Updated developer faq.

This commit is contained in:
Johny Mattsson 2016-10-05 16:03:12 +11:00
parent d83437d1ba
commit 423cb64503
1 changed files with 67 additions and 1 deletions

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@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ This is a non-exhaustive list, obviously, but some key points are:
a more robust architecture, but does mean proper synchronization
*MUST* be employed between the threads. This includes between
API callbacks and main Lua thread.
Note that many API callbacks have turned into events in the IDF,
and NodeMCU handle those in the context of the main Lua thread.
- **Logical flash partitions**. Rather than hardcoding assumptions of
flash area usage, there is now an actual logical partition table
@ -77,7 +79,7 @@ callbacks must not access the Lua API or Lua resources._ This typically
means that messages need to be posted using the NodeMCU task API for
handling within the correct thread context. Depending on the scenario,
data may need to be put on a FreeRTOS queue to transfer ownership safely
between the threads.
between the threads, or posted directly across with the NodeMCU task API.
The application has no control over the relative time ordering of
tasks and API callbacks, and no assumptions can be made about whether a
@ -131,3 +133,67 @@ is time sensitive (e.g. audio buffer running low), high priority may be
warranted. The low priority level is intended for background processing
during otherwise idle time.
### Processing system events
The IDF is quite flexible in how system events may be handled, and NodeMCU
takes advantage of this to get all system events handled by the main Lua
thread. Event listening registration is very similar to module registration,
and happens at link-time. The following snippet shows how to use this:
```
#include "nodemcu_esp_event.h"
static void on_got_ip (const system_event_t *evt)
{
// Do stuff, maybe invoke a Lua callback
}
// Register for the event SYSTEM_EVENT_STA_GOT_IP (see esp_event.h for list).
NODEMCU_ESP_EVENT(SYSTEM_EVENT_STA_GOT_IP, on_got_ip);
```
### Memory allocation in modules
There are three main ways of allocating memory when writing modules for
NodeMCU - stack (for temporaries), heap, and Lua heap. Using the stack
is the same as for other embedded development, i.e. feel free to put
small(ish) temporary objects there, but don't expect to get away with
hundreds of bytes on the stack. Under good circumstances RTOS will detect
a stack overflow and throw an error, under less good circumstances anything
can happen.
Heap allocation is through the standard C malloc and friends. Their use
is best limited to third-party libraries which do not allow for custom
allocators. Also, if dynamic memory allocation is done in a thread other
than the main Lua thread, this is the only available option.
The best way to allocate memory in a module however, is to use the luaM
memory allocation routines. What makes this the best option is that an
allocation made this way may trigger a garbage collection. Where a regular
C malloc might have failed due to out of memory, the Lua allocation can
succeed by virtue of freeing up memory first. The downside of course is
that this is only possible to do while running in the main Lua thread.
Note that memory allocated via e.g. `luaM_malloc()` is not subject to
garbage collection, it behaves just like memory from the C `malloc()`,
and must be explicitly free'd via `luaM_free()`.
A quick example:
```
static int some_func (lua_State *L)
{
char *buf = luaM_malloc (L, 512);
int result = calc_using_large_buf (buf, 1, 2, 3);
lua_pushinteger (L, result);
luaM_free (buf);
return 1;
}
```
#### Caution
Do note that `luaM_malloc()` raises a Lua error on allocation failure, and
will exit the calling function right then and there. This can lead to
resource leaks if care is not taken, though in most cases a failure
will result in a Lua panic and require a reboot.
On the upside, there is never a need to test the return value from
`luaM_malloc()` for NULL, as on failure the function does not return.