After sharing about our plans to collaborate with some of the best makers and brands in the market, next up, we want to talk about STM32 as well as all the associating products by STMicroelectronics. Apart from Arduino, Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, NXP and more, one of the brands that we saw a lot of potential for a full length series is ST. Which is why we are looking into a potential long-running lab series that will focus entirely on the products from them.
ARM - Endless Possibilities
One of the reasons why we wanted to give a special place to ST's products is simply because they are using the ARM Cortex Microprocessors. ARM has become of the most popular microprocessors in the world, thanks to their uses in our smart devices, among other things. When we thought about what we want to showcase in a long-running lab series, we also think a lot about what sort of content we can create and design surrounding their products. We think about the potential lab exercises and project ideas that can can be made possible because of their products, and to be frank, the possibilities are endless.
We think about the potential lab exercises and project ideas that can can be made possible because of their products, and to be frank, the possibilities are endless.
We want to work with brands that we know has the potential to continue shaping the world around us and we also want to introduce the value and benefits of their products to makers, students and even educators alike. Whether you are a student working on a final year project or you are a hobbyist looking to use ST's products to explore possible automation projects, there is always something for you when it comes to STMicroelectronics.
Development Toolchains
Although it would really make our day if we can establish a partnership with a company like Keil and gain access to explore their development tool. However in the interests that most developers watching the series might not have the financial capability to afford a tool like Keil, we will focus on something that is Free or affordable for even individual makers.
PlatformIO + MBed
One very clear tool that we have in mind is PlatformIO + mbed. PlatformIO has a free version as well as a Paid version. So that means developers can get started developing ideas surrounding ST's hardware without actually needing to spend a single cent.
There are actually ways to work with the STM32 products, like using the STM32CubeHAL, which presents a greater level of control in terms of performance and memory control for developers. But for many beginners just starting out, the mbed framework is actually the perfect place to get started. We will explore both of those toolchains during the series as well.
In Closing
There are no specific plans within our schedule for the ST Lab Series yet, however, we have started reaching out to the company and discussion should begin soon. So make sure you stay tuned for more updates here on our website. We certainly hope to bring more great news soon.