The ST-LINK/V2 is an in-circuit debugger and programmer for the STM8 and STM32 microcontrollers. The single-wire interface module (SWIM) and JTAG/serial wire debugging (SWD) interfaces are used to communicate with any STM8 or STM32 microcontroller located on an application board.
https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/st-link-v2.html
Be sure to purchase the V2 and not the V3
You will encounter both the original ST-Link V2 and its more economically priced clones. While the original device is crafted with precision, it's noteworthy to mention that these less expensive clones have been found to perform adequately and are often more accessible. They can serve as a suitable alternative, without significantly compromising on functionality.
Check the connection points for your model.
Points change on various models.
The connection point for the ST-Link tool is contingent upon the make and model of your board. Different models may have distinct configurations and interfaces, thus requiring careful attention to ensure that the ST-Link is connected correctly.
Before you can proceed with soldering, boards typically come with a protective layer known as a conformal coating, which serves to shield the electronic components from environmental factors. To establish a proper connection, you'll need to gently scrape off this coating from the specific points where you intend to solder.
Exercising caution during this step is crucial to avoid inadvertently damaging the underlying circuitry. Using appropriate tools and a steady hand will ensure that the coating is removed effectively, paving the way for a successful soldering process and a reliable connection.
Located on the bottom of the controller
Located on the bottom of the controller
These are the main products offered by ST.
There are other opensource versions found online, especially for commandline usage.
ST-LINK utility has been replaced/superseded by STM32CubeProgrammer
STM32 ST-LINK Utility (STSW-LINK004) is a full-featured software interface for programming STM32 microcontrollers.
It provides an easy-to-use and efficient environment for reading, writing and verifying a memory device.
The tool offers a wide range of features to program STM32 internal memories (Flash, RAM, OTP and others), external memories, to verify the programming content (checksum, verify during and after programming, compare with file) and to automate STM32 programming.
STM32 ST-LINK Utility is delivered as a graphical user interface (GUI) with a command line interface (CLI).
STM32CubeProgrammer (STM32CubeProg) is an all-in-one multi-OS software tool for programming STM32 products.
It provides an easy-to-use and efficient environment for reading, writing and verifying device memory through both the debug interface (JTAG and SWD) and the bootloader interface (UART, USB DFU, I2C, SPI, and CAN).
STM32CubeProgrammer offers a wide range of features to program STM32 internal memories (such as Flash, RAM, and OTP) as well as external memories.
STM32CubeProgrammer also allows option programming and upload, programming content verification, and programming automation through scripting.
STM32CubeProgrammer is delivered in GUI (graphical user interface) and CLI (command-line interface) versions.