Skip to main content
Tonypan
Associate
July 29, 2021
Solved

how to choose IDE between STM32CubeIDE and Keil for new project?

  • July 29, 2021
  • 6 replies
  • 3566 views

Will STM32CubeIDE be ST's preferred IDE in the future?  

This topic has been closed for replies.
Best answer by Javier1

I learnt with keil in university (coding with NXP micros) and i switched to STM32CubeIDE 2yrs ago (because now i work with stm32).

keil:

  • their debugger is much nicer than STM32CubeIDE,
  • BUT keil licenses are very expensive and you could only code up to 32kb with the trial version (unless you find a nefarious workaround)
  • As @Markus GIRDLAND​ said keil is just a second party IDE.

STM32CubeIDE:

  • ST supports it
  • is completely free no 32kb limit
  • its blue
  • merges perfectly with cubeMx

6 replies

Markus GIRDLAND
ST Employee
July 29, 2021

Hello there!

STM32CubeIDE is developed by ST and because of that it will continue to be supported with new devices and will continue to be a part of the Cube ecosystem.

However, as far as I'm aware there are no plans to stop supporting Keil, it's also a good tool that ST co-operates with and will continue to support through STM32CubeMX code generation, for example.

Because I am in the STM32CubeIDE team I will of course have a biased opinion but I would recommend STM32CubeIDE ;)

Javier1
Javier1Best answer
Principal
July 29, 2021

I learnt with keil in university (coding with NXP micros) and i switched to STM32CubeIDE 2yrs ago (because now i work with stm32).

keil:

  • their debugger is much nicer than STM32CubeIDE,
  • BUT keil licenses are very expensive and you could only code up to 32kb with the trial version (unless you find a nefarious workaround)
  • As @Markus GIRDLAND​ said keil is just a second party IDE.

STM32CubeIDE:

  • ST supports it
  • is completely free no 32kb limit
  • its blue
  • merges perfectly with cubeMx

hit me up in https://www.linkedin.com/in/javiermuñoz/
Cartu38 OpenDev
Graduate II
July 29, 2021

@Tonypan​  See too: which is best IDE for STM32.

@Javier Muñoz​ please could you comment "Keil debugger is much nicer than STM32CubeIDE" ?

Tesla DeLorean
Guru
July 30, 2021

When things work it might well be a fantastic debugger, but my read of the forum issues suggest things are more fragile than professional tools.

Perhaps because IAR and Keil makes a business of it they thoroughly test things and their customers have higher expectations?

If I were ST I'd focus on making/delivering chips

Tips, Buy me a coffee, or three.. PayPal Venmo (See Profile) Up vote any posts that you find helpful, it shows what's working..
Tonypan
TonypanAuthor
Associate
July 30, 2021

:beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes::beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes: maybe STM32CubeIDE will be a fine choice for me. Although I am not familiar with STM32CubeIDE.