Is STLINK/V2 that is part of the DISCO eval board free to use?

Gunnar Bohlen · ‎2018-10-22

Hello,

we develop a product based on an STM32F765.

Is it allowed to add a debug interface like the ones on 32F746GDISCOVERY. This would make it easier for our customers to start writing their own firmware extension.

Thank you.

Andrew Neil · ‎2018-10-22

If your customers are not likely to have their own debug/programming tools, wouldn't it make more sense to provide a bootloader so that they can can program via UART or USB?

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.
A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.

AvaTar · ‎2018-10-22

I would resort to a wiring of the debug pins as seen on the Nucleo boards (without the STLink part).

That would leave customers the option to connect other debuggers (like the J-Link).

You might ask ST if they sell you pre-programmed ST-Link MCUs. Pretty sure you will not get the firmware...

Andrew Neil · ‎2018-10-22

Agree: providing a standard debug connector is probably a better way to go.

http://infocenter.arm.com/help/topic/com.arm.doc.faqs/attached/13634/cortex_debug_connectors.pdf - the 10-pin, 0.05" is the favourite these days...

I don't think ST sell the chips.

If you really want to make your own debug adaptor, look at CMSIS-DAP - which is open source.

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.
A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.

Gunnar Bohlen · ‎2018-10-22

Thank you for your answers.

Of course the easiest way is to add a 10 pin or 20 pin CortexM pin header and tell the customers to buy a debugger interface of their choice.

Components for a STLink/V2 would be ~ 8..10€ and ST publishes a BOM and firmware update files - so my assumption was the design is free to use in a customer design, but I coudn't find this info.

Tesla DeLorean · ‎2018-10-22

>>I don't think ST sell the chips.

@STOne-32 Please consider selling licensed ST-LINK/V3 F7 parts

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Bill Dempsey · ‎2018-10-22

A big selling point for us developing off the Nucleo was the drag-and-drop via USB feature so we designed it in to our end-product. Sure it was similar to CMSIS DAP but in our mind it was a feature that was part of the ST/Nucleo ecosystem so off we ran.

Then when it came to finding the code we hit a brick wall. Eventually the wall came down and ST licensed out the code to us (binary, not source). That model has repeated itself across multiple companies over the last 4 yrs. Everything will depend on your relationship with ST on this but don't consider it an impossible issue.

Honestly it would have been easier if ST just sold the parts pre-programmed to us. ..not sure why they have not considered that instead of trying to stop the Chinese clones on the market.

Andrew Neil · ‎2018-10-23

Actually, the drag-and-drop is a feature from mbed.

https://os.mbed.com/handbook/CMSIS-DAP

DAPLink includes the drag-and-drop programming: https://os.mbed.com/docs/latest/tools/daplink.html

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.
A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.