Embedded system development has always faced numerous challenges: high code complexity, strict real-time requirements, limited resources, and debugging difficulties. The Rust language, with its features of memory safety, concurrency safety, and high performance, brings new hope for embedded development. Embassy is a next-generation embedded application framework built on the Rust language, aimed at simplifying the embedded development process, improving development efficiency, and building safer, more reliable, and efficient embedded systems.
Core Advantages of Embassy: Rust + Asynchronous Programming
The core advantage of Embassy lies in its clever combination of Rust language features and the asynchronous programming model. Rust’s powerful type system and compile-time checking mechanisms effectively prevent common issues such as memory errors and data races, thereby enhancing code reliability and safety. The asynchronous programming model allows developers to write concurrent programs in a simpler and more efficient manner, fully utilizing hardware resources and improving system responsiveness. Embassy does not rely on traditional Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) but instead uses Rust’s asynchronous runtime to achieve multitasking cooperation, reducing system overhead and improving system performance.
Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) Support: Ready to Use
Embassy provides rich Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) support, covering various popular microcontroller architectures such as STM32, nRF52, RP2040, ESP32, etc. These HALs offer safe and easy-to-use Rust APIs, allowing developers to conveniently access hardware resources without directly manipulating registers. Embassy maintains some HALs itself and actively supports HALs provided by the community, further expanding its compatibility. This modular design enables developers to easily apply Embassy to different hardware platforms.
Time Management: Accurate and Reliable
Embassy includes the <span>embassy_time</span> library, which provides an accurate and reliable time management mechanism. Developers no longer need to worry about handling hardware timers; <span>embassy_time</span> offers types such as <span>Instant</span>, <span>Duration</span>, and <span>Timer</span>, simplifying time-related operations and avoiding issues like timer overflow. This greatly simplifies time management in embedded programs, improving code readability and maintainability.
Real-Time and Low Power Consumption: Balancing Performance and Efficiency
Embassy’s asynchronous runtime can run tasks cooperatively on the same executor, while multiple executors can be set with different priorities to achieve priority scheduling, meeting real-time requirements. At the same time, the asynchronous runtime can automatically put the kernel into sleep mode during idle times, minimizing power consumption and enhancing the system’s battery life. This makes Embassy particularly suitable for building low-power embedded devices, such as battery-powered sensor nodes and wearable devices.
Networking and Other Protocol Stacks: Powerful Functionality
Embassy provides rich networking capabilities, including Ethernet, IP, TCP, UDP, ICMP, and DHCP. The asynchronous programming model simplifies the implementation of network protocol stacks, allowing developers to easily achieve network communication. Additionally, Embassy supports various protocols such as Bluetooth, LoRa, and USB, providing corresponding libraries and examples.
Example of Using Embassy: Clear and Concise
Here is a simple example of Embassy demonstrating how to control an LED to blink:
use defmt::info;
use embassy_executor::Spawner;
use embassy_time::{Duration, Timer};
use embassy_nrf::gpio::{AnyPin, Output, Level, OutputDrive, Pin};
use embassy_nrf::{Peri, Peripherals};
#[embassy_executor::task]
async fn blink(pin: Peri<'static, AnyPin>) {
let mut led = Output::new(pin, Level::Low, OutputDrive::Standard);
loop {
led.set_high();
Timer::after_millis(150).await;
led.set_low();
Timer::after_millis(150).await;
}
}
#[embassy_executor::main]
async fn main(spawner: Spawner) {
let p = embassy_nrf::init(Default::default());
spawner.spawn(blink(p.P0_13.into())).unwrap();
// ... other code ...
}This example clearly demonstrates the use of Embassy’s asynchronous programming model and hardware abstraction layer.
Limitations of Embassy: Continuously Evolving
Although Embassy already possesses powerful features, it is still in active development, and some functionalities are continuously being improved. Support for some HALs may not be fully developed, and compatibility with certain hardware platforms may require further testing. Developers need to stay updated on the project’s latest developments and documentation updates.
Conclusion
As a next-generation embedded application framework based on Rust, Embassy brings new possibilities for embedded system development. It leverages the advantages of Rust, combined with an asynchronous programming model, to provide a safe, efficient, and user-friendly embedded development platform. Although it is still in the development stage, its potential is immense, making it worthy of attention and study by embedded developers.
Project Address: https://github.com/embassy-rs/embassy