WCH Tools
2026-06-2510 min read
MounRiver Studio: The IDE for WCH RISC-V Development
Complete walkthrough of MounRiver Studio — project setup, debugging, peripheral configuration, and tips for CH32V series development.
Overview
MounRiver Studio (MRS) is WCH's free, Eclipse-based IDE designed specifically for RISC-V (and ARM) microcontroller development. It comes pre-configured with the GCC RISC-V toolchain, OpenOCD, and project templates for all CH32V/CH32L/CH32X series chips.
Key Features
- Pre-built project templates for all WCH RISC-V MCUs
- Integrated GCC RISC-V toolchain (no separate install needed)
- OpenOCD-based debugging via WCH-LinkE
- Peripheral register viewer (live debug)
- One-click compile, flash, and debug
- Serial port viewer built-in
- FreeRTOS project templates included
- Supports Windows, Linux, and macOS
Installation
- Download from www.mounriver.com
- Install MRS (includes toolchain automatically)
- Install WCH-LinkE USB drivers
- Connect WCH-LinkE to your PC via USB
- Connect WCH-LinkE to target board (SWDIO/GND/3V3)
Creating a New Project
- File -> New -> MounRiver Studio Project
- Select target chip (e.g., CH32V307)
- Choose template: Standard Peripheral Library or HAL
- Select debug interface: SDI (for V003) or SWD (for V20x/V30x)
- Click Finish — project includes startup code, linker script, and example main.c
Debugging
MRS provides full source-level debugging:
- Breakpoints (hardware and software)
- Step into/over/out
- Live variable watch
- Peripheral register view (read/write registers in real-time)
- Memory view
- Disassembly view
- Serial console (redirect printf to debug UART)
Tips and Tricks
- printf redirect: Add
retarget_init()in main to redirect printf to UART1 - FreeRTOS: Use the RTOS template for task-based projects
- Flash size optimization: Use -Os flag and enable LTO
- Multi-file projects: Add source files to the "User" folder
- Custom linker: Edit the .ld file in the project root
- Version control: MRS projects work with Git — exclude .settings/ and Debug/
Comparison with Other IDEs
| Feature | MounRiver Studio | Keil MDK | STM32CubeIDE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Paid (limited free) | Free |
| RISC-V Support | Native (WCH only) | Limited | No |
| Toolchain | GCC (included) | ARMCC/GCC | GCC (included) |
| Debug Probe | WCH-LinkE ($3) | ULINK ($200+) | ST-Link ($10) |
| WCH Chip Support | Full | Partial | None |