This November update includes upgraded toolchains for faster builds, a new quick-reset debug button to speed up testing, and improved platform support for Mac and Linux users, making development smoother and more efficient.
Toolchain updates STM32CubeIDE?
- GDB libncurses for Linux users
- Linux users no longer need to manually obtain libncurses for GDB to work properly, simplifying setup and reducing troubleshooting.
- GNU tools for STM32 - GCC-14: now bundled and set as the default toolchain for new projects using GCC. This major version upgrade includes numerous improvements and bug fixes (full changelog available here).
- Mac users benefit from a native AArch64 package, enabling faster builds without Rosetta emulation.
- Newlib is rebuilt with -O2 optimization, trading some code size for better runtime performance, aligning with upstream Arm toolchains.
- ST Arm Clang 19.1.6+st.10
- New Osize.cfg tuning for minimal code size, replacing the former Omin.cfg.
- Package size reduced by approximately 45% across Windows, Linux, and Mac, speeding up downloads and installations.
New debug toolbar button: quick reset
The previous extension version offered the default C/C++ debug launch toolbar that comes standard with VS Code, providing a single button to restart the debug session.
What’s new?
A dedicated ‘quick reset’ button now lets you restart the debug session instantly without rebuilding or reflashing.
By default, it runs a GDB command sequence to reset the MCU core and peripherals and halt at the start of the value if the runEntry attribute.
- This reduces turnaround time from several seconds to nearly instant, especially useful during iterative debugging.
- The reset sequence is customizable via launch.json to fit your specific workflow.
In a nutshell, the quick reset button resets the target instantly while the standard reset button, stopping the running debus session, invoking re-build and re-flash will take 5-10 seconds even for a small code project. Later, VS Code updates will add dedicated buttons for quick flash and reset.
Incremental flash support
For ST-LINK users with the ST-LINK GDB server, incremental flash support is now available (disabled by default).
- When enabled via a simple launch.json attribute, only modified flash sectors are rewritten, speeding up flash operations during debug launches.
- Note: Not all STM32 series flash loaders support incremental flashing yet; unsupported ones will fall back to legacy flashing methods.
Additional improvements
- Multiple bug fixes and workflow enhancements to improve user experience.
- See the extension changelog for full details.
Your feedback is essential in shaping the future of STM32Cube for Visual Studio 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 resources
- STM32 Developer Zone - STM32Cube for Visual Studio Code
- YouTube - Get started with STM32Cube for VS Code: from installation to debugging
First published on Dec 15, 2025
