Global Nav Open Menu Global Nav Close Menu; Apple; Shopping Bag +. In this video we cover how to manually install Stellaris mods for the versions of Stellaris that use the new launcher UPDATE: I forgot to mention in the vide. Oct 29, 2020 Patches and hotfixes are free updates for Stellaris, though they are different in purpose: Patches fix bugs and/or implement balance tweaks. They are sometimes released alongside a new, major DLC. When this occurs, a portion of the DLC's features are usually shipped as part of the coinciding free patch, thus made available to anyone who has the.

Here is where I try and explain why some things BUG ME.

Note

Disclaimer: I may not be right, I may not be wrong, these are my opinions and no one elses.

I’m inspired by the epic rants of ttm richter¶

I met TTM (Michael) Richter on IRC a few years back. A Canadian of Teutonic roots who lives in China, he’s a wordsmith, teacher and programmer who seems to love all types of software (including Forth), has strong opinions and can express them in the most entertaining ways. I have Michael to thank for suggesting the Fossil Software Code Management system and many other helpful tips that have made my own software journey easier and smarter.

Rant about github “linguist” program failures¶

QUICK, GRAB A BARGAIN¶

Blue Pill PCB¶

Find out if your Blue Pill chip is a genuineSTM32F103

A BARGAIN?¶

I just don’t get people who think that the “Blue Pill”, a “development board” based around the STM32F103 from China for $1.50 is a bargain.

I can’t even buy a cup of coffee for under $5 nowadays.

When I was in my early 20’s, a National Pace 16 bit CPU was $270. A new 8 bit Motorola 6800 was about $170, and both of those CPU’s needed extensive support devices because they had zero peripherals. When the 6502 (with a limited 8 bit index register) came out for $15 it was lapped up by generations of people who also thought it was a bargain.

The STM32F103 is a OLD chip based on the first generation of Cortex M3 chips announced in 2004, and manufactured since at least 2005. They have a lot of known problems.

A much better choice for new projects are either STM32F0, F0+ series or STM32F4 series. The prices are about the same for comparable parts.

Breaking Copy Protection¶

Your firmware isn’t safe either in this chip, see https://blog.zapb.de/stm32f1-exceptional-failure/

Then there is also the COUNTERFEIT issue …

Counterfeit¶

A Chinese engineers attitude about what I call ‘counterfeit’.

Part numbers are not generally considered trademarks here. If I produce a transistor that adheres to all 2n3904 specifications,I can sell it as a 2n3904, even if some characteristics not on the datasheet are a bit different. Similarly if I make a chipthat functions just like a STM32 and runs most code unmodified (except maybe for very few corner cases), it’s generallyconsidered a-ok to sell it as a STM32. The generics mindset here is strong, and it’s not considered ok for one manufacturerto monopolize a part number, especially when compatible substitutes are produced. “STM32” is a generic name for a MCU withthese peripherals in this layout, just like U.FL is a generic name for a connector with these dimensions.If that’s a problem for you just buy from the big distributors.

ST Micro letter verifies counterfeit¶

Counterfeit Incompatabilities¶

Anolog Read Issue¶

Some STM32F103 Problems¶

Known Blue Pill Issues¶

R10 is often the wrong value. The USB standard require a 1.5k pull-up resistor on D+, but this board is known to have a wrong value with either a 10K resistor or a 4.7k resistor fitted. Google “R10 Blue Pill” for more information.
Header pins are rubbish and they rust easily. Experienced Blue Pill users throw them away and use gold plates header pins, which doubles the cost of the $2 board!
USB socket breaks off easily being poorly attached. Experienced Blue Pill users add extra solder etc.
Fake MCU. These can be:
- Relabelled STM units with less memory, i.e. 32kB or even 16kB Flash
- Clones such as the GD32F103 or CKS32F103C8T6 (whatever that is)
- Possibly recycled e-waste chips as billions of the STM32F103’s have been made.
No serial bootloader is present meaning you have to use SWD or JTAG to program them.

Now just think for a minute, a new STM32F103RBT6 is today is priced at $4.525 each in quantities of 100 from Arrow.com, so how is it possible that a Chinese vendor can sell you one in a PCB with switch, option jumpers, USB socket, two crystals and a voltage regulator for $1.50, what’s wrong with this picture ?

This is one way …

This is another …

Genuine STM32F103C8 Decapped¶

Copied from https://www.richis-lab.de/STM32.htm

For a list of known Chinese clones of various STM chips see this page

CKS32F103C8T6 Decapped¶

The “CKS32F103C8T6” is a fake it is not even listed on the CKS product website. Its a fake because it counterfeits the STM32 ID’s and name internally. Copied from https://www.richis-lab.de/STM32.htm

Using the CKS32F103C8T6 isn’t always straightforward either as this user found:

Blue Pill with a CKS32F103C8T6 chip¶

This chip is actually a CKS32F103C8T6, you can follow the backstory here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/microcontrollers/stm32f103c8-diagnostic-bootable-binary-freely-available/msg2871198/#msg2871198

Blue Pill is like a box of chocolates¶

Then you have the Chinese ‘cheap USB to SWD programmers’ some of which don’t implement ST-Link properly. These also cost a couple of bucks and are usually bought with the ‘bargain’ $1.50 ‘Blue Pill’ because it is the only way to get in-chip debugging (usually used with GDB).

Update 2020: I see that some of the cheap Chinese ST-Link programmers now come with a CKS32F103C8T6 and update online with using the proper STM firmware!

GD32F103C8 Decapped¶

The GD32F103C8 is a bonafide STM32F103 “compatible” chip, it advertises its own ID, make and manufacturer identification internally. GD are a reputable and innovative manufacturer as far as I know.

GD32F103C8 Cortex-M3 die with serial flash; copied from https://zeptobars.com/en/read/GD32F103CBT6-mcm-serial-flash-Giga-Devices

Summary¶

I say cut the pain, make your time count and buy a new STM Nucleo or Discovery Board with the latest feature packed STM32M0, M0+ or M4 chip, a USB to SWD programmer/debugger is included for free, they aren’t expensive and the smaller Cortex-M0+ can be had for $15. That way you will be learning and benefiting from the latest tech, not old tech.

And it’s guaranteed to work, unlike that $1.50 ‘Blue Pill’.

Note

I have no connection with STM or any company, and receive no monies of any kind from any manufacturer or supplier, I use STM32 micros based on their ease of use and capability. If they were $20 a chip, I’d still consider them incredibly cheap.

Finally, some great articles on STM32 clones.

REINVENTING THE WHEEL¶

I BUGS ME every time I read the comment “why should we reinvent the wheel?” usually by a non Forther commenting on the lack of Forth libraries and how they have tons of libraries for Arduino or Mbed or whatever. The implication is that these Libraries allow use of hardware that the C developer knows nothing about, thereby avoiding days or weeks studying datasheets until intimately familiar with the device.

OK, lets look at the WHEEL, who here has actually EVER made a REAL WORKING WHEEL ? … anyone ?

One big fault in logic is thinking “Mankind has invented the wheel, and I’m a part of Mankind, so I’m a part of that”. No you’re not, unless you have actually invented your own wheel, you don’t have a clue, you only think you do!

My Dad once made a kid sized motorized Go-Cart and the wheels. The wheels were about a foot high and 8” in width. The wheel itself was rolled circular steel plate with a gap that accepted the ends of a 8” wide strip of tyre tread rubber which was tightly pulled around the rim before being locked in place in that gap.The wheel had welded steel spokes from rim to hub and each

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