mcu-starter-projects
FreeSimple starter projects for bare-metal MCU development.
FreeFree tier
About mcu-starter-projects
This repository provides a collection of simple starter projects for bare-metal microcontroller (MCU) development, targeting a wide range of devices from manufacturers such as Atmel, Microchip, SiFive, STMicroelectronics, GigaDevice, Nuvoton, and Raspberry Pi (RP2040). Projects include both Makefiles and IDE project files where possible, with GCC as the target compiler. The code is designed to help developers get started with bare-metal programming, offering basic initialization and peripheral examples without an operating system.
Key Features
Bare-metal development without RTOS
Supports many MCU families including Atmel, Microchip, ST, SiFive, GigaDevice, Nuvoton, and Raspberry Pi RP2040
Both Makefiles and IDE projects provided when possible
Target compiler is GCC (GNU Arm Embedded Toolchain)
Open source and freely available on GitHub
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Covers a wide variety of popular MCU families
- Includes both Makefile and IDE project setups for flexibility
- Clean, simple code suitable for beginners
- Free and open source under GitHub repository
Cons
- Limited to specific MCU models; not device-agnostic
- No releases or pre-built packages published on GitHub
- Minimal documentation beyond the code comments and README
- Requires familiarity with embedded toolchains and hardware debugging
Best For
Learning bare-metal MCU programmingQuick prototyping on supported microcontrollersReference for low-level MCU initialization and peripheral configurationEducational resource for embedded systems courses
FAQ
What microcontrollers are supported?
The repository supports a wide range: Atmel SAMD, SAML, SAMC, SAMG, SAMV, SAME, SAM4, SAMS, SAMDA; Microchip SAML10, SAML11; SiFive FE310; ST STM32G0, STM32G4; GigaDevice GD32F407; Nuvoton M484; and Raspberry Pi RP2040.
What compiler is used?
The target compiler is GCC (GNU Compiler Collection), specifically the Arm Embedded Toolchain for Arm-based MCUs.
Are IDE projects included?
Yes, IDE projects are provided alongside Makefiles when possible.