We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Strange Lab

Mastering STM32 Microcontrollers: Learn Bare-Metal Programming and Overcome Boilerplate Code

Description: Are you intimidated by the boilerplate code generated by CubeMX or Standard Peripheral Library when learning STM32 microcontrollers? Do you come from an 8-bit microcontroller series background and struggle to navigate the complexities of STM32 families? Look no further than this course.

Designed and tested on It focuses on the day-to-day tasks that embedded developers face and cuts through the complexity of STM32 families to teach you the skills you need.

Read more

Mastering STM32 Microcontrollers: Learn Bare-Metal Programming and Overcome Boilerplate Code

Description: Are you intimidated by the boilerplate code generated by CubeMX or Standard Peripheral Library when learning STM32 microcontrollers? Do you come from an 8-bit microcontroller series background and struggle to navigate the complexities of STM32 families? Look no further than this course.

Designed and tested on It focuses on the day-to-day tasks that embedded developers face and cuts through the complexity of STM32 families to teach you the skills you need.

With only a basic understanding of C programming and previous knowledge of Embedded Systems and Electronics, you can start this course. You'll learn how to use Keil UVision 5, which is perfect for programming from scratch or bare-metal programming. The skills you learn from this course can be applied to any STM32 compiler and duplicated on any CMSIS-supporting compiler.

You'll also gain valuable knowledge in finding desired peripherals and their registers from the reference manual and datasheet, allowing you to extend your knowledge and experience when needed. You can even use the registers in Attolic TrueStudio or

By the end of this course, you'll be able to overcome the biggest barrier to learning STM32 microcontrollers and develop robust embedded systems from scratch. With the ability to navigate the complexities of STM32 families and program at the register level, you'll be able to quickly troubleshoot and fix problems or easily adopt new peripherals when needed.

In this course, you'll learn how to develop efficient drivers for You'll master bare-metal programming on STM32 microcontrollers and learn how to develop robust and reliable embedded systems. This course is ideal for anyone who wants to gain a deep understanding of the STM32 microcontroller architecture and develop highly optimized and efficient embedded systems.

Throughout this course, you'll work on a variety of hands-on projects, including blinking LEDs, reading analog sensors, and using interrupts to respond to external events. You'll learn how to leverage the power of the STM32 microcontroller to build complex embedded systems that can handle real-world tasks. You'll also learn how to optimize your code for performance and memory usage and how to debug and troubleshoot common issues.

This course is taught by an experienced embedded systems engineer who has worked with STM32 microcontrollers for several years. The instructor provides clear and concise explanations of complex topics and ensures that all concepts are explained in a way that is easy to understand. You'll also have access to a supportive community of like-minded learners who can help you with any questions or problems you encounter during the course. By the end of this course, you'll have a deep understanding of STM32 microcontrollers and the skills to develop efficient and reliable embedded systems.

Enroll now

Here's a deal for you

Save money when you learn with a deal that may be relevant to this course.
All coupon codes, vouchers, and discounts are applied automatically unless otherwise noted.

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Understand the basic concepts of bare-metal programming and the role of interrupts, adc, gpio, and systick timer in microcontroller programming
  • Gain familiarity with the stm32 microcontroller architecture and the arm cortex-m core.
  • Learn how to use the keil ide and arm cmsis libraries to develop and debug bare-metal applications for stm32 microcontrollers
  • Master the techniques for configuring and using gpio pins, including digital input and output and interrupt-driven input.
  • Develop expertise in the use of adc to interface with analog sensors and convert analog signals to digital values.
  • Learn how to use the systick timer for periodic interrupt generation and timekeeping.
  • Understand the best practices for designing efficient and reliable bare-metal applications, including interrupt handling and memory management.
  • Understand the limitations of bare-metal programming and the advantages of using operating systems and higher-level programming for complex applications.

Syllabus

In this section we are going to create bare metal project in the Keil, Also we will learn to read Datasheet and Reference manual to filter our desired information.
Read more

This will help you to evaluate your understanding knowledge of ADC Registers

In this lecture we demonstrated how to create a new project for stm32 microcontroller with built-in ARM tool-chain in Atollic TrueStudio.

