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nodemcu-firmware/docs/en/modules/tmr.md

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Timer Module

Since Origin / Contributor Maintainer Source
2014-12-12 Zeroday dnc40085 tmr.c

The tmr module allows access to simple timers, the system counter and uptime.

It is aimed at setting up regularly occurring tasks, timing out operations, and provide low-resolution deltas.

What the tmr module is not however, is a time keeping module. While most timeouts are expressed in milliseconds or even microseconds, the accuracy is limited and compounding errors would lead to rather inaccurate time keeping. Consider using the rtctime module for "wall clock" time.

NodeMCU provides 7 static timers, numbered 0-6, and dynamic timer creation function tmr.create().

!!! attention

Static timers are deprecated and will be removed later. Use the OO API initiated with [`tmr.create()`](#tmrcreate).

tmr.alarm()

This is a convenience function combining tmr.register() and tmr.start() into a single call.

To free up the resources with this timer when done using it, call tmr.unregister() on it. For one-shot timers this is not necessary, unless they were stopped before they expired.

Syntax

tmr.alarm([id/ref], interval_ms, mode, func())

Parameters

  • id/ref timer id (0-6) or object, obsolete for OO API (→ tmr.create())
  • interval_ms timer interval in milliseconds. Maximum value is 6870947 (1:54:30.947).
  • mode timer mode:
    • tmr.ALARM_SINGLE a one-shot alarm (and no need to call tmr.unregister())
    • tmr.ALARM_SEMI manually repeating alarm (call tmr.start() to restart)
    • tmr.ALARM_AUTO automatically repeating alarm
  • func(timer) callback function which is invoked with the timer object as an argument

Returns

true if the timer was started, false on error

Example

if not tmr.create():alarm(5000, tmr.ALARM_SINGLE, function()
  print("hey there")
end)
then
  print("whoopsie")
end

See also

tmr.create()

Creates a dynamic timer object.

Dynamic timer can be used instead of numeric ID in control functions. Also can be controlled in object-oriented way.

Functions supported in timer object:

Parameters

none

Returns

timer object

Example

local mytimer = tmr.create()

-- oo calling
mytimer:register(5000, tmr.ALARM_SINGLE, function (t) print("expired"); t:unregister() end)
mytimer:start()

-- with self parameter
tmr.register(mytimer, 5000, tmr.ALARM_SINGLE, function (t) print("expired"); tmr.unregister(t) end)
tmr.start(mytimer)

tmr.delay()

Busyloops the processor for a specified number of microseconds.

This is in general a bad idea, because nothing else gets to run, and the networking stack (and other things) can fall over as a result. The only time tmr.delay() may be appropriate to use is if dealing with a peripheral device which needs a (very) brief delay between commands, or similar. Use with caution!

Also note that the actual amount of time delayed for may be noticeably greater, both as a result of timing inaccuracies as well as interrupts which may run during this time.

Syntax

tmr.delay(us)

Parameters

us microseconds to busyloop for

Returns

nil

Example

tmr.delay(100)

tmr.interval()

Changes a registered timer's expiry interval.

Syntax

tmr.interval([id/ref], interval_ms)

Parameters

  • id/ref timer id (0-6) or object, obsolete for OO API (→ tmr.create())
  • interval_ms new timer interval in milliseconds. Maximum value is 6870947 (1:54:30.947).

Returns

nil

Example

mytimer = tmr.create()
mytimer:register(10000, tmr.ALARM_AUTO, function() print("hey there") end)
mytimer:interval(3000) -- actually, 3 seconds is better!
mytimer:start()

tmr.now()

Returns the system counter, which counts in microseconds. Limited to 31 bits, after that it wraps around back to zero. That is essential if you use this function to debounce or throttle GPIO input.

Syntax

tmr.now()

Parameters

none

Returns

the current value of the system counter

Example

print(tmr.now())
print(tmr.now())

tmr.register()

Configures a timer and registers the callback function to call on expiry.

To free up the resources with this timer when done using it, call tmr.unregister() on it. For one-shot timers this is not necessary, unless they were stopped before they expired.

Syntax

tmr.register([id/ref], interval_ms, mode, func())

Parameters

  • id/ref timer id (0-6) or object, obsolete for OO API (→ tmr.create())
  • interval_ms timer interval in milliseconds. Maximum value is 6870947 (1:54:30.947).
  • mode timer mode:
    • tmr.ALARM_SINGLE a one-shot alarm (and no need to call tmr.unregister())
    • tmr.ALARM_SEMI manually repeating alarm (call tmr.start() to restart)
    • tmr.ALARM_AUTO automatically repeating alarm
  • func(timer) callback function which is invoked with the timer object as an argument

Note that registering does not start the alarm.

Returns

nil

Example

mytimer = tmr.create()
mytimer:register(5000, tmr.ALARM_SINGLE, function() print("hey there") end)
mytimer:start()

See also

tmr.resume()

Resume an individual timer.

