ST STM8 Now supported by IAR Embedded Workbench

http://www.microcontroller.com/news/STM8_IAR.asp

The IAR Embedded Workbench is based upon IAR's optimizing C compiler, and includes full 
support for all devices in the STM8A, STM8L, and STM8S families. Evaluation as well as 
free versions are available.

The STMicroelectronics STM8 is ST's low power 8-bit microcontroller.

Article includes a comprehensive list of all STM8 devices supported at this time.


Bill Giovino
Executive Editor
http://Microcontroller.com 

On Apr 29, 6:23=A0pm, "Bill Giovino" <contac...@microcontroller.com>
wrote:
> http://www.microcontroller.com/news/STM8_IAR.asp
>
> The IAR Embedded Workbench is based upon IAR's optimizing C compiler, and=
 includes full
> support for all devices in the STM8A, STM8L, and STM8S families. Evaluati=
on as well as
> free versions are available.
>
> The STMicroelectronics STM8 is ST's low power 8-bit microcontroller.
>
> Article includes a comprehensive list of all STM8 devices supported at th=
is time.
>
> Bill Giovino
> Executive Editorhttp://Microcontroller.com

Fascinating that IAR supports a new 8-bit architecture. Makes me
wonder why? There are two compilers on the market and both are pretty
mature. Both are much lower cost or even a fraction of the cost. In
the case of Raisonance, the same user interface RIDE7 supports pretty
much every STM device on the market, starting with the older 8-bit
(not supported by IAR) all the way to the ARM based 32-bit devices and
even the PowerPC based SPC56xx devices. So, if a customer wants a
decent compiler that supports the whole STM portfolio, why not using
the Raisonance compilers and save a lot of money while doing it?
Guess the writer of this article thinks the same:
http://tools4cortex.com/the-community/52-stm8s-compiler

For information on the Raisonance STM8 compilers check here:
http://www.mcu-raisonance.com/~stm8st7-c-compiler__microcontrollers__tool~t=
ool__T018:4cpm5flha55r.html

The other mature compiler for the STM8 is from Cosmic.

On May 2, 12:17=A0am, An Schwob in the USA <schwo...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Apr 29, 6:23=A0pm, "Bill Giovino" <contac...@microcontroller.com>
> wrote:
>
> >http://www.microcontroller.com/news/STM8_IAR.asp
>
> > The IAR Embedded Workbench is based upon IAR's optimizing C compiler, a=
nd includes full
> > support for all devices in the STM8A, STM8L, and STM8S families. Evalua=
tion as well as
> > free versions are available.
>
> > The STMicroelectronics STM8 is ST's low power 8-bit microcontroller.
>
> > Article includes a comprehensive list of all STM8 devices supported at =
this time.
>
> > Bill Giovino
> > Executive Editorhttp://Microcontroller.com
>
> Fascinating that IAR supports a new 8-bit architecture. Makes me
> wonder why? There are two compilers on the market and both are pretty
> mature. Both are much lower cost or even a fraction of the cost. In
> the case of Raisonance, the same user interface RIDE7 supports pretty
> much every STM device on the market, starting with the older 8-bit
> (not supported by IAR) all the way to the ARM based 32-bit devices and
> even the PowerPC based SPC56xx devices. So, if a customer wants a
> decent compiler that supports the whole STM portfolio, why not using
> the Raisonance compilers and save a lot of money while doing it?
> Guess the writer of this article thinks the same:
http://tools4cortex.com/the-community/52-stm8s-compiler
>
> For information on the Raisonance STM8 compilers check here:
http://www.mcu-raisonance.com/~stm8st7-c-compiler__microcontrollers__...
>
> The other mature compiler for the STM8 is from Cosmic.

Oops, hit the send button prematurely http://www.cosmic-software.com/stm8.p=
hp
Cosmic also supports the ST7 and the ST10 / Infineon 166. Sp another
compiler that supports many ST architectures. It lags the support for
ARM though, which makes it more difficult to migrate from STM8 to
STM32. But that avenue is covered nicely by Raisonance.

An Schwob

In message <3f14b17a-fe7c-4d24-838c-783cd64acb46@g39g2000pri.googlegroup
s.com>, An Schwob in the USA <schwobus@aol.com> writes
>On Apr 29, 6:23&#4294967295;pm, "Bill Giovino" <contac...@microcontroller.com>
>wrote:
>> http://www.microcontroller.com/news/STM8_IAR.asp
>>
>> The IAR Embedded Workbench is based upon IAR's optimizing C compiler,
>>and includes full
>> support for all devices in the STM8A, STM8L, and STM8S families.
>>Evaluation as well as
>> free versions are available.
>>
>> The STMicroelectronics STM8 is ST's low power 8-bit microcontroller.
>>
>> Article includes a comprehensive list of all STM8 devices supported
>>at this time.
>>
>> Bill Giovino
>> Executive Editorhttp://Microcontroller.com
>
>Fascinating that IAR supports a new 8-bit architecture. Makes me
>wonder why? There are two compilers on the market and both are pretty
>mature.