LED Blinking code with HAL GPIO toggling and HAL delay function

/* USER CODE BEGIN WHILE */

  const uint8_t msg1[] = "I am ready...\r\n";

  const uint8_t msg2[] = "Message Received...\r\n";

  uint8_t inChar;

  HAL_UART_Transmit(&huart2, msg1, strlen((const char *)msg1), HAL_MAX_DELAY);

  while (1)

  {

    /* USER CODE END WHILE */

    /* USER CODE BEGIN 3 */

  if (HAL_UART_Receive(&huart2, &inChar, 1, 100) == HAL_OK)

      {

    HAL_UART_Transmit(&huart2, msg2, strlen((const char *)msg2), HAL_MAX_DELAY);

    HAL_Delay(500);

      }

  }

  /* USER CODE END 3 */

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Focuses on practical, day-to-day tasks faced by embedded developers, offering targeted skills and knowledge applicable to real-world projects
Covers bare-metal programming, which allows developers to have fine-grained control over hardware resources and optimize performance-critical applications
Explores the ARM Cortex-M core architecture, which is widely used in embedded systems and provides a foundation for understanding microcontroller operation
Requires familiarity with C programming and basic knowledge of embedded systems and electronics, potentially excluding complete beginners
Uses Keil UVision 5, skills learned can be applied to any CMSIS-supporting compiler, providing flexibility in development environments
Teaches how to find desired peripherals and their registers from reference manuals and datasheets, enabling learners to extend their knowledge independently

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Stm32 bare metal and cmsis core

