A ready-to-use template for STM32F4 microcontroller development using the Standard Peripheral Library (SPL). Includes a fully configured Makefile, proper folder structure, and all necessary files to start coding immediately.

• Features
• Project Structure
• Prerequisites
• Tool Installation Guide
  • Windows
  • Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)
  • macOS
• Getting Started
• Build & Flash Commands
• VS Code Integration
• Troubleshooting
• Author

• ✅ Full STM32F4xx Standard Peripheral Library included
• ✅ GNU Make build system (no IDE lock-in)
• ✅ ARM GCC toolchain support
• ✅ OpenOCD/ST-Link flashing support
• ✅ VS Code configuration files included
• ✅ Proper .gitignore for embedded projects
• ✅ Linker script and startup code included
• ✅ Support for multiple flash tools (OpenOCD, ST-Link, J-Link)

.
├── Makefile                          # Main build configuration
├── stm32_hello.ld                    # Linker script
├── system_stm32f4xx.c                # System initialization
├── .gitignore                        # Git ignore rules
├── README.md                         # This file
│
├── src/                              # Source files
│   └── main.c                        # Main program
│
├── inc/                              # Header files
│   ├── main.h
│   ├── CMSIS/                        # CMSIS headers
│   ├── STM32F4xx/                    # STM32F4xx CMSIS files
│   └── STM32F4xx_StdPeriph_Driver/   # SPL headers
│       └── inc/
│
└── startup/                          # Startup code
    └── startup_stm32f4xx.s           # Assembly startup file

• Download from: Arm GNU Toolchain Downloads
• Choose: arm-gnu-toolchain-xx.x.rel1-mingw-w64-i686-arm-none-eabi.exe
• Install to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Arm GNU Toolchain\
• During installation, check "Add path to environment variable"

• Download from: ezwinports
• Extract to: C:\Program Files\make
• Add to PATH: C:\Program Files\make\bin

• Download from: OpenOCD for Windows
• Extract to: C:\OpenOCD
• Add to PATH: C:\OpenOCD\bin

• Download from: ST website
• Install normally

Open Command Prompt and run:

arm-none-eabi-gcc --version
make --version
openocd --version

# Update package list
sudo apt update

# Install ARM GCC toolchain
sudo apt install gcc-arm-none-eabi

# Install GNU Make
sudo apt install make

# Install OpenOCD
sudo apt install openocd

# Install ST-Link tools
sudo apt install stlink-tools

# Install Git (optional)
sudo apt install git

# Verify installation
arm-none-eabi-gcc --version
make --version
openocd --version

# Install Homebrew (if not installed)
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

# Install ARM GCC toolchain
brew install gcc-arm-embedded

# Install GNU Make (usually pre-installed)
brew install make

# Install OpenOCD
brew install openocd

# Install ST-Link tools
brew install stlink

# Verify installation
arm-none-eabi-gcc --version
make --version
openocd --version

# Using Git
git clone https://github.com/long27032002/stm32f4-spl-template.git
cd stm32f4-spl-template

# Or download ZIP and extract

Edit the Makefile to match your specific needs:

# Change target name (optional)
TARGET = your_project_name

# Change MCU if using different STM32F4 variant
# For STM32F407VG: already configured
# For other variants, update:
# - LDSCRIPT (linker script)
# - Startup file in startup/
# - C_DEFS (change STM32F407xx to your MCU)

Edit src/main.c to add your application code. The template includes a simple LED blinking example:

#include "main.h"

int main(void) {
    // Enable GPIO clock
    RCC_AHB1PeriphClockCmd(RCC_AHB1Periph_GPIOD, ENABLE);

    // Configure LED pin (PD12 - green LED on STM32F4-Discovery)
    GPIO_InitTypeDef GPIO_InitStruct;
    GPIO_InitStruct.GPIO_Pin   = GPIO_Pin_12;
    GPIO_InitStruct.GPIO_Mode  = GPIO_Mode_OUT;
    GPIO_InitStruct.GPIO_OType = GPIO_OType_PP;
    GPIO_InitStruct.GPIO_Speed = GPIO_Speed_100MHz;
    GPIO_InitStruct.GPIO_PuPd  = GPIO_PuPd_NOPULL;
    GPIO_Init(GPIOD, &GPIO_InitStruct);

    while (1) {
        GPIO_ToggleBits(GPIOD, GPIO_Pin_12);
        for (int i = 0; i < 1000000; i++); // Simple delay
    }
}

# Clean previous builds
make clean

# Build the project
make

# Flash to microcontroller (choose one)
make flash
# OR
make flash-stflash
# OR
make flash-st

The template includes VS Code configuration files for a better development experience.

Open the project:

code .

Install recommended extensions:

• C/C++ (Microsoft)
• Cortex-Debug
• Makefile Tools

Build:

• Terminal: make
• VS Code Task: Ctrl+Shift+B

Debug:

• Press F5 (configured for OpenOCD + ST-Link)

arm-none-eabi-gcc: command not found

Toolchain not installed or not in PATH. Reinstall or manually add to PATH.

make: *** No rule to make target

Check if all source files exist in correct paths. Run make clean then make again.

OpenOCD: command not found

Install OpenOCD or use a different flash method (make flash-stflash).

Flash fails with can't find device

• Check ST-Link connection
• Install drivers (Windows only)
• Check permissions on Linux (sudo or udev rules)

Undefined reference to RCC/GPIO functions

Make sure SPL source files are included in C_SOURCES in the Makefile.

# Add user to dialout group
sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER

# Create udev rule for ST-Link
echo 'SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="0483", ATTR{idProduct}=="3748", MODE="0666"' \
  | sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/49-stlink.rules

# Reload udev
sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
sudo udevadm trigger

Nguyễn Như Hải Long — GitHub

• STMicroelectronics for the Standard Peripheral Library
• ARM for the GCC toolchain
• OpenOCD community
• All open-source contributors

For issues, questions, or contributions, please open an issue on GitHub.