Mature? For a new part? :-)

OK the STM8 is a new part in a family of mature parts.

>Both are much lower cost or even a fraction of the cost.

There is a proverb about accountants who know the cost of everything but
the value of nothing. Ruskin also had a comment on it over 150 years
ago.

http://www.phaedsys.com/resources/posters/PS_Value2_0210.pdf

BTW I have just had a client  change from a cheap compiler to one 4
times the cost because the cheap one just did not perform and had too
many bugs. Which has proved the point and delayed them by several
months.

> In
>the case of Raisonance, the same user interface RIDE7 supports pretty
>much every STM device on the market, starting with the older 8-bit
>(not supported by IAR) all the way to the ARM based 32-bit devices and
>even the PowerPC based SPC56xx devices. So, if a customer wants a
>decent compiler that supports the whole STM portfolio, why not using
>the Raisonance compilers and save a lot of money while doing it?
>Guess the writer of this article thinks the same:
>http://tools4cortex.com/the-community/52-stm8s-compiler

That is an open source web site and Raisonance do open source
compilers... no connection there then? Again they consider cost rather
than value.  There is a lot more to a compiler than it's cost.

I suspect that the reason why ST got IAR to do a compiler for the STM8
is that they wanted a high quality professional system.   There is no
denying that IAR produce highly professional systems with solid
components that can and have been tested to the highest levels. In fact
they have been validated for safety critical use at 61508 SIL3 that I
know of.




-- 
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
\/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills  Staffs  England     /\/\/\/\/
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

On May 2, 12:52=A0am, Chris H <ch...@phaedsys.org> wrote:
> In message <3f14b17a-fe7c-4d24-838c-783cd64ac...@g39g2000pri.googlegroup
> s.com>, An Schwob in the USA <schwo...@aol.com> writes
>
>
>
> >On Apr 29, 6:23=A0pm, "Bill Giovino" <contac...@microcontroller.com>
> >wrote:
> >>http://www.microcontroller.com/news/STM8_IAR.asp
>
> >> The IAR Embedded Workbench is based upon IAR's optimizing C compiler,
> >>and includes full
> >> support for all devices in the STM8A, STM8L, and STM8S families.
> >>Evaluation as well as
> >> free versions are available.
>
> >> The STMicroelectronics STM8 is ST's low power 8-bit microcontroller.
>
> >> Article includes a comprehensive list of all STM8 devices supported
> >>at this time.
>
> >> Bill Giovino
> >> Executive Editorhttp://Microcontroller.com
>
> >Fascinating that IAR supports a new 8-bit architecture. Makes me
> >wonder why? There are two compilers on the market and both are pretty
> >mature.
>
> Mature? For a new part? :-)
>
> OK the STM8 is a new part in a family of mature parts.
>
> >Both are much lower cost or even a fraction of the cost.
>
> There is a proverb about accountants who know the cost of everything but
> the value of nothing. Ruskin also had a comment on it over 150 years
> ago.
>
> http://www.phaedsys.com/resources/posters/PS_Value2_0210.pdf
>
> BTW I have just had a client =A0change from a cheap compiler to one 4
> times the cost because the cheap one just did not perform and had too
> many bugs. Which has proved the point and delayed them by several
> months.
>
> > In
> >the case of Raisonance, the same user interface RIDE7 supports pretty
> >much every STM device on the market, starting with the older 8-bit
> >(not supported by IAR) all the way to the ARM based 32-bit devices and
> >even the PowerPC based SPC56xx devices. So, if a customer wants a
> >decent compiler that supports the whole STM portfolio, why not using
> >the Raisonance compilers and save a lot of money while doing it?
> >Guess the writer of this article thinks the same:
> >http://tools4cortex.com/the-community/52-stm8s-compiler
>
> That is an open source web site and Raisonance do open source
> compilers... no connection there then? Again they consider cost rather
> than value. =A0There is a lot more to a compiler than it's cost.
>
> I suspect that the reason why ST got IAR to do a compiler for the STM8
> is that they wanted a high quality professional system. =A0 There is no
> denying that IAR produce highly professional systems with solid
> components that can and have been tested to the highest levels. In fact
> they have been validated for safety critical use at 61508 SIL3 that I
> know of.
>
> --
> \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
> \/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills =A0Staffs =A0England =A0 =A0 /\/\/\/\/
> \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Hi Chris,

the new part has been on the market for about 2 years and compiler
companies get the information about features and instruction set well
ahead of time, so I would consider the 2 other compilers, Cosmic and
Raisonance quite mature with 2 years of market presence compared to a
compiler that is "10 days old :-)"

What makes you think that the STM8 compiler is open source? It is NOT,
neither is the one from Cosmic. Both made by companies with 20 years
experience with compilers in the embedded market and both survived the
tough time so there must be something they are doing right.
Don't get me wrong, I have worked quite a bit with IAR compilers (and
Raisonance and Keil for that matter) and the IAR IDE workbench is very
powerful. My point was that I am surprised that IAR tries to enter a
small nice market that has already 2 reasonably strong players in it.
My wild guess, ST has "convinced" them by what means ever to take on
the ST 8-bit architecture. After all, ST does not participate n the
Cortex-M0 game like NXP. And btw. I would consider a Cortex-M0 based
device a direct competitor to the STM8 offering for any new design,
just much more powerful.

