STM32Cube for VS Code deployment: a developer-centric approach
This July update marks the first incremental update since the pre-release was published in May. STM32Cube for VS Code will follow an agile development approach with frequent, small updates. This strategy minimizes update risks and enables ST to respond to developer feedback rapidly, ensuring continuous improvement.
STM32Cube for VS Code is currently delivered as a pre-release. The pre-release version will soon be merged into the stable track.
What’s new in the July 2025 update
#1 Live data watch
This feature is one of the most appreciated in STM32CubeIDE. The latest update of STM32Cube for VS Code provides a first version of the live data watch capability, which allows users to:
- monitor any type of data object in real-time.
- keep monitored variables across debug sessions.
The live expression feature is set up inside launch.json by adding the following lines:
#2 Introduction of ST Arm Clang, a Clang/LLVM based toolchain
As part of our commitment to helping STM32 developers achieve better code density and execution speed, we provide ST Arm Clang, a Clang/LLVM-based toolchain available in two variants:
- the hybrid ST Arm Clang toolchain, an LLVM-based toolchain that uses the GNU Linker and Newlib. This variant is ideal for developers looking to experiment with ST Arm Clang while maintaining compatibility with existing GCC projects.
- the full ST Arm Clang toolchain, a fully LLVM-based toolchain that uses the LLVM Linker and Picolibc. Although it may require linker script porting and uses a smaller C standard library, this option offers the best code density and execution speed.
This is an initial ST Arm Clang delivery. We will provide additional updates and documentation soon.
#3 Build analyzer improvements
This release offers two main updates to the build analyzer feature.
- Clickable memory elements
Memory elements in the tree view now hyperlink directly to the corresponding source file and line number for faster navigation. - Clang/LLVM binary support
You can now visualize binaries produced by the Clang/LLVM toolchains.
What’s next
The next development sprint is already planned.
Your feedback is essential in shaping the future of STM32Cube for VS Code as it allows us to tailor it precisely to your requirements. We look forward to reading your ideas and questions on our community forum!
Additional resource
First published Jul 07, 2025
