esp32-multitask-blink-example

FreeRTOS blink two LEDs example for the ESP32, FreeRTOS allows us to handle several tasks in parallel that run independently.

Example is taken from here:
https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-dual-core-arduino-ide/

Why is this useful?
In real life, instead of blinking LEDs, this can be tasks like making a network request, measuring sensors, controlling a motor, etc…
It will then be useful to assign specific parts of the code to a specific core in order to optimize performance.

---

---

Demo video here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HbspRSdvF7cROVlgxRoYOVJftApYekXf/view?usp=sharing

---

Prerequisites

• Download and install Visual Studio Code
• Download and install arduino-cli (pre-built binary)
  https://arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/0.21/installation/#latest-release
• Set the PATH to the folder where arduino-cli is located (arduino-cli.exe on Windows).
• Install/Activate the Extension: Arduino for Visual Studio Code.
• CP2102 USB to UART bridge chip drivers installed (or whatever chip your ESP32 module has for this)
  https://www.silabs.com/developers/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers?tab=downloads
  
  

---

---

Installation (on Windows)

C:\>arduino-cli config init
    Config file written to: C:\Users\Jorgen\AppData\Local\Arduino15\arduino-cli.yaml

C:\>arduino-cli config add board_manager.additional_urls https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json

C:\>arduino-cli config dump
    board_manager:
      additional_urls:
      - https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json

C:\>arduino-cli board listall
    Downloading missing tool builtin:ctags@5.8-arduino11...
    builtin:ctags@5.8-arduino11 downloaded
    Installing builtin:ctags@5.8-arduino11...
    builtin:ctags@5.8-arduino11 installed
    Downloading missing tool builtin:serial-discovery@1.3.3...
    builtin:serial-discovery@1.3.3 downloaded
    Installing builtin:serial-discovery@1.3.3...
    builtin:serial-discovery@1.3.3 installed
    Downloading missing tool builtin:mdns-discovery@1.0.6...
    builtin:mdns-discovery@1.0.6 downloaded
    Installing builtin:mdns-discovery@1.0.6...
    builtin:mdns-discovery@1.0.6 installed
    Downloading missing tool builtin:serial-monitor@0.12.0...
    builtin:serial-monitor@0.12.0 downloaded
    Installing builtin:serial-monitor@0.12.0...
    builtin:serial-monitor@0.12.0 installed
    Board Name FQBN
    
C:\>arduino-cli core install esp32:esp32
    Downloading packages...
    esp32:xtensa-esp32-elf-gcc@1.22.0-97-gc752ad5-5.2.0 downloaded
    esp32:esptool_py@3.0.0 downloaded
    esp32:mkspiffs@0.2.3 downloaded
    esp32:esp32@1.0.6 downloaded
    Installing esp32:xtensa-esp32-elf-gcc@1.22.0-97-gc752ad5-5.2.0...
    esp32:xtensa-esp32-elf-gcc@1.22.0-97-gc752ad5-5.2.0 installed
    Installing esp32:esptool_py@3.0.0...
    esp32:esptool_py@3.0.0 installed
    Installing esp32:mkspiffs@0.2.3...
    esp32:mkspiffs@0.2.3 installed
    Installing platform esp32:esp32@1.0.6...
    Configuring platform....
    Platform esp32:esp32@1.0.6 installed

Please note, this last step below is not needed if you clone this repository

C:\Users\Jorgen\Projects>arduino-cli sketch new esp32-multitask-blink-example
    Sketch created in: C:\Users\Jorgen\Projects\esp32-multitask-blink-example

---

VSCode configuration:

Change path where needed, these files are located under the .vscode-folder in this repository but I show the content here for clarity, you don't have to copy-paste if you clone or download them from this repository, just change to your board, your COM-port and your PATH.

settings.json

{
    "arduino.enableUSBDetection": true,
    "arduino.logLevel": "verbose",
    "arduino.path": "C:/Bin",
    "arduino.commandPath": "arduino-cli.exe",
    "arduino.useArduinoCli": true,
    "arduino.disableIntelliSenseAutoGen": true,
    "arduino.defaultBaudRate": 115200
}

---

arduino.json

{
    "configuration": "FlashFreq=40,UploadSpeed=115200,DebugLevel=none",
    "board": "esp32:esp32:esp32doit-devkit-v1",
    "sketch": "esp32-multitask-blink-example.ino",
    "port": "COM4",
    "output": "build"
}

---

c_cpp_properties.json

{
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "ESP32",
            "includePath": [
                "${workspaceFolder}/**",
                "C:/Users/Jorgen/AppData/Local/Arduino15/packages/esp32/hardware/esp32/1.0.6/**"
            ],
            "defines": [
                "_DEBUG",
                "UNICODE",
                "_UNICODE"
            ],
            "compilerPath": "C:/Users/Jorgen/AppData/Local/Arduino15/packages/esp32/tools/xtensa-esp32-elf-gcc/1.22.0-97-gc752ad5-5.2.0/bin/xtensa-esp32-elf-g++",
            "cStandard": "c11",
            "cppStandard": "gnu++11",
            "intelliSenseMode": "gcc-x86"
        }
    ],
    "version": 4
}

---

If you got everything configured right you should be able to CTRL-click on Arduino.h and VSCode will take you there:

---