Cheers, the Schwob

> "An Schwob in the USA" wrote...
> On Apr 29, 6:23 pm, "Bill Giovino" wrote:
> > http://www.microcontroller.com/news/STM8_IAR.asp
> >
> > The IAR Embedded Workbench is based upon IAR's optimizing C compiler, and includes 
> > full
> > support for all devices in the STM8A, STM8L, and STM8S families. Evaluation as well 
> > as
> > free versions are available.
> >
> > The STMicroelectronics STM8 is ST's low power 8-bit microcontroller.
> >
> > Article includes a comprehensive list of all STM8 devices supported at this time.
> >
> > Bill Giovino
> > Executive Editor
>
> Fascinating that IAR supports a new 8-bit architecture.

The STM8 core architecture is based on the ST7, and is about 20 years old.
http://www.microcontroller.com/news/STM8.asp

The original, contraversial architecture is even older than that.


> Makes me
> wonder why? There are two compilers on the market and both are pretty
> mature.

It is often the case in these situations that you have customers that have standardized 
on one compiler. Either many STM8 customers have asked for IAR, or one major STM8 
customer has insisted upon it.

Less often, the compiler company recognizes that a particular microcontroller 
architecture has significant popularity and they take it upon themselves to support the 
architecture.

Bill Giovino
Executive Editor
http://Microcontroller.com

http://www.microcontroller.com/STMicroelectronics.htm

On 2 May, 18:14, An Schwob in the USA <schwo...@aol.com> wrote:
> powerful. My point was that I am surprised that IAR tries to enter a
> small nice market that has already 2 reasonably strong players in it.
> My wild guess, ST has "convinced" them by what means ever to take on
> the ST 8-bit architecture. After all, ST does not participate n the

You may have a point. This is what IAR say about it
http://www.iar.com/website1/1.0.1.0/617/1/?item=art_art-s1/287&group=art_art_grp-s1/14
- STM "chose IAR" it says.

On May 2, 7:17=A0pm, An Schwob in the USA <schwo...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> Fascinating that IAR supports a new 8-bit architecture. Makes me wonder w=
hy? There are two compilers on the market and both are pretty
> mature. Both are much lower cost or even a fraction of the cost.

ST may have 'seeded' the release, and may have an eye
the existing IAR user base - I see it includes AVR, for example.

The ST8 is pretty much a 'me too' 8 bitter, rather late to the table,
so ST need leverage to get existing sockets and traction.

It also may have not been too much work, as IAR support Freescale
already, and IIRC, the ST7/8 have roots in HC05.

-jg

In message <e358885c-7015-4832-b8b6-837ea6d722a5@a27g2000prj.googlegroup
s.com>, -jg <jim.granville@gmail.com> writes
>On May 2, 7:17&#4294967295;pm, An Schwob in the USA <schwo...@aol.com> wrote:
>>
>> Fascinating that IAR supports a new 8-bit architecture. Makes me
>>wonder why? There are two compilers on the market and both are pretty
>> mature. Both are much lower cost or even a fraction of the cost.
>
>ST may have 'seeded' the release, and may have an eye
>the existing IAR user base - I see it includes AVR, for example.
>
>The ST8 is pretty much a 'me too' 8 bitter, rather late to the table,
>so ST need leverage to get existing sockets and traction.
>
>It also may have not been too much work, as IAR support Freescale
>already, and IIRC, the ST7/8 have roots in HC05.
>
>-jg

Also the customers may have been putting pressure on for other tools.
There is a lot more to tools that this initial purchase price.


-- 
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
\/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills  Staffs  England     /\/\/\/\/
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

On May 2, 4:46=A0pm, -jg <jim.granvi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On May 2, 7:17=A0pm, An Schwob in the USA <schwo...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Fascinating that IAR supports a new 8-bit architecture. Makes me wonder=
 why? There are two compilers on the market and both are pretty
> > mature. Both are much lower cost or even a fraction of the cost.
>
> ST may have 'seeded' the release, and may have an eye
> the existing IAR user base - I see it includes AVR, for example.

Don't forget the MSP430, a market pretty much owned by IAR. The AVR
community has a strong inclination towards AVR Studio if I am not
completely mistaken.

> The ST8 is pretty much a 'me too' 8 bitter, rather late to the table,
> so ST need leverage to get existing sockets and traction.

That's what I can't really understand in the first place. Why did ST
come out with an STM8? I know that Cortex-M0 was later but looks like
a definite winner when comparing the two cores.

Dr' Schwob