Cortex M3 Low Cost Board Tools Recommendation Wanted.

Well, all your requirements are actually easy to achieve except for the unlimited compiler. If you would like to have professional tools the unlimited C-Compilers / Debuggers start around $1k and can easily hit the $5 level.

My recommendation would be the Primer2 Pro. It is a nice evaluation kit, uses the STM32F103, provides tons of reference Software and the Pro version has no code limitations. You can check it out here:

Has just been awarded with EETIMEs product of the year award

Cheers, An Schwob

If you have particular reason to want tools from companies like IAR or Kiel, then they cost in that sort of price range. For some people and some uses, it makes sense and is worth the money.

But there are several professional toolsets that use gcc. These are available as either entirely free versions, or as paid-for professional versions with additional libraries, commercial support, ready-to-run setups with (typically) Eclipse and debuggers, etc. CodeSourcery comes at $400 (or more for more libraries and more support) - I'm guessing that Code Red and Rowley are in a similar price class.

Still, that's above the $250 you were aiming for - basically, your only sensible choice is CodeSourcery's "Lite" version, which is entirely free. You don't get the editor integration and extra libraries, but there is still more than enough to do the job.

For the hardware, I'd recommend looking at TI's Stellaris lines. You can get evaluation kits for $100, and all their libraries and demos fully support CodeSourcery (and Code Red - I'd guess Rowley too).

You could check the status of the larger versions of

NXP say they are coming for all families, but I think LPC11xx and LPC13xx are the only real ones ?

Even if the larger ones are delayed, you can get started on the first ones, and they are very low cost. (~$30)

-jg

Look at the STM32 Primer2 from Raisonance : 59 euros with programmer and LCD included.

Bruno

The only price I can find on the Raisonance website is for the STM32 Primer2 Pro: ?129,- .

Thank you for your input. I order a Primer2. I looks like it has a

Originally I was not looking for its built in UI features, but they will also be very handy for my project.

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I bought a Primer2. Had a HW problem, and returned it. I have a second unit also with a hardware problem. I am going to try to return the second unit as well. The Primer2 appears to be a wonderful concept. However, I personally had bad luck with it. At least for now, I am looking into other alternative.

John

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It looks like Raisonance is coming out with a similar product similar to the Primer 2 but improved as follows:

• Hardware accept processor daughter card and may be STM32 or STM8.
• Larger screen. It apparently still has the IO header. I am considering getting one of these when available. Hopefully they will be similarly affordable to the Primer 2. See link below for details.

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