Author: Graham Kruk

A context switch is a fundamental part of multitasking real-time operating systems like FreeRTOS. It allows multiple tasks to share a single CPU core while ensuring each task appears to have full and exclusive access to the CPU. When a context switch occurs, the state of the current task is saved and the state of

The short answer is yes, the ARM Cortex-M4 processor does contain a cache, specifically an instruction cache. The Cortex-M4 is part of ARM’s Cortex-M series of embedded microcontroller cores, designed for low-power and low-cost applications. While earlier Cortex-M cores like the Cortex-M0 and M3 did not include any caches, the M4 added a small instruction

ARM Cortex-M processors are known for their power efficiency and high performance. One of the key architectural features that enables this combination is the presence of caches in the Cortex-M cores. Caches are small, fast memory arrays that store frequently used data closer to the processor core. This allows the processor to access the data

The ARM calling convention refers to the standard procedure used on ARM architectures for function calls between software modules. It defines the way arguments are passed to functions and the way return values are passed back. Understanding the ARM calling convention is important for writing compliant and interoperable code for ARM processors. Function Argument Passing

The ARM C calling convention defines how functions should be called in C programs compiled for the ARM architecture. Specifically, it defines which registers need to be preserved across function calls. Understanding these conventions is important for writing efficient and compatible C code for ARM. In the ARM C calling convention, the following registers need

ARM Cortex-M processors are designed for embedded applications requiring low power consumption and high performance. They are based on the ARMv7-M architecture and contain four major components: the processor core, the Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller (NVIC), the SysTick timer, and the Memory Protection Unit (MPU). 1. Processor Core The processor core is the central processing

Arm processors power technology that’s transforming the world – from smartphones to supercomputers, from medical instruments to agricultural sensors. To program these Arm-based devices, developers need robust software tools and frameworks. This article provides an overview of the key programming tools, languages, and operating systems used for Arm application development. Arm Compilers A compiler is

ARM Cambridge has a long and storied history as one of the pioneers in RISC processor technology. The company was founded in 1990 as a joint venture between Acorn Computers, Apple, and VLSI Technology. The aim was to commercialize the reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor technology that Acorn had developed for its Archimedes personal

The Cortex-M4 is commonly referred to as both a processor and a controller. Technically, it is a 32-bit processor core designed by ARM to be used in embedded applications. However, it is typically deployed as the main processor in a microcontroller unit (MCU), which integrates the processor core with peripherals and memory on a single

The Arm Cortex-M4 processor utilizes a von Neumann architecture rather than a Harvard architecture. This means that the Cortex-M4 has a unified memory space for both data and instructions, rather than separate memory spaces. Overview of Harvard vs von Neumann Architectures In computer architecture, there are two main ways to handle memory – the Harvard