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The STM32F103C8T6 is a popular microcontroller from STMicroelectronics' STM32 series, part of the ARM Cortex-M3 family. It's commonly used in development boards such as the "Blue Pill," which is a small and affordable board featuring this microcontroller. Below is a comprehensive guide to getting started with the STM32F103C8T6 and its associated development board.

Overview of STM32F103C8T6

• Core: ARM Cortex-M3
• Clock Speed: Up to 72 MHz
• Flash Memory: 64 KB
• RAM: 20 KB
• GPIO Pins: 37
• Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC): 12-bit, up to 10 channels
• Timers: Several 16-bit timers
• Communication Interfaces: USART, SPI, I2C, CAN
• Peripheral Interfaces: External interrupts, PWM, DAC (limited)

Development Board: Blue Pill

The Blue Pill is a development board featuring the STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller. It provides easy access to the microcontroller’s pins and peripherals and is suitable for a wide range of projects.

Key Features

• USB Interface: For programming and debugging.
• Power Supply: Can be powered via USB or external 3.3V.
• IO Pins: Accessible through headers for prototyping.
• On-Board LEDs: Often used for debugging and status indication.

Getting Started

1. Hardware Setup

• Connect the Board: Use a USB-to-Serial adapter or ST-Link V2 for programming and debugging.
• Power Supply: Ensure the board is powered correctly, either through USB or an external 3.3V source.

2. Software Tools

To program and develop for the STM32F103C8T6, you’ll need several tools:

• STM32CubeIDE: Integrated development environment from STMicroelectronics.
• STM32CubeMX: Configuration tool for initializing peripherals and generating initialization code.
• ST-Link Utility: For programming and debugging (if using ST-Link).

3. Setting Up the Development Environment

1. Install STM32CubeIDE:

   • Download and install STM32CubeIDE from the STMicroelectronics website.
   • It includes STM32CubeMX for configuration and code generation.

2. Install STM32CubeMX:

   • Optionally, you can install STM32CubeMX separately if you prefer to use it independently from STM32CubeIDE.

3. Install Drivers:

   • Install drivers for ST-Link or any USB-to-Serial adapters you are using.

4. Creating a Project

1. Open STM32CubeIDE:

   • Launch STM32CubeIDE and create a new STM32 project.

2. Select the Microcontroller:

   • Choose "STM32F103C8T6" or "Blue Pill" from the list of microcontrollers.

3. Configure Peripherals:

   • Use STM32CubeMX to configure the microcontroller’s peripherals, such as GPIO, ADC, and communication interfaces.
   • Generate initialization code for your configuration.

4. Write Code:

   • Write your application code in STM32CubeIDE, leveraging the HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) or LL (Low Layer) libraries.

5. Compile and Upload:

   • Build the project and upload it to the board using the ST-Link programmer/debugger.

Example: Blinking an LED

Here’s a simple example of how to blink an LED connected to GPIO pin PC13:

1. Configure GPIO Pin in STM32CubeMX:

• Set PC13 as a "GPIO_Output" pin.

2. Generate Code and Open Project in STM32CubeIDE:

• STM32CubeMX will generate initialization code for the configured peripherals.