubeIDE to describe the board, MCU, and debug interface. If it dates back to 2019, it may be leftover from an older CubeIDE setup, especially if your current project works normally without it.