Best programmer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RAPER
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 09:03:49 pm
content: Hello everyoneI am looking for the most efficient one that supports as many stm8/32 + gd32 + other systems as possible.I have several types from aliexpress:1.aliexpress.com/item/1005006345507873.html2.aliexpress.com/item/1005004605070496.html3.aliexpress.com/item/1005002181553419.html4.aliexpress.com/item/1005006126839358.html5.aliexpress.com/item/1005006166650732.html6.aliexpress.com/item/1005006145455327.html7.aliexpress.com/item/1005004710121058.htmlWhich of them is worth buying, regardless of the price? Or maybe there is something better than them?

author: prosper
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:56:36 am
content: the *only* programmer that supports both stm8 and stm32 together is the st-link. Some of the aliexpress stlink clones work well, others not so much. Id recommend getting a genuine stlink v3 from st direct. theyre only a few dollars for the more basic ones, and they meet your criteria of stm8 and stm32.Howeverstlinks may not work with non-st mcus. So, if your criteria are STM8 AND STM32 AND other non-st ARMs - well, there isnt such a device.If you eliminate the STM8 requirement, then Segger JLinks or cmsis DAPLinks will support most ARM based mcus.And, as far as I know, there isnt a 'standard' programmer that supports RISCV mcu's from mixed manufacturers. Something that can do JTAG instead of just swd might get you some mileage, but i really don't think you're going to find a magical 'do everything' probe.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 03:01:43 am
content: unless you check the ic support in theses brands like ELNEC XELTEC TNM7000 and others ...they are universal up to a point, and some mcu cpu etc .. and may need to be paid IE: Xeltec 7000 has payable licensesyes as mentioned, there is no absolute programmer

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 08:22:30 am
content: QuoteWhy? That may have made sense when a single programmer would set you back hundreds or thousands of dollars, but nowadays vendors are likely to offer cheap chip-specific programs (and eval boards with built-in programmer/debuggers) at quite reasonable prices. Not to mention the clones, and the firmware to use your Arduino as a programmer, and etc (things are so much better now that most chips no longer require weird voltage(s)...)Even if you have a general purpose programmer, you're likely to find that your vendor-supplied IDE doesn't like it nearly as much as the vendor's cheap alternative...

author: josfemova
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 05:47:44 pm
content: Just get a Seeeduino Xiao M0 and install the daplink firmware on ithttps://wiki.seeedstudio.com/Seeeduino-XIAO-DAPLink/PinoutAlternatively just get a Pi Pico and install the debug probe firmware:https://github.com/raspberrypi/debugprobeBoth are compatible with the CMSIS-DAP spec and can be used in Keil/IAR/openocd

author: prosper
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 07:59:33 pm
content: Quote from: josfemova on April 09, 2024, 05:47:44 pmThat doesn't help with the STM8 use case. And if you're willing to do without STM8, then I'd steer more towards a WCH-LinkE - you get ARM support, as well as WCH RISC-V support. And if you flash this [https://github.com/prosper00/CH32V305-DAPLink-HS] firmware over top of the factory version, you get USB-2.0 high speed ARM debugging too. Really useful for faster flashing speeds with larger devices. You lose the R-V support, though. For $4 or $5 though, just buy another one.

author: __george__
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 08:33:49 pm
content: There are some very good replies here, I learned some nice firmware debugging probe projects, nice!But I mentioned that all the debuggers that the initial author posted here are "Offline" programmers, I have not used any of these before.Are they just storing the firmware binary and then just flash it without being connected to a computer?Edit: Reminder to myself: Don't ask questions for which the answer is on the description of the listing.

author: RAPER
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 09:33:06 pm
content: Hello again, I finally made some mega purchases, of course reading your suggestions and types.I bought :1. J LINK V12 Jtag Swd2. STLINK-V3SET3. WCH LinkE Debugger4. PWLINK2 gdlink GD-Link programmer full not lite.Yes, I know, you will soon say that I am crazy and why spend so much money. However, I am asking for your opinion on whether this set can be used specifically.anyway, thank you very much for your help.

author: IOsetting
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2024, 04:47:13 am
content: Most of the time I use JLink OB, but it can't program STM8 and RISCV.

author: John Celo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2024, 03:12:11 pm
content: Quote from: RAPER on April 09, 2024, 09:33:06 pmI'm a fresh beginner, and I bought DAPLink (weactstudio), STLink (weactstudio), J-Link clone and WCHLinke on ali anniversary sale, i think i paid roughly ~10eur total give or take.Obviously I have very little clue of what's what!But generally speaking:1. I will use WCHLinke for WCH RISC-V mcus (although it supposedly works for arm chips too). This works very well for WCH mcus!2. STLink for stm32 specifically.3. DAPLink for generic arm chips.4. J-link clone... i have yet to test out, probably shouldn't have bought this one.Plus, most of them double as USB-Serial-UART chips too. For like ~10 eur I paid I don't think I'll be needing anything else for a bloody long time.

author: aliarifat794
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2024, 03:32:22 pm
content: If you ask my honest opinion. I do not trust alliexpress sellers. Unidentified sellers are more likely to rip off money. Try to buy from an authorised STM product distributor.

author: __george__
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2024, 05:59:28 pm
content: Quote from: RAPER on April 09, 2024, 09:33:06 pmYou have some overlapping devices there for sureBut anyway, this set should allow you to debug/program nearly every Cortex-M in this planet + STM8 + GD and WCH (and maybe even more) RISCV microcontrollers.Since you bought the Segger and the ST-LINK and the other ones though you can now compare their tooling and decide which works better for you.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2024, 08:14:51 pm
content: I'm using this ST-LINKv2 (but I bought it several years ago from another seller):https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33004573063.htmlIt works ok for all STM32, also I tried it with STM8 it also works.The only con is missing UART pin for debugging. But you can mod it with manual soldering wire.

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2024, 05:09:59 am
content: I have a STM32F103 48pin on an oversized breakout board, and I have an 8MHz crystal, 3V3 regulator and even a USB jack. I want to try making a ST-link, and uploading the code to it's chip, with a STM32uino.Maybe USB won't even work on a through-hole protoboard, with the MCU on a breakout board, and no ground planes or anything like a multi-layer PCB.https://stm32world.com/wiki/DIY_STM32_Programmer_%28ST-Link/V2-1%29

author: AVI-crak
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2024, 09:08:32 pm
content: I have been using a CH347 based programmer lately. The chip is very simple but uniquely fast. It has no built-in support for architectures like STLink. All protocol processing is external, programmatic. This property allows you to program absolutely all chips, at breakneck speed. Real-time debugging mode without waiting. Much faster than STLink V3.And the main thing is that all Chinese chips are friendly with it.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2024, 09:19:57 pm
content: Unless you plan on only using open source tools, whatever you get make sure your IDE works with it.Don't get some no-name Chinese thing and be surprised if STM32CubeIDE doesn't want to talk to it.