Explore the Nordic nRF52 series with our focused category, offering tutorials, projects, and insights for this versatile Bluetooth Low Energy microcontroller. Learn to harness its low-power features, wireless connectivity, and robust performance for cutting-edge IoT and embedded applications.
Work queues in Zephyr RTOS are a lightweight way to defer work, move processing out of interrupt context, and keep applications responsive without creating extra threads. In this article, we explain how work queues work, explore system and custom queues, show how to schedule delayed tasks, and demonstrate a real-world Bluetooth advertising example where work queues ensure safe and efficient operation.
Read MoreWS2812 LEDs, also known as NeoPixels, are popular for creating colorful lighting effects with just a single data line. The challenge lies in their strict timing requirements, which can be tricky to handle on microcontrollers. In this post, we’ll show how to control a WS2812 LED strip on an nRF52832 custom board using the nRF Connect SDK. By repurposing the SPI driver to generate the precise waveforms, we can drive the LEDs reliably without bit-banging.
Read MoreBuild configurations in the nRF Connect SDK let you fine-tune your application at compile time, controlling everything from logging verbosity to Bluetooth Low Energy parameters. In this post, we explore how to use prj.conf and menuconfig to manage Kconfig options, highlight common configurations such as logging, peripherals, and BLE settings, and walk through a practical example of enabling debug logging and tuning BLE buffers for higher performance.
Read MoreDevice Tree in nRF Connect SDK is a structured way of describing hardware, making your applications more portable and maintainable. Learn about DT hierarchy, nodes, properties, overlays, and practical examples like blinking LEDs, reading buttons, and adding custom sensors.
Read MoreGetting started with the nRF52832 in the nRF Connect SDK requires understanding how Zephyr’s build system works. This post introduces the core components of building applications, including CMake, west, and key configuration files like prj.conf and CMakeLists.txt. We walk through how west orchestrates the build process, how to configure project features, and provide a step-by-step example of building and flashing a simple Hello World application. By mastering these fundamentals, you’ll be ready to develop scalable and maintainable embedded applications with Zephyr.
Read MoreIn embedded systems development, efficient inter-thread communication is crucial for ensuring responsiveness and modularity. This article explores how to use message queues (k_msgq) in Zephyr RTOS to implement a clean producer-consumer architecture on the Nordic nRF7002 Development Kit. By simulating a sensor data pipeline that passes fixed-size messages between threads, we demonstrate how message queues can decouple tasks, manage timing mismatches, and improve system reliability. Whether you're working on IoT telemetry, data buffering, or real-time sensor fusion, mastering message queues in Zephyr is a foundational skill for building scalable embedded applications.
Read MoreIf you're stepping into the world of embedded systems, Zephyr OS is a powerful real-time operating system you can't afford to ignore. In this guide, we break down the 12 critical concepts you must learn to build efficient, production-grade applications using Zephyr.
Read MoreJumping into Zephyr OS development on the nRF7002DK can feel overwhelming — but it doesn't have to be. In this step-by-step roadmap, we'll guide you from your first blinking LED to full-fledged Wi-Fi-connected sensor devices, so you can become a confident embedded developer.
Read MoreMutexes are vital for thread synchronization in real-time operating systems like Zephyr. This comprehensive guide explores mutexes in depth, detailing their role in preventing race conditions, and provides practical examples using the nRF7002DK with nRF Connect SDK. Learn to leverage Zephyr’s mutex APIs for robust embedded applications.
Read MoreSemaphores are powerful synchronization primitives in Zephyr OS, enabling efficient task coordination and resource management in real-time embedded systems. In this blog post, we explore how semaphores work in Zephyr OS, with a practical example on the nRF7002DK board. Learn how to implement a producer-consumer pattern using semaphores to synchronize threads, and discover best practices for embedded development.
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