According to learners, this course offers a deep dive into STM32 microcontrollers at the bare-metal level, effectively teaching how to work directly with registers and datasheets. Many highlight the clarity of the explanations and the practical, hands-on approach with projects like blinking LEDs, handling interrupts, and using ADC and USART. Students appreciate learning to avoid boilerplate code and gaining a fundamental understanding applicable across various STM32 compilers and boards. While primarily focusing on bare metal, the inclusion of sections on HAL library and CubeIDE is seen as a valuable addition for context. Some reviewers note that a basic understanding of C and embedded systems is crucial to follow along effectively.
Uses Keil UVision; also covers HAL/CubeIDE.
"The course primarily uses Keil UVision 5, which might feel a bit dated compared to CubeIDE."
"It was great that they included sections on Atollic TrueStudio and STM32CubeIDE with HAL."
"Learning bare metal in Keil, then seeing the HAL equivalent provided good perspective."
"While Keil is used initially, the concepts are broadly applicable."
Covers essential peripherals in detail.
"The course covers key peripherals like GPIO, interrupts, SysTick, USART, and ADC thoroughly at the register level."
"I feel confident working with the covered peripherals after taking this course."
"The depth provided for each peripheral is sufficient for building a strong base."
"Could use more in-depth coverage on complex topics or optimization techniques."
Hands-on projects reinforce learning.
"The hands-on projects and coding examples were essential for solidifying my understanding."
"Working through the practical examples like GPIO, interrupts, and ADC really helped me grasp the concepts."
"I appreciated the practical application of reading datasheets to configure peripherals."
"The demos on the actual hardware discovery board were very useful."
Emphasizes using datasheets/manuals.
"Learning how to navigate and extract information from the datasheet and reference manual was a major takeaway."
"This skill of reading documentation is invaluable for any embedded developer."
"The course teaches you *how* to find information, which is empowering."
"It's not just about coding, but understanding where the technical details come from."
Concepts are explained clearly and logically.
"The instructor's explanations were very clear and easy to follow, making complex topics understandable."
"The course is well-structured, building knowledge step by step from basics to more advanced peripherals."
"Everything was explained precisely and concisely."
"I found the breakdown of registers and peripherals very helpful."
Teaches direct register-level programming.
"This course was great as it teaches you bare metal programming and how to read the reference manual which is a critical skill."
"I learned how to program the STM32 at the register level, which is exactly what I wanted from a course."
"Finally a course that explains bare metal programming for STM32 without relying on complex libraries."
"It's refreshing to understand what's happening under the hood without the abstraction of HAL."
Requires prior C/embedded basics.
"You definitely need a basic understanding of C programming and embedded concepts to follow this course."
"While the description mentions prerequisites, beginners might find the pace challenging without a solid foundation."
"Some prior experience with microcontrollers helps significantly."
"It's called a crash course for a reason; it moves quickly."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The STM32 Crash course: Bare metal and CMSIS Core with these activities:
Review Embedded Systems Fundamentals
Solidify your understanding of embedded systems concepts before diving into STM32 specifics. This will make grasping the course material easier.
Browse courses on Embedded Systems
Show steps
  • Review basic microcontroller architecture.
  • Brush up on C programming fundamentals.
  • Understand the basics of digital logic.
Review 'Embedded Systems Architecture' by Tammy Noergaard
Gain a deeper understanding of embedded systems architecture. This book provides a broader context for the STM32 microcontroller.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on microcontroller architecture.
  • Focus on memory management and interrupt handling.
  • Take notes on key concepts and definitions.
Develop a Simple Blinking LED Application
Apply your knowledge of GPIO configuration to create a basic blinking LED application. This will solidify your understanding of the fundamentals.
Show steps
  • Set up the development environment (Keil uVision).
  • Configure a GPIO pin as an output.
  • Write code to toggle the GPIO pin on and off with a delay.
  • Test the application on an STM32 development board.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice GPIO Configuration Exercises
Reinforce your understanding of GPIO configuration through practical exercises. This will improve your ability to control peripherals.
Show steps
  • Write code to configure GPIO pins as inputs.
  • Write code to configure GPIO pins as outputs.
  • Implement interrupt-driven input using GPIO pins.
Document STM32 Register Definitions
Deepen your understanding of STM32 registers by creating a well-organized document. This will improve your ability to program at the register level.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific STM32 peripheral (e.g., GPIO, USART).
  • Consult the STM32 reference manual for register definitions.
  • Create a document with clear descriptions of each register and its fields.
  • Include example code snippets for configuring the registers.
Review 'Mastering STM32' by Carmine Noviello
Expand your knowledge of STM32 microcontrollers with this comprehensive guide. This book covers a wide range of topics and provides practical examples.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on advanced peripherals (e.g., DMA, timers).
  • Study the example code provided in the book.
  • Experiment with different STM32 features and functionalities.
Contribute to an STM32 Open Source Project
Apply your STM32 knowledge by contributing to an open-source project. This will provide valuable real-world experience.
Show steps
  • Find an STM32 open-source project on GitHub or GitLab.
  • Identify a bug or feature request that you can address.
  • Fork the repository and make the necessary changes.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete The STM32 Crash course: Bare metal and CMSIS Core will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Firmware Engineer
A Firmware Engineer develops the low-level software that controls a hardware device. As a firmware engineer you will often work directly with microcontrollers. This course gives you the tools to program STM32 microcontrollers. A key focus of this course is bare-metal programming and working directly with registers. This approach can help you write more efficient and maintainable firmware. You will also learn about crucial microcontroller peripherals, such as ADC, GPIO, and timers. Because of this, you can leverage these skills to build more reliable firmware solutions. This course may be useful to someone pursuing a career as a firmware engineer.
Embedded Systems Engineer
An Embedded Systems Engineer designs, develops, and tests embedded systems, often incorporating microcontrollers. This course will help you develop a deep understanding of STM32 microcontrollers, which are frequently used in embedded systems. The course's focus on bare-metal programming and register-level configuration is directly applicable to the tasks of an embedded systems engineer. By learning to develop peripheral drivers and manage interrupts, you gain hands-on experience that helps you build robust and reliable embedded systems. This course may be useful for someone looking to enter a career as an embedded systems engineer.
Robotics Engineer
