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Static Vs Dynamic Memory Allocation

Introduction

• Tasks
• Software Timers
• Queues
• Event Groups
• Binary Semaphores
• Counting Semaphores
• Recursive Semaphores
• Mutexes

The simple Win32 example located in the FreeRTOS/Source/WIN32-MSVC-Static-Allocation-Only directory of the main FreeRTOS download demonstrates how a FreeRTOS application can be created without including any of the FreeRTOS heap implementations in a project.

Creating an RTOS Object Using Dynamically Allocated RAM

• Fewer function parameters are required when an object is created.

• The memory allocation occurs automatically, within the RTOS API functions.

• The application writer does not need to concern themselves with allocating memory themselves.

• The RAM used by an RTOS object can be re-used if the object is deleted, potentially reducing the application's maximum RAM footprint.

• RTOS API functions are provided to return information on heap usage, allowing the heap size to be optimised.

• The memory allocation scheme used can be chosen to best suite the application, be that heap_1.c for simplicity and determinism often necessary for safety critical applications, heap_4.c for fragmentation protection, heap_5.c to split the heap across multiple RAM regions, or an allocation scheme provided by the application writer themselves.

The following API functions, which are available if configSUPPORT_DYNAMIC_ALLOCATION is set to 1 or left undefined, create RTOS objects using dynamically allocated RAM:

• xTaskCreate()
• xQueueCreate()
• xTimerCreate()
• xEventGroupCreate()
• xSemaphoreCreateBinary()
• xSemaphoreCreateCounting()
• xSemaphoreCreateMutex()
• xSemaphoreCreateRecursiveMutex()

Creating an RTOS Object Using Statically Allocated RAM

• RTOS objects can be placed at specific memory locations.

• The maximum RAM footprint can be determined at link time, rather than run time.

• The application writer does not need to concern themselves with graceful handling of memory allocation failures.

• It allows the RTOS to be used in applications that simply don't allow any dynamic memory allocation (although FreeRTOS includes allocation schemes that can overcome most objections).

The following API functions, which are available if configSUPPORT_STATIC_ALLOCATION is set to 1, allow RTOS objects to be created using memory provided by the application writer. To provide memory the application writer simply needs to declare a variable of the appropriate object type, then pass the address of the variable into the RTOS API function. The StaticAllocation.c standard demo/test task is provided to demonstrate how the functions are used:

• xTaskCreateStatic()
• xQueueCreateStatic()
• xTimerCreateStatic()
• xEventGroupCreateStatic()
• xSemaphoreCreateBinaryStatic()
• xSemaphoreCreateCountingStatic()
• xSemaphoreCreateMutexStatic()
• xSemaphoreCreateRecursiveMutexStatic()