The HAL drivers include a complete set of ready-to-use APIs which simplify the user application implementation. It was developed by STMicroelectronics for STM32 microcontrollers.
STM32Cube is an STMicroelectronics original initiative to ease developers life by reducing development efforts, time and cost.
The STM32CubeMX, a graphical software configuration tool that allows generating C initialization code using graphical wizards.
A comprehensive embedded software platform, delivered per series (such as STM32CubeF4 for STM32F4 series)
- The STM32Cube HAL, an STM32 abstraction layer embedded software, ensuring maximized portability across STM32 portfolio
- A consistent set of middleware components such as RTOS, USB, TCP/IP, Graphics
- All embedded software utilities coming with a full set of examples.
The HAL drivers layer provides a generic multi instance simple set of APIs (application programming interfaces) to interact with the upper layer (application, libraries and stacks). It is composed of generic and extension APIs. It is directly built around a generic architecture and allows the built-upon layers, such as the middleware layer, to implement their functions without knowing in-depth how to use the MCU. This structure improves the library code reusability and guarantees an easy portability on other devices.
The HAL drivers include a complete set of ready-to-use APIs which simplify the user application implementation. As an example, the communication peripherals contain APIs to initialize and configure the peripheral, to manage data transfers based on polling, to handle interrupts or DMA, and to manage communication errors.
The HAL drivers APIs are split into two categories: generic APIs which provide common and generic functions for all the STM32 series and extension APIs which include specific and customized functions for a given family or part number.
The HAL drivers are feature-oriented instead of IP-oriented. As an example, the timer APIs are split into several categories following the functions offered by the IP: basic timer, capture, pulse width modulation (PWM), etc..
The drivers source code is developed in Strict ANSI-C which makes it independent from the development tools. It is checked with CodeSonar static analysis tool. It is fully documented and is MISRA-C 2004 compliant.
The HAL drivers layer implements run-time failure detection by checking the input values of all functions. Such dynamic checking contributes to enhance the firmware robustness. Run-time detection is also suitable for user application development and debugging.
Source document: HAL driver User Manual
