Feature Request: Split the core in boards-manager into multiple categories

[Leviro]

Problem:
When downloading the core from the boards manager I have to download all the supported boards from all the different families which makes the downloaded files large and slows down the download process.

Possible solution:
It would be great if you split them into multiple options (i.e. one for each family Nucleo, STM32F1, STM32F2, etc..) the same way they are split in the readme.md file.
Something like this from LibMaple's core: https://imgur.com/a/vGBjkZu

[fpiSTM]

Hi @Leviro

When you install the core you download 4 packages:

• [li]STM32 core: 32 MB[/li]
  [li]STM32 tools: 740 KB for Linux/Mac, 2.5MB for windows[/li]
  [li]arm none eabi gcc toolchain: ~160-170 MB depending of the host OS[/li]
  [li]CMSIS: 24 MB[/li]

So splitting the core per series will not change your "issue" as the only package to split will be the core.
Moreover the goal of the core is to support all STM32 series.

[Leviro]

Moreover the goal of the core is to support all STM32 series.

I meant just split the entries in the .json file in a way to group similar boards together for the boards-manager only, not split the whole project/repo. Sorry if my wording was unclear.

When you install the core you download 4 packages:

• STM32 core: 32 MB

• STM32 tools: 740 KB for Linux/Mac, 2.5MB for windows

• arm none eabi gcc toolchain: ~160-170 MB depending of the host OS

• CMSIS: 24 MB

So splitting the core per series will not change your "issue" as the only package to split will be the core.

It is clear that the compiler is the bottleneck here. Isn't there any workaround to reduce its size? or to make the series' share the compiler toolchain but still be downloaded separately?

Internet connection in my country is either poor or limited so any small modifications will actually make a difference.

[fpiSTM]

Unfortunately there is no workaround for the toolchain.
And splitting the json to group similar board is not possible as the core provide generic code for all series.

[mrburnette]

...
It is clear that the compiler is the bottleneck here. Isn't there any workaround to reduce its size? or to make the series' share the compiler toolchain but still be downloaded separately?

Internet connection in my country is either poor or limited so any small modifications will actually make a difference.

You must have all the components installed: tools, all the GCC stuff, etc. as was previously stated by Frederic. The small delta associated with the core hosted on github is only 50.56KB compressed.

With the leaflab's core (Roger's) the installation is quasi-manual, so I would suggest using that core.
https://github.com/rogerclarkmelbourne/ ... STM32/wiki

At least one Arduino user does a manual installation by using the JSON as a guide:
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=638946.0

So while you can piecemeal install parts, all parts will be required: so the download will be the same byte-count, just a lots of manual supervision ... sounds frustrating.

[Leviro]

Okay, thank you very much for your time and effort so far, this project is great!

[fredbox]

STM32 tools: 740 KB for Linux/Mac, 2.5MB for windows

My STM32CubeProgrammer folder is 100+ megabytes. OS is Linux Mint 20.