ST offers free GUI software for STM32 MCUs

TouchGFX, as it is called, “is ready to use with STM32 microcontrollers and includes a C++ framework that enables the user-interface code to occupy as little as 10kbyte SRAM and 20kbyte flash memory,” said the firm. “It leverages the Chrom-ART Accelerator featured in STM32 MCUs with advanced graphics capabilities, and contains a rendering algorithm that minimises the number of pixels to be updated.”

TouchGFX supports user interfaces with colour depth of 1, 2, 4, 16, or 24bit/pixel and can run with or without a real-time operating system (RTOS).

“By incorporating the latest version in our STM32Cube ecosystem, with no license or royalty fees, and supported by our 10-year longevity commitment, we are making this powerful and innovative solution easily accessible on a global basis,” said STM marketing director Daniel Colonna.

Also included is TouchGFX Designer tool, which lets users develop graphical interfaces by drag-and-drop, creating code automatically – as well as doing font, text, and image conversion.

ST bought software specialist Draupner Graphics, producer of TouchGFX, in July, and has now integrated TouchGFX, as v4.10, with its STM32Cube tools – TouchGFX is interoperable with the STM32CubeMX configuration tool and initialisation-code generator.

“To help graphics-design projects run smoothly, ST has added new features to STM32CubeMX including an enhanced MCU Finder that helps short-list suitable microcontrollers, a graphics calculator for assessing performance, and a simulator that shows how the graphics will run on the target hardware,” said ST.