ST-Link v2-1: uart over USB

[dannyf]

Rainy day out there so I decided to write a post about establishing uart connections over USB for STM32 / ST-Link v2-1: https://dannyelectronics.wordpress.com/2016/05/01/uart-debugging-over-st-link-v2-1/

The experiment was done over a STM32L152RE Nucleo board - for its onboard ST-Link v2-1 debugger. With a piece of virtual comm port utility from ST, we wrote a piece of code so that the STM32 chip can communicate with the PC -> this example is only one directional but the code is set-up for duplex communications.

This approach can be taken to other applications, like data logging, or a low-speed J-Scope clone at no extra costs.

Enjoy.

[dannyf]

A great execution, along the same line, is Segger's SystemView: https://www.segger.com/systemview.html

It is built on RTT (itself a great debugging and communications tool). UART over JLink/ST-Link is a crude clone of RTT.

If you ever need a reason to get a JLink, SystemView is one,

[dannyf]

Segger has been quite aggressive lately to expand its offerings. Before V8, they kind of sit on their effective "monopoly" until the clones knocked them out.

I think the clones really got Segger going in a more sustainable direction: constant innovation so your customers have a reason to buy your products rather than the clones.

Good for Segger and their customers.

[dannyf]

Another UART over USB example, this time implemented on TI's LM4F120 launchpad: https://dannyelectronics.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/virtual-comm-port-on-lm4f120-launchpad/