FreeRTOS heap implementations (heap_1 to heap_5) - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Explore FreeRTOS Heap Implementations (heap_1 to heap_5)

📖 Scenario: You are working on an embedded system project using FreeRTOS. Memory management is critical for your system's stability and performance. FreeRTOS offers five different heap implementations (heap_1 to heap_5), each with unique features and trade-offs.Understanding these heap implementations will help you choose the right one for your project.

🎯 Goal: Build a simple FreeRTOS project that demonstrates the use of each heap implementation (heap_1 to heap_5) by setting up the heap configuration and showing how memory allocation behaves differently.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a FreeRTOS configuration file with heap_1 enabled

Add a configuration variable to select heap_2

Implement a function to allocate memory using the selected heap implementation

Print the result of memory allocation to observe behavior

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Embedded systems often have limited memory. Choosing the right FreeRTOS heap implementation ensures efficient and safe memory use.

💼 Career

Embedded developers and firmware engineers must understand FreeRTOS memory management to build reliable real-time applications.

1

Setup FreeRTOS configuration with heap_1

Create a FreeRTOS configuration file named FreeRTOSConfig.h that includes the line #define configFRTOS_MEMORY_SCHEME 1 to select heap_1 implementation.

FreeRTOS

// Your code here
// Create FreeRTOSConfig.h with heap_1 selection

Need a hint?

Use #define configFRTOS_MEMORY_SCHEME 1 to select heap_1.

2

Add configuration variable to select heap_2

Add a new line in FreeRTOSConfig.h to define configFRTOS_MEMORY_SCHEME as 2 to select heap_2 implementation instead of heap_1.

FreeRTOS

#ifndef FREERTOS_CONFIG_H
#define FREERTOS_CONFIG_H

#define configFRTOS_MEMORY_SCHEME 1
// Change to heap_2 by defining configFRTOS_MEMORY_SCHEME as 2
// Your code here

#endif /* FREERTOS_CONFIG_H */

Need a hint?

Replace the previous definition with #define configFRTOS_MEMORY_SCHEME 2.

3

Implement memory allocation function using selected heap

Write a function named void *myMalloc(size_t size) that calls pvPortMalloc(size) to allocate memory using the FreeRTOS heap selected by configFRTOS_MEMORY_SCHEME.

FreeRTOS

#ifndef FREERTOS_CONFIG_H
#define FREERTOS_CONFIG_H

#define configFRTOS_MEMORY_SCHEME 2

#endif /* FREERTOS_CONFIG_H */

// Your code here
// Implement myMalloc function

Need a hint?

Use pvPortMalloc(size) inside myMalloc to allocate memory.

4

Print the result of memory allocation

Call myMalloc(100) and print the returned pointer value using printf to observe the allocation result.

FreeRTOS

#ifndef FREERTOS_CONFIG_H
#define FREERTOS_CONFIG_H

#define configFRTOS_MEMORY_SCHEME 2

#endif /* FREERTOS_CONFIG_H */

#include "FreeRTOS.h"
#include "task.h"
#include 

void *myMalloc(size_t size) {
    return pvPortMalloc(size);
}

int main() {
    // Call myMalloc and print the pointer
    // Your code here
}

Need a hint?

Use void *ptr = myMalloc(100); and printf("Allocated memory pointer: %p\n", ptr);.