How to load and view the professional looking TouchGFX graphical demo on a low cost STM32G0 based solution
TouchGFX framework includes support for low-cost microcontroller based applications, such as the STM32G0, with a professional looking GUI (Graphical User Interface). The new partial framebuffer minimizes the RAM needed for image building using a configurable partial frame buffer size and number of partial frame buffers. Additionally, it offers smart partial screen updates for higher user interface performance and supports inexpensive external flash. All this makes for very cost-effective GUI applications.
This article shows how to load and run a TouchGFX demo on a cost-effective hardware platform to experience first-hand the quality and capability of the solution.
The demo requires the following hardware and software:
The memory requirements of the demo are:
TouchGFX / X-CUBE-TOUCHGFX
X-NUCLEO-GFX01M1
NUCLEO-G071RB
STM32CubeProgrammer
Introduction
TouchGFX framework includes support for low-cost microcontroller based applications, such as the STM32G0, with a professional looking GUI (Graphical User Interface). The new partial framebuffer minimizes the RAM needed for image building using a configurable partial frame buffer size and number of partial frame buffers. Additionally, it offers smart partial screen updates for higher user interface performance and supports inexpensive external flash. All this makes for very cost-effective GUI applications.
This article shows how to load and run a TouchGFX demo on a cost-effective hardware platform to experience first-hand the quality and capability of the solution.
Demo Preparation
The demo requires the following hardware and software:
- NUCLEO-G071RB – microcontroller board
- STM32G071RB microcontroller
- Cortex M0+ running at 64 MHz
- 128KB of flash
- 36 KB SRAM
- STM32G071RB microcontroller
- X-NUCLEO-GFX01M - display shield expansion board
- 8 MBytes of Serial SPI Flash
- 2.2 inches SPI QVGA TFT LCD (240 by 320 pixels, 16-bit color)
- Joystick
- TouchGFX – GUI builder software tools and framework
- STM32CubeProgrammer – flash loader
The memory requirements of the demo are:
- 75 KB of internal Flash
- 16 KB of RAM (10 KB for Library data and 6 KB for the partial frame buffer)
- External NOR Flash
Demo
- From st.com download and unzip the latest X-CUBE-TOUCHGFX
- Install TouchGFX Designer - the installer is located here:
Note: Because STM32CubeProgrammer is needed for this demo, you will need to have STM32CubeProgrammer installed on your machine (see the Links section for the link).
- Launch TouchGFX Designer
- In TouchGFX, create a project from ONLINE APPLICATIONS using the STM32G071 NUCLEO DEMO template.
- Run target
The code is programmed into the target’s on chip memory and graphic images are loaded into the external memory. Once that is complete the code is run.
Note: STM32CubeProgrammer is required for this step, so you need to have installed.
- Explore the capabilities of this cost-effective GUI solution by using the joystick to advance through the demos
Links
TouchGFXTouchGFX / X-CUBE-TOUCHGFX
X-NUCLEO-GFX01M1
NUCLEO-G071RB
STM32CubeProgrammer
