In recent years, major manufacturers have been laying out RISC-V processors, and the number of microcontrollers based on RISC-V has been increasing. However, compared to conventional (ARM) microcontrollers, the RISC-V ecosystem, especially the development tools, still has a certain gap.Recently, the integrated development environment based on RISC-V, MounRiver_Studio (abbreviated as: MRS), has been upgraded to version 2.3.0.The official description of the upgrade includes:
【New Features】
1. Added support for the CH32M007K8U series chips, supporting project management, development, downloading, debugging, and other functions.
2. Added support for creating static library projects.
3. Added common project settings functionality.
4. Added functionality to display static stack call relationships after project compilation.
5. Added code analysis functionality at the project, directory, and file levels.
【Optimizations】
1. Updated MRS built-in chip project templates (CH32V003/CH32X035/CH32V103/CH32V20X/CH32V30X…).
2. WCH-LinkUtility software upgraded to version 2.70.
3. WCHISPStudio software upgraded to version 3.90.
4. HexBinStudio software upgraded to version 1.80.
Today, let’s talk about the features of this important tool in the RISC-V ecosystem, MRS.1. One-stop Development ToolMounRiver Studio (MRS) integrates various development functions, serving as a one-stop tool for generating software projects, editing, compiling, debugging, and downloading.It is somewhat similar to STMicroelectronics’ STM32CubeIDE and Renesas’ e2 studio, which are also one-stop development tools. Essentially, there is no need to install other software; this single tool can handle software development from start to finish.Using it is also similar to STM32CubeIDE and e2 studio; you can generate software projects with just a few clicks of the mouse.
2. User InterfaceMRS is an integrated development environment based on the Eclipse GNU version, aimed at RISC-V, ARM, and other core MCUs, and adopts the VSCode framework with deep customization.Compared to STM32CubeIDE and e2 studio, which are closer to Eclipse and have more complex configurations, MRS is more aligned with the preferences of Chinese users, featuring a simpler and more elegant overall interface, with less cumbersome configurations.MRS currently supports the three major operating systems: Windows, Linux, and macOS.3. Ease of Use and Development ExperienceIf you have used STM32CubeIDE or e2 studio, transitioning to MRS will be easy, and you may find MRS simpler and more convenient.When creating a project, it automatically helps you with some configurations, such as:automatically loading required header files, startup files, and system files, and configuring basic compilation options.
Of course, if you need to make adjustments, you can find related settings in the project properties, such as:
optimization level, warning level, and debugging level.
Adding header file paths and library files.
Output file formats, such as generating HEX or BIN files.
MRS‘s editing features are somewhat similar to VS Code, supporting common code assistance features such as: code completion, search, navigation, and diagnostics.
The entire toolbar is designed to be simple, with intuitive icons, making it very suitable for beginners or developers to operate.
4. Integration of Four RTOSOne-stop IDEs like STM32CubeIDE and e2 studio typically integrate one or two RTOS options, while MRS currently integrates four commonly used RTOS:FreeRTOS, HarmonyOS, RT-Thread, TencentOS.
Previously, using an RTOS required navigating numerous challenges (various porting, trimming, and configuration), but now you can simply click a few buttons to use a ready-made RTOS.Thus, MRS’s integration of four RTOS options is quite friendly for those learning or working on projects that require RTOS.5. Powerful Debugging FeaturesDebugging is crucial for software development. Many people criticize Keil, but due to its excellent debugging capabilities, many continue to use it.Similarly, MRS natively supports RISC-V, and its debugging features are also very powerful, supporting common debugging functionalities.
6. Lightweight and Efficient IDE SoftwareHow long does it take you to open STM32CubeIDE? And what about IAR EWARM? Do you notice the computer’s configuration when using them?MRS is somewhat similar to VS Code, allowing quick access even on computers with lower specifications.7. MRS is FreeYou may have received legal notices regarding software like Keil and IAR, but MRS is currently free for everyone to use. Although it supports various core MCUs like RISC-V and ARM, the types of MCUs currently supported are somewhat limited. However, previous tests have shown support for other MCU types as well.That’s all for today. If you have used MRS, feel free to leave a comment about your experience!
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