You're reading from Hands-On RTOS with Microcontrollers Create high-performance, real-time embedded systems using FreeRTOS, STM32 MCUs, and SEGGER debug tools

Product type Paperback

Published in Sep 2025

Publisher Packt

ISBN-13 9781803237725

Length 570 pages

Edition 2nd Edition

Languages

Concepts

Operating Systems

Authors (2):

Jim Yuill

Penn Linder

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Table of Contents (27) Chapters

Preface

1. Part 1: Introduction to RTOSes, the Dev-Board, and Tools

2. Introducing Real-Time Systems FREE CHAPTER

3. Introducing the Development Board

4. Introducing the Development-Tools

5. Understanding Super-Loops

6. Implementing the Super-Loop

7. Part 2: The FreeRTOS Scheduler, Tasks, and Primary APIs

8. Understanding RTOS Tasks

9. Running the FreeRTOS Scheduler

10. Protecting Data and Synchronizing Tasks

11. Intertask Communication

12. Part 3: Using FreeRTOS to Build Systems

13. Drivers and ISRs

14. More Efficient Drivers and ISRs

15. Sharing Hardware Peripherals among Tasks

16. Creating Loose Coupling with Queues

17. Part 4: System Design and Troubleshooting

18. FreeRTOS Memory Management

19. Multi-Processor and Multi-Core Systems

20. Troubleshooting Tips and Next Steps

21. Part 5: Reference Information and FreeRTOS Installation

22. Other Books You May Enjoy

23. Index

Appendix A: Tools Quick-Reference

1. Appendix B: Reference Information

2. Appendix C: Creating FreeRTOS Projects, and Installing FreeRTOS

Understanding the dev-board’s components

The dev-board contains the hardware components and interfaces needed to support a wide variety of embedded system applications. The dev-board contains hardware components such as LEDs, push-buttons, USB, Ethernet, power regulation, etc. The dev-board also has hardware interfaces, including pins and cable connectors. One use for the pins is to connect external components to the MCU (e.g., a display, sensors, power, other development-boards, etc.). Another use for the pins is to provide communication links to the MCU, such as serial, USB, or Ethernet. The following sections explore some of the dev-board’s main components, starting with the MCU.

The microcontroller unit (MCU)

An MCU is an integrated circuit (IC), and it is the dev-board’s main component. MCUs are often used in embedded systems to provide the primary processing capabilities. Typically, there is much thought and time spent choosing the proper MCU for...