Nine Rules for Running Rust on Embedded Systems



Do you want your Rust code to run everywhere — from large servers to web pages, robots, and even watches? In this final article of a three-part series [1, 2, 3], we’ll see how to use Rust to run on embedded devices using no_std.

Porting your Rust project to a no_std environment allows you to target microcontrollers and deeply embedded systems, creating highly efficient software for constrained environments. For example, I used the upcoming version of range-set-blaze to create an LED animation sequencer and compositor that runs on a Raspberry Pi Pico:





Running Rust without the standard library presents unique challenges. Without operating system support, features like file I/O, networking, and sometimes even dynamic memory allocation are unavailable. In this article, we’ll look at practical strategies to overcome these limitations.

Porting Rust to no_std requires careful steps and choices, and missing any step can lead to failure. We’ll simplify the process by following these nine rules, which we will examine in detail:Confirm that your project works with WASM WASI and WASM in the Browser.
Use target thumbv7m-none-eabi and cargo tree to identify and fix dependencies incompatible with no_std.
Mark main (non-test) code no_std and alloc. Replace std:: with core:: and alloc::.
Use Cargo features to let your main code use std optionally for file-related (etc.) functions.
Understand why test code always uses the standard library.
Create a simple embedded test project. Run it with QEMU.
In Cargo.toml, add keywords and categories for WASM and no_std.
[Optional] Use preallocated data types to avoid alloc.
Add thumbv7m-none-eabi and QEMU to your CI (continuous integration) tests.


Aside: These articles are based on a three-hour workshop that I presented at RustConf24 in Montreal. Thanks to the participants of that workshop. A special thanks, also, to the volunteers from the Seattle Rust Meetup who helped test this material. These articles replace an article I wrote last year with updated information.

As with the first and second articles in this series, before we look at the rules one by one, let’s define our terms.Native: Your home OS (Linux, Windows, macOS)
Standard library (std): Provides Rust’s core functionality — Vec, String, file input/output, networking, time.
WASM: WebAssembly (WASM) is a binary instruction format that runs in most browsers (and beyond).
WASI: WebAssembly System Interface (WASI) allows outside-the-browser WASM to access file I/O, networking (not yet), and time handling.
no_std: Instructs a Rust program not to use the full standard library, making it suitable for small, embedded devices or highly resource-constrained environments.
alloc: Provides heap memory allocation capabilities (Vec, String, etc.) in no_std environments, essential for dynamically managing memory.


Based on my experience with range-set-blaze, a data structure project, here are the decisions I recommend, described one at a time. To avoid wishy-washiness, I’ll express them as rules.

#EmbeddedRust#RustProgramming#EmbeddedSystems#RustLang#IoTDevelopment#SystemProgramming#LowLevelProgramming#RustEmbedded#RustForIoT


International Young Scientist Awards
Website link: youngscientistawards.com
Nomination Link: https://youngscientistawards.com/award-nomination/?ecategory=Awards&rcategory=Awardee
Contact Us: support@youngscientistawards.com _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Social Media:

Twitter : https://twitter.com/youngsc06963908
Linkedin- : https://www.linkedin.com/in/shravya-r...
Pinterest : https://in.pinterest.com/youngscienti...
Blog : https://youngscientistaward.blogspot....
Tumblr : https://www.tumblr.com/blog/shravya9

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nano-patterned copper oxide sensor provides rapid ultra-low hydrogen detection

Image
Hydrogen is becoming an increasingly popular choice as we shift towards cleaner energy. It can be burned like traditional fuels, producing only water as a byproduct, and can generate electricity when used in fuel cells. However, as hydrogen production, use, and transportation increase, so do safety concerns. Hydrogen is highly flammable at concentrations as low as 4% and is odorless and colorless, making leaks challenging to detect. Hydrogen is becoming an increasingly popular choice as we shift towards cleaner energy. It can be burned like traditional fuels, producing only water as a byproduct, and can generate electricity when used in fuel cells. However, as hydrogen production, use, and transportation increase, so do safety concerns. Hydrogen is highly flammable at concentrations as low as 4% and is odorless and colorless, making leaks challenging to detect. To address these concerns, researchers led by Professor Yutaka Majima from Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) have dev...
Read more

Nature’s first fiber optics could light the way to internet innovation

Image
In a discovery that blurs the line between biology and technology, scientists have found that heart-shaped clams use fiber optic–like structures to channel sunlight through their shells in much the same way that telecommunications company use fiber optics to deliver high-speed internet connectivity into homes. This innovation, a first known example of bundled fiber optics in a living creature, helps to explain how heart cockles (Corculum cardissa) — a marine bivalve found in shallow waters across the Indian and Pacific Oceans — harness sunlight to nourish symbiotic algae living within, while protecting them from harmful ultraviolet rays. In return, the algae provide the clams with sugars and other essential nutrients. The finding highlights an evolutionary adaptation that parallels human technological ingenuity, and offers potential insights for the development of bioinspired optical systems in the future, researchers report November 19 in Nature Communications. Heart cockles are sm...
Read more

Wipro Infrastructure Engineering acquires US-based Columbus Hydraulics

Image
  Wipro Hydraulics, the hydraulic cylinder manufacturing division of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, has acquired Columbus Hydraulics, a US-based hydraulic cylinder manufacturer known for custom solutions in various applications. The acquisition enhances Wipro's North American market position and manufacturing capabilities, following a strategy of growth and innovation in the hydraulics industry.                             Wipro Hydraulics, the hydraulic cylinder manufacturing arm of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, has announced its acquisition of Columbus Hydraulics, a prominent US-based hydraulic cylinder manufacturer. Founded in 1952, Columbus Hydraulics has earned a reputable status for delivering custom hydraulic solutions across various applications, including agriculture, construction, turf maintenance, and marine operations. Wipro Infrastructure Engineering's CEO and Managing Director, Mr. Pratik K...
Read more