Resumes a timer that has previously been suspended with either tmr.suspend or tmr.suspend_all

Syntax

tmr.resume(id/ref)

Parameters

id/ref timer id (0-6) or object, obsolete for OO API (→ tmr.create())

Returns

true if timer was resumed successfully

Example

--resume timer mytimer
mytimer:resume()

--alternate metod
tmr.resume(mytimer)

See also

tmr.resume_all()

Resume all timers.

Resumes all timers including those previously been suspended with either tmr.suspend or tmr.suspend_all

Syntax

tmr.resume_all()

Parameters

none

Returns

true if timers were resumed successfully

Example

--resume all previously suspended timers
tmr.resume_all()

See also

tmr.softwd()

Provides a simple software watchdog, which needs to be re-armed or disabled before it expires, or the system will be restarted.

Syntax

tmr.softwd(timeout_s)

Parameters

timeout_s watchdog timeout, in seconds. To disable the watchdog, use -1 (or any other negative value).

Returns

nil

Example

function on_success_callback()
  tmr.softwd(-1)
  print("Complex task done, soft watchdog disabled!")
end

tmr.softwd(5)
-- go off and attempt to do whatever might need a restart to recover from
complex_stuff_which_might_never_call_the_callback(on_success_callback)

tmr.start()

Starts or restarts a previously configured timer.

Syntax

tmr.start([id/ref])

Parameters

id/ref timer id (0-6) or object, obsolete for OO API (→ tmr.create())

Returns

true if the timer was started, false on error

Example

mytimer = tmr.create()
mytimer:register(5000, tmr.ALARM_SINGLE, function() print("hey there") end)
if not mytimer:start() then print("uh oh") end

See also

tmr.state()

Checks the state of a timer.

Syntax

tmr.state([id/ref])

Parameters

id/ref timer id (0-6) or object, obsolete for OO API (→ tmr.create())

Returns

(bool, int) or nil

If the specified timer is registered, returns whether it is currently started and its mode. If the timer is not registered, nil is returned.

Example

mytimer = tmr.create()
print(mytimer:state()) -- nil
mytimer:register(5000, tmr.ALARM_SINGLE, function() print("hey there") end)
running, mode = mytimer:state()
print("running: " .. tostring(running) .. ", mode: " .. mode) -- running: false, mode: 0

tmr.stop()

Stops a running timer, but does not unregister it. A stopped timer can be restarted with tmr.start().

Syntax

tmr.stop([id/ref])

Parameters

id/ref timer id (0-6) or object, obsolete for OO API (→ tmr.create())

Returns

true if the timer was stopped, false on error

Example

mytimer = tmr.create()
if not mytimer:stop() then print("timer not stopped, not registered?") end

See also

tmr.suspend()

Suspend an armed timer.

!!! attention This is disabled by default. Modify ENABLE_TIMER_SUSPEND in app/include/user_config.h to enable it.

  • Timers can be suspended at any time after they are armed.
  • If a timer is rearmed with tmr.start or tmr.alarm any matching suspended timers will be discarded.

Syntax

tmr.suspend(id/ref)

Parameters

id/ref timer id (0-6) or object, obsolete for OO API (→ tmr.create())

Returns

true if timer was resumed successfully

Example

--suspend timer mytimer
mytimer:suspend()

--alternate metod
tmr.suspend(mytimer)

See also

tmr.suspend_all()

Suspend all currently armed timers.

!!! attention This is disabled by default. Modify ENABLE_TIMER_SUSPEND in app/include/user_config.h to enable it.

!!! Warning This function suspends ALL active timers, including any active timers started by the NodeMCU subsystem or other modules. this may cause parts of your program to stop functioning properly. USE THIS FUNCTION AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Syntax

tmr.suspend_all()

Parameters

none

Returns

true if timers were suspended successfully

Example

--suspend timer mytimer
tmr.suspend_all()

See also

tmr.time()

Returns the system uptime, in seconds. Limited to 31 bits, after that it wraps around back to zero.

Syntax

tmr.time()

Parameters

none

Returns

the system uptime, in seconds, possibly wrapped around

Example

print("Uptime (probably):", tmr.time())

tmr.unregister()

Stops the timer (if running) and unregisters the associated callback.

This isn't necessary for one-shot timers (tmr.ALARM_SINGLE), as those automatically unregister themselves when fired.

Syntax

tmr.unregister([id/ref])

Parameters

id/ref timer id (0-6) or object, obsolete for OO API (→ tmr.create())

Returns

nil

Example

tmr.unregister(0)

See also

tmr.register()

tmr.wdclr()

Feed the system watchdog.

In general, if you ever need to use this function, you are doing it wrong.

The event-driven model of NodeMCU means that there is no need to be sitting in hard loops waiting for things to occur. Rather, simply use the callbacks to get notified when somethings happens. With this approach, there should never be a need to manually feed the system watchdog.

Syntax

tmr.wdclr()

Parameters

none

Returns

nil