New strategic directions for STM32Cube

[Maxime_MARCHETTO]

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

 

[Loic CHOSSAT]

Discover first examples of USBX and FileX/LevelX combined with FreeRTOS for STM32H5 and STM32WBA:

https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/stm32h5-eclipse-coremw-apps

https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/stm32wba-eclipse-coremw-apps

These examples are based on:

https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/stm32-mw-usbx/tree/eclipse_usbx

https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/stm32-mw-filex/tree/eclipse_filex

https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/stm32-mw-levelx/tree/eclipse_levelx

[tec683]

Seriously, does ST management not realize how badly they are jerking around their customer base with the ever shifting development landscape? Use this tool.  No. Use this other tool.  No. We aren't supporting the tool we recently wanted you to use. Oh, let's provide examples in tools that have to be purchased and ignore ST's own tools.

[Loic CHOSSAT]

First examples of USBX and FileX/LevelX combined with FreeRTOS for STM32N6 available as well now:

https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/stm32n6-eclipse-coremw-apps 

[Loic CHOSSAT]

First examples of USBX and FileX/LevelX combined with FreeRTOS for STM32U3 available as well now:

https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/stm32u3-eclipse-coremw-apps 

[DrPi]

Hi,

Any schedule for STM32U5 ?

Regards

[Ger]

Hi Loic,

When will the version of STM32CubeIDE/STM32CubeMx that will allow to create projects for the U5 including FreeRTOS compatible USBX be available?

We are migrating from STM32L4 to STM32U5 a old project and I need it...

Thanks

[DangNguyen]

Hi @Loic CHOSSAT ,

I have the same question as Murat.

I'm trying to follow STM3Cube Middleware Direction slide at the end of your post.

- I see that AZROS/ThreadX is still the solution for H7, F7, F4 families. Is this going to also change in the future and converge to FreeRTOS? In the future, will ST team stop to support AZROS/ThreadX for H7, F7, F4 families?

 

Could you confirm?

 

 

[JJacobs]

Hey there,

Are there still no plans to integrate the RTOS-agnostic versions of USBX and other middlewares with CubeMX for H5 MCUs? May I ask why this would be the case? It seems odd to me that these middlewares would not be made easily accessible and configurable through CubeMX if this is the direction that STMicroelectronics is pursuing.

Thank you