embedded-systems_skill

Overview

This skill provides senior-level embedded systems guidance for firmware development, RTOS integration, and power-optimized designs. It targets microcontrollers like STM32, ESP32, Nordic devices and covers bare-metal and FreeRTOS workflows to produce reliable, resource-efficient firmware.

How this skill works

I inspect your hardware constraints (CPU, memory, peripherals, power budget) and recommend an architecture that balances real-time requirements and resource limits. I produce concrete code patterns: hardware init, HAL drivers, interrupt handlers, and RTOS task structures, plus a concise resource-usage summary and optimization notes. I enforce safety and timing constraints, including watchdogs, short ISRs, and proper synchronization.

When to use it

• Developing firmware for STM32, ESP32, Nordic, or other MCUs
• Implementing FreeRTOS or Zephyr tasks, queues, and synchronization
• Designing or implementing peripheral drivers (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN)
• Optimizing code size, RAM usage, or battery life for low-power devices
• Building systems with strict timing, jitter, or real-time guarantees

Best practices

• Analyze MCU specs and power/timing budgets before coding
• Keep ISRs short; defer work to tasks or bottom halves
• Use volatile for hardware registers and avoid unchecked dynamic allocation
• Add watchdogs, handle all error cases, and document flash/RAM/power usage
• Use proper synchronization primitives and avoid blocking in ISRs

Example use cases

• Porting a sensor stack to FreeRTOS with low-power sleep between samples
• Implementing DMA-driven ADC and SPI drivers with precise timing
• Reducing firmware footprint for a battery device by removing floating-point ops
• Designing interrupt-safe communication drivers for CAN or UART
• Creating a bootloader/OTA flow with safe rollback and resource estimates