New strategic directions for STM32Cube
We are pleased to share some exciting developments in STM32Cube that will enhance your development experience and unlock the rich features of STM32 microcontrollers even further.
Transition to FreeRTOS and enhanced middleware offerings
We are moving back to FreeRTOS™ as the main kernel, integrating it with USBX, FileX, and LWIP. This strategic shift will help us build a consistent middleware offering, set to be introduced before the end of this year. Notably, USBX and FileX will be available in both bare metal and RTOS-agnostic versions, providing greater flexibility and adaptability for your projects.
In parallel, we continue our investment in supporting leading open-source frameworks.
Launch of STM32Cube version 3 for Visual Studio Code
We are thrilled to announce the release of STM32Cube for VS Code, marking version 3 of the existing STM32 VS Code extension. This substantial upgrade is built on a new modular foundation, enabling you to selectively choose features and manage updates and installations with greater precision. The modularity boosts flexibility, streamlines updates, reduces setup time, and optimizes disk space usage, all while paving the way for a more ambitious STM32Cube VS Code roadmap.
Key benefits
Easy to deploy and maintain
- Simplify the installation process by selecting a single extension pack for the complete STM32Cube for VS Code experience
- Reduce maintenance effort with automatic installation of CLI tool dependencies and straightforward update workflows
Lightweight and fast
- Experience a best-in-class and efficient C/C++ editing interface with VS Code
- Leverage CMake-based build tools, a growing trend in C/C++ embedded industry, offering flexibility and fast builds
Effortless STM32 debugging
- Launch debug sessions on single-core STM32 devices without any setup required
- Customize debug configurations easily with a content-assist powered editor
The new version is available today as a preview and will be continuously upgraded to surpass STM32CubeIDE features, aiming to become the main STM32 free IDE. During this transition period, STM32CubeIDE will be maintained. Currently, STM32CubeIDE is the best debugger for STM32 microcontrollers and can be used side-by-side with VS Code.
We are committed to supporting your development journey with these enhancements and look forward to seeing the innovative solutions you create with STM32Cube.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to evolve and improve our offerings.
Additional resources
- Release notes: New STM32Cube for Visual Studio Code extenstion re... - STMicroelectronics Community
- Download: STM32Cube for Visual Studio Code - Visual Studio Marketplace
First published on May 15, 2025