STM32 bootloader option

[saochandan]

Hi all

can any body tell why we use bootloader for upgrading the firmwares. how it saves external hardwares and what hardwares it saves?

Since during development we use programmer via serial wire debug ports for downloading and updating the firmware
In the same way, why we can't use same programmer in-field upgrading

Kindly explain in context of stm32f10x MCU.

 

[LOSTISLAND]

Hi all

can any body tell why we use bootloader for upgrading the firmwares. how it saves external hardwares and what hardwares it saves?

Since during development we use programmer via serial wire debug ports for downloading and updating the firmware
In the same way, why we can't use same programmer in-field upgrading

Kindly explain in context of stm32f10x MCU.

Normally when you launch your project , you don't have access to the programmer's pin . but you have access to USB , Serial Ports , Ethernet or even RF or GSM modules installed on your board . So you can upgrade your program via these tools without any need to manually open the box of your project and program via programmer .
For example if you have a GSM module on your board , you could upgrade your program through GPRS from far far away .
Apart from that sometimes in upgrading you just need to change one byte of your program . in this case maybe it isn't logical to load all the program for just a little change .
But if you have access to serial port for programming (in fact a bootloader) and don't want to program from the distance and time of programming isn't important , I think there is no need

Good Luck

 

[saochandan]

Normally when you launch your project , you don't have access to the programmer's pin . but you have access to USB , Serial Ports , Ethernet or even RF or GSM modules installed on your board . So you can upgrade your program via these tools without any need to manually open the box of your project and program via programmer .
For example if you have a GSM module on your board , you could upgrade your program through GPRS from far far away .
Apart from that sometimes in upgrading you just need to change one byte of your program . in this case maybe it isn't logical to load all the program for just a little change .
But if you have access to serial port for programming (in fact a bootloader) and don't want to program from the distance and time of programming isn't important , I think there is no need

Good Luck

Thanks for your reply.


It means bootloader saves from the need of having programming pins. Can you please tell me other advantages of bootloader.

It means if I have access to programming pins there is no need of bootloader. I can upgrade the program in the same way as i do while development.


Can you list all the sources from which I can download the program using bootloader?

Thanks

 

[LOSTISLAND]

Every way of communicating with the microcontroller is a source of downloading :
UART , SPI , I2C , USB , CAN , IO PORTS , …
In fact you have a program in a part of flash which could get data from outside or send data to outside
Now you just need to get or send data (communicating with outside) and write or read flash (communicating with the microcontroller).
Now you could find other advantages or innovate an advantage by yourself

 

[wavelet1208]

you need ISP or IAP,maybe here is some example can help you.https://www.st.com/stonline/stappl/resourceSelector/app?page=resourceSelector&doctype=FIRMWARE&ClassID=1734

and i used USB or usart bootloader,found some helpful example from here.