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Without the builtin radio it's really hard to justify the use of an ESP32 over, say, an STM32. The integrated small package with "everything" to make a fun proj
by yau8edq12i 2y ago
Without the builtin radio it's really hard to justify the use of an ESP32 over, say, an STM32. The integrated small package with "everything" to make a fun project is the whole appeal.
- AlotOfReading 2y agoEspressif has a huge advantage in lead times over ST recently. I migrated a few projects over because ST couldn't or wouldn't give us supply in under a month when you could buy ESP chips and have them on your doorstep practically overnight.
- vbezhenar 2y agoDid you look at chinese STM clones? We used gd32, I liked it.
- 6SixTy 2y agoWide product range. ARM and RISC-V all called GD32 with an extra letter for the exact line.
- makapuf 2y agoDepends if you want to condone IP theft (compatible independent developments is of course different but I'm not sure this is the case). R&D, Support, good documentation in English and accuracy of specs come at a price.
- pantalaimon 2y agoIs implementing the same peripheral register API really IP theft?
- makapuf 2y agoNo, this was my remark about being compatible.
- vbezhenar 2y agoEspressif is Chinese company, just like gigadevices. I don't think they do IP theft from STM32 (if it's even possible at current node size). They have very thorough datasheets different from STM32 ones and their own SDK with unique code (although it seems to be inspired by STM32 libraries, but absolutely not theft).
- yau8edq12i 2y agoNobody said that espressif steals IP from ST.
- makapuf 2y agoI don't think expressif steals from ST. I m quite sure GD steals from ST (source: ST themselves, see answer from ST in https://www.th3dstudio.com/2021/08/03/gd32-cpu-license-issues-attack-of-the-clones/ https://www.th3dstudio.com/2021/08/03/gd32-cpu-license-issue...)
- dbuder 2y agoIf they didn't copy the peripheral blocks, then all they did was implement the ARM IP just like ST Micro did in a way to be pin to pin compatible with the STM32 chips. Happy to learn otherwise. I wouldn't put them in a real product for many reasons but this is not one of them.
- the__alchemist 2y agoThat's a big differentiator - it's surprising that there is no STM32 with Wi-Fi.
- mort96 2y agoThat's the whole appeal to hobbyists, sure. But I'm guessing Espressif wants to be considered for more serious applications as well. Currently, there are good reasons to choose, say, an STM32 over an ESP32 for a commercial product if you don't need RF (or if RF is handled by another part of the product, such as a SoM running Linux). I'm guessing they wanna change that.