STM32F103C6T6A on Linux: Unlock Bare-Metal Mastery with Ease (Step-by-Step)

In this exciting series, we’re diving into the fascinating world of register-level programming with the STM32F103C6T6A microcontroller—an affordable yet powerful board based on the ARM Cortex-M3 architecture. Whether you’re a passionate hobbyist or a professional developer, this hands-on journey is designed to deepen your knowledge and empower your creativity in embedded systems.

Tools You’ll Need

To get started, ensure you have the following essentials:

• STM32F103C6T6A Development Board (Bluepill)
• ST-Link V2 Programmer
• STM32F103x6 Datasheet (Download)
• STM32F103xx Reference Manual (Download)

The datasheet gives you a detailed look at peripherals like GPIO, USART, ADC, and communication protocols. Meanwhile, the reference manual offers a comprehensive overview for the entire STM32F1xxxx family.

Why Choose STM32F103C6T6A?

The STM32F103C6T6A is part of the popular STM32 series from STMicroelectronics. It’s loved by the embedded community for its:

• High-performance ARM Cortex-M3 core
• Rich set of peripherals
• Budget-friendly price
• Great for learning bare-metal programming

Why Develop on Ubuntu (Linux)?

Linux, especially Ubuntu, offers a robust ecosystem packed with powerful tools for embedded development:

• Terminal-based utilities
• Lightweight editors like VS Code and Vim
• Open-source toolchains
• Scripting and automation capabilities

Ubuntu helps streamline your workflow and keeps you closer to the hardware for maximum efficiency and control.

Why Register-Level Programming?

Instead of using HAL or other abstraction libraries, we’ll go low-level by directly manipulating the microcontroller’s registers. Benefits include:

• Deep understanding of hardware behavior
• Faster and more optimized code
• Full control over each operation

If you’re aiming to become a true embedded expert, register-level programming is the path to mastery.

Toolchain Setup on Ubuntu

Let’s set up our build environment using the arm-none-eabi-gcc toolchain:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gcc-arm-none-eabi

Verify the installation:

arm-none-eabi-gcc --version

Install ST-Link Tools

To flash the firmware onto your STM32 board, install the ST-Link utility:

sudo apt-get install stlink-tools

Check if it’s working:

st-info --version

Hardware Setup

First Program: Blinking an LED

We’ll start with a simple LED blink example using STM32CubeMX as the base project (with unnecessary code removed). You can download the starter project here:
🔗 Download LED Blink Project

This project lays the groundwork for future tutorials involving USART, Timers, ADC, and more.

Build the Project

Extract and compile the project with these commands:

mv ~/Downloads/STM32F103x6_Empty_Project.zip /your/project/path/
unzip /your/project/path/STM32F103x6_Empty_Project.zip
cd STM32F103x6_Empty_Project
make

Flash the Firmware

Connect the ST-Link V2 to your STM32 board using 4 wires. The Makefile includes a flashing recipe, so simply run:

make flash

If your board’s built-in LED starts blinking every 1 second, congratulations! 🎉 You’ve successfully completed the initial setup.

Need Help?

If you faced any issues or have questions, don’t hesitate to drop a comment below. I’d be more than happy to help you out.

What’s Next?

This is just the beginning. In the upcoming posts, we’ll unlock more peripherals and go deeper into the power of bare-metal programming. Stay tuned to explore USART, Timers, ADC, and much more with real-time code examples and practical insights.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the STM32F103C6T6A using register-level programming on Linux puts you in control of every byte and bit of your application. It’s a challenging yet incredibly rewarding journey into the heart of embedded systems. So gear up, stay curious, and let’s build something amazing together! 💡💻