C++ composition without using the heap in embedded systems - c++

Question

I'm fairly new to C++, this is also my first post on here. I'm trying to use C++ in an embedded systems project so I can take the OOP approach. I'm using the AVR crosspack toolchain (AVR G++ compiler)
My problem is this:
From what i've read, the heap should not be used for dynamic memory allocation in embedded systems. In any case, there is no implementation for "new" in AVR G++ anyway. I'm using composition, starting with a USART driver (lets call it a service), and a logger (singleton pattern, and also a service).
It's my understanding that services should have their dependancies passed in on instantiation using constructor parameters, however when I try to compose the objects needed in this way I get the following error:
Main/main.cpp: In function 'int main()':
Main/main.cpp:21:13: error: request for member 'log' in 'logSystem', which is of non-class type 'LogSystem(Usart)'
21 | logSystem.log("Hello");
| ^~~
make: *** [Main/main.o] Error 1
My sense is that my syntax for passing in an object as a constructor parameter is wrong, but I'm not sure what it should be as all the examples i can find use the "new" keyword in the constructor definition to create the object on the free store. Can anyone help?
The Code:
In "usart.h":
#include <avr/io.h>
#include <util/setbaud.h>
class Usart
{
public:
// Constructor and destructor
Usart();
~Usart();
// Initialisation routine
static void const init(void);
// Utility function to transmit a string
static void const print(const char myString[]);
};
In "logger.h":
#include "usart.h"
class LogSystem
{
public:
LogSystem(Usart usart);
~LogSystem();
Usart usart;
static void const log(char *msg);
};
In "logger.cpp"
#include "logger.h"
LogSystem::LogSystem(Usart usart)
{
Usart usart;
usart.init();
}
LogSystem::~LogSystem()
{
}
LogSystem::log(char *msg)
{
usart.print(msg);
}
In "main.cpp":
#include "logger.h"
int main()
{
LogSystem logSystem(Usart usart);
while(1)
{
logSystem.log("Hello");
}
return 0;
}

Answer 1

[...] the heap should not be used for dynamic memory allocation in embedded systems.
It depends. I'm currently in an embedded project with maximum safety-related requirements, and we use new, but not delete. So we have a heap, but don't allocate "dynamically", because all allocated objects are kept during the runtime.
In any case, there is no implementation for "new" in AVR G++ anyway.
Is this true? I never checked... It might be necessary to provide a heap before being able to use new.
It's my understanding that services should have their dependancies passed in on instantiation using constructor parameters, [...]
This is a good idea. ;-) It helps unit-testing.
For your syntactical and design problems: This is how I would write your sources.
"usart.h":
All methods are non-static to have access to member variables.
The const attribute on a return type is doing nothing. Did you mean to declare the method constant? Then const belongs after the parameter list. However, this attribute might be wrong if such a method changes any member variable.
#include <avr/io.h>
#include <util/setbaud.h>
class Usart
{
public:
Usart();
~Usart();
void init(void);
void print(const char myString[]);
};
"logger.h":
Just give and store a reference to the USART to avoid a copy.
#include "usart.h"
class LogSystem
{
public:
LogSystem(Usart