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kris2399
kris2399
Associate II
May 16, 2022
Solved

How to use common sources in multiple STM32Cube IDE projects

  • May 16, 2022
  • 11 replies
  • 4363 views

We have developped a set of recources - C en H files - which are used in many projects. How can we easily integrate these files in new and existing STM32Cube projects (CubeIDE version 1.8.0) and workspaces?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Best answer by Andrew Neil

I would prefer to just copy them - then you get to choose when updates get merged into each project which uses them.

 

Otherwise, you might find that changes to the common code break your dependent projects at inconvenient times...

 

Version control systems such as Git or SVN allow you to do this.

 

But, if you really do want to do it, you can add a file as a "link":

 

0693W00000Nq0olQAB.png

This takes you to:

0693W00000Nq0pFQAR.png

Choose 'Advanced>>'

Then choose ‘Link to alternate location’, and enter the path to your source files:

0693W00000Nq0ptQAB.png 

11 replies

Andrew Neil
Andrew NeilBest answer
Super User
May 16, 2022

I would prefer to just copy them - then you get to choose when updates get merged into each project which uses them.

 

Otherwise, you might find that changes to the common code break your dependent projects at inconvenient times...

 

Version control systems such as Git or SVN allow you to do this.

 

But, if you really do want to do it, you can add a file as a "link":

 

0693W00000Nq0olQAB.png

This takes you to:

0693W00000Nq0pFQAR.png

Choose 'Advanced>>'

Then choose ‘Link to alternate location’, and enter the path to your source files:

0693W00000Nq0ptQAB.png 

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.
    Andrew Neil
    Andrew Neil
    Super User
    May 16, 2022

    "I would prefer to just copy them - then you get to choose when updates get merged into each project which uses them"

    It also means that you can make working changes in the copy without affecting other projects - and only merge them back when you're ready ...

    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.
    kris2399
    kris2399Author
    Associate II
    May 16, 2022

    Thanks.

    Seems like trying to include H-files from this common folder needs the full path specification in the C-file.(I tried to add the include path to the build settings, but this doesn't do the trick)

    How do I instruct CubeIDE to also include the H-files from this added folder?

    kris2399
    kris2399Author
    Associate II
    May 16, 2022

    Sorry, please disregard previous comment: adding the path to the project does solve the issue.

    Andrew Neil
    Andrew Neil
    Super User
    May 16, 2022

    Relative paths should work.

    another advantage of actually copying the files into your project location is that it makes this easier.

    Also easier to distribute the project - you can just zip it up & ship it.

    0693W000008y9fZQAQ.png 

    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.
    kris2399
    kris2399Author
    Associate II
    May 16, 2022

    I totally agree with your suggestions, however the idea we use works a little different from the procedures generally in practice. If we do modifications to the commons sources - which are extremely seldom - these must be incorporated in all projects relying on them. So copying them looks like risky

    Andrew Neil
    Andrew Neil
    Super User
    May 16, 2022

    Anyhow, the issue seems resolved - time to mark the solution?

    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.
    Pavel A.
    Pavel A.
    May 16, 2022

    The best way to share a set of common files among several projects indeed is version control.

    But not git or svn. There is a different kind of version control systems, such as Perforce, Synergy, Clearcase - based on concept of "virtual views" rather than on state of a tree.

    These systems allow to express the user intent directly: say, I have set of shared files in a folder, and I want to put copy of this file in that project, in certain location. Then I can track where are all copies of the shared file. If the file changes in one of projects, other projects still can keep older version of it.

    The down side of this is that these version control products are more complex than an individual can afford, they are expensive, typically require a dedicated handler. Perforce has a free version for very small teams.

    kris2399
    kris2399Author
    Associate II
    May 16, 2022

    Usually I use git, but since this code changes something like once-in-10-years, I wanted to skip the overhead.

    I'll also take a look at Perforce, etc... BTW version control remains a very interesting topic, maybe something to integrate in CubeIDE?

    Thanks for your input!

    Pavel A.
    Pavel A.
    May 16, 2022

    >  maybe something to integrate in CubeIDE?

    CubeIDE is Eclipse CDT, there is a working git plugin for it for sure.

    /* To my taste git and other version control software is better standalone than any IDE plugin, so I don't even install them */

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