A Robotics Engineer designs robots, which often include microcontrollers for real-time control. This course helps you develop expertise in programming STM32 microcontrollers, which can be the brains of many robotics systems. This course covers topics that are directly relevant to robotics, such as reading analog sensors, handling interrupts, and controlling peripherals. Your ability to optimize code and manage memory, which this course will help you with, will help you develop real-time and efficient robotic systems. You can apply these lessons to a variety of robotics applications. This course may be useful to a future robotics engineer.
Automation Engineer
An Automation Engineer designs and implements automated systems, often using microcontrollers. This course provides a foundation for programming STM32 microcontrollers, which are frequently used to control automated processes. The course's emphasis on register-level programming and peripheral usage directly translates to the tasks performed by an automation engineer. You will gain hands-on learning in how to manage interrupts, read sensor data, and use timers, which are all essential skills for creating automated systems. This course may be useful to an automation engineer.
Hardware Engineer
A Hardware Engineer designs and tests hardware systems. Often a hardware design will need a microcontroller as part of its system. This course will give you critical hands-on skills. The course delves into the STM32 microcontroller architecture and how to program it. Through this course, you will gain the ability to write code that can interface with and control your hardware systems, which is a crucial skill for a hardware engineer. The ability to read datasheets and reference manuals to find register information will be of particular importance to the job. This course may be useful to a hardware engineer.
Control Systems Engineer
Control Systems Engineers design and implement systems that regulate various processes. Often, these systems use microcontrollers to make real-time decisions. This course will help you learn how to use STM32 microcontrollers to create these control systems. The knowledge of ADC, interrupts, and timers taught in this course will help in the implementation of complex control loops. Mastery of bare-metal programming and register-level control, provided by the course, will help you create efficient and reliable closed loop control systems. This course may be useful to you as a control systems engineer.
Internet of Things Developer
An Internet of Things Developer builds connected devices. With microcontrollers as the foundation of many IoT products, this course will be an important resource. By learning how to program STM32 microcontrollers at the register level, you will gain skills required to develop low power connected devices. This course will help you with critical skills like interacting with sensors via ADC, handling communication via USART, and implementing robust and efficient firmware. This hands on learning will be particularly useful in developing your career. This course may be useful to a future Internet of Things developer.
Medical Device Engineer
A Medical Device Engineer designs and develops medical devices, many of which include embedded systems. The focus of the course is STM32 microcontrollers, which are frequently used in medical devices. This course will help you develop the skills to program these devices directly. You will develop an understanding of the use of analog sensors, timers, and interrupts, all of which are very important in medical device engineering. Your learning includes optimizing code and debugging, which are crucial for the development of safe and reliable medical devices. This course may be useful for a medical device engineer.
Aerospace Engineer
An Aerospace Engineer can work with embedded systems in avionics, spacecraft, or drone technology. This course helps build the necessary skills for working with real-time systems. The ability to program STM32 microcontrollers at a low level, which you will learn in the course, is extremely useful in aerospace applications. The course's lessons on using peripherals and handling interrupts will help you build robust flight control systems. The skills to optimize code and troubleshoot issues, also taught in this course, will be essential to your success. This course may be useful for an aerospace engineer.
Automotive Engineer
An Automotive Engineer designs and develops automotive systems. This course may help you in the design of electronic control units, which use microcontrollers. With this course, you'll gain hands-on learning in programming STM32 microcontrollers at the register level. The course's focus on bare-metal programming, peripheral control, and interrupt handling are directly relevant to automotive engineering. This learning can give you the necessary skills with microcontrollers to develop real-time and efficient automotive systems. This course may be useful to an automotive engineer.
Mechatronics Engineer
A Mechatronics Engineer integrates mechanical, electrical, and software components in a system. This course can help you develop expertise in embedded systems using STM32 microcontrollers, which are essential in mechatronics. You can learn critical skills relating to the use of GPIO, ADCs, and timers that will be of significant value to a mechatronics engineer. You will also gain knowledge of bare-metal programming and how to use these microcontrollers in real-world applications. This course may be useful for a mechatronics engineer.
Test Engineer
A Test Engineer develops and executes test plans to ensure the quality of hardware and software. This course helps you with its detailed approach to programming and understanding how the STM32 microcontroller works at a low level. You will develop the ability to diagnose issues and develop appropriate testing strategies. With an improved understanding of microcontroller programming, which is a key component of many modern systems, you will be better able to test those systems. This course may be useful to a test engineer.
Electrical Engineer
An Electrical Engineer works with a variety of electrical systems and devices. This course may help you grow your knowledge of a specific subset of electrical engineering, particularly in the area of embedded systems. The course focuses on programming STM32 microcontrollers and can help you develop an understanding of how to interact with electrical systems at a low-level. Your learning about various peripherals of microcontrollers can also help you in the electrical engineering field. This course may be useful to an electrical engineer.
Computer Engineer
A Computer Engineer designs and develops computer systems. Often a computer system uses microcontrollers, and this course may help you with this aspect of engineering. This course can help you build skills in low level programming of STM32 based systems. You will be learning details of how to program microcontrollers at the register level. This knowledge can be beneficial in a career as a computer engineer. This course may be useful to a computer engineer.
Technical Consultant
A Technical Consultant leverages technical expertise to advise clients. This course may help you to better understand embedded systems. The deep understanding of STM32 microcontrollers and bare-metal programming that you will develop can help you when advising clients. You will be able to provide meaningful insight into the microcontroller selection and implementation. This course may be helpful for a technical consultant.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The STM32 Crash course: Bare metal and CMSIS Core.
Provides a comprehensive overview of embedded systems architecture, covering hardware and software aspects. It's a valuable resource for understanding the underlying principles of STM32 microcontrollers. While not STM32-specific, it provides a strong foundation for understanding the concepts presented in the course. It is more valuable as additional reading to provide a broader context.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser