With the companies' technology, computerized devices such as white goods, office equipment and industrial controls could soon present users with rich graphical features such as animations and widgets, as seen in smartphones. Gadgets such as smartphones and media players have become increasingly attractive, dynamic and easy to use. One reason for this is advanced Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) software-design environments such as Java.

The MicroEJ SDK can be regarded as the world's first professional-quality tool-set enabling embedded system designers to leverage Java OOP. MicroEJ provides extended features to create, simulate, test and deploy Java applications in embedded systems. Support for graphical user interface (GUI) development includes a widget library, design tools including storyboarding and tools for customizing fonts.

GeeseWare contributes to the ecosystem supporting Java for STM32 with its hardware and software solution. It combines IS2T's MicroEJ SDK with a comprehensively featured development board supporting STM32F2 and STM32F4 MCUs, noted ST.

The ARM Cortex-M core processor technology of ST's STM32 MCU is capable of supporting rich human-machine interfaces in miniature, low-cost, power-sensitive applications, stated the company. The tools support Java development on STM32F2 devices, which use the ARM Cortex-M3 processor, and STM32F4 devices featuring the Cortex-M4. Cortex-M4 adds DSP extensions and a floating-point unit. The advanced Cortex architecture delivers a combination of high processing performance, low power and cost-effectiveness, ST added.

STM32 MCUs combine leading-edge Cortex-M series processors with high-performance peripherals and large number of product variants to provide unprecedented choice as well as advanced performance and functionality. All devices are pin, peripheral and software compatible, allowing developers to adapt or scale their designs quickly and without high engineering costs. The STM32 range comprises more than 300 devices, offering designers a selection of variants integrating up to 1MB of flash, connectivity-centric USB/Ethernet/CAN or OTG devices, ultra low-power MCUs and high-performance variants.

ST supports STM32 developers with resources such as evaluation kits, drivers, firmware, programming tools, debugging tools, which can be used with development environments, and tools from independent vendors. The STM3220G-JAVA Starter Kit, including IS2T MicroEJ SDK evaluation version, represents the latest addition to this ecosystem and will allow STM32-based products to deliver even better user experiences in a wide variety of environments and markets, noted ST.

The STM3220G-JAVA Starter Kit is available from ST or distributors priced at $349. The full MicroEJ development kit is available from IS2T. GeeseWare development boards are available from GeeseWare.