Memory layout on a microcontroller (Flash, SRAM, EEPROM) in Embedded C - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Memory layout on a microcontroller (Flash, SRAM, EEPROM)

📖 Scenario: You are working with a simple microcontroller that has three types of memory: Flash, SRAM, and EEPROM. Each memory type stores different kinds of data. Flash stores the program code, SRAM stores variables that change while the program runs, and EEPROM stores data that must be saved even when the power is off.

🎯 Goal: You will create variables in the correct memory sections and then print their values to understand how memory layout works on a microcontroller.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a constant string stored in Flash memory

Create a variable stored in SRAM memory

Create a variable stored in EEPROM memory

Print the values of all three variables

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Microcontrollers use different memory types to store code, temporary data, and persistent data. Understanding this helps write efficient embedded programs.

💼 Career

Embedded software engineers must manage memory layout carefully to optimize performance and data retention in devices like sensors, appliances, and IoT gadgets.

1

Create a constant string in Flash memory

Create a constant character array called flash_message with the value "Hello Flash" stored in Flash memory using the const keyword.

Embedded C

# Create a constant string called flash_message stored in Flash memory
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use const char to store data in Flash memory.

2

Create a variable in SRAM memory

Create a variable called sram_counter of type int and initialize it to 0. This variable will be stored in SRAM memory.

Embedded C

const char flash_message[] = "Hello Flash";
// Create an int variable called sram_counter initialized to 0
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Variables that change during program execution are stored in SRAM.

3

Create a variable in EEPROM memory

Create a variable called eeprom_value of type unsigned char and initialize it to 100. Use the __attribute__((section(".eeprom"))) to place it in EEPROM memory.

Embedded C

const char flash_message[] = "Hello Flash";
int sram_counter = 0;
// Create an unsigned char variable called eeprom_value initialized to 100 in EEPROM memory
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use __attribute__((section(".eeprom"))) to store variables in EEPROM.

4

Print all variable values

Write printf statements to print the values of flash_message, sram_counter, and eeprom_value. Use the format "Flash: %s\nSRAM: %d\nEEPROM: %d\n".

Embedded C

const char flash_message[] = "Hello Flash";
int sram_counter = 0;
unsigned char eeprom_value __attribute__((section(".eeprom"))) = 100;

// Print flash_message, sram_counter, and eeprom_value
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use printf with the correct format specifiers: %s for strings and %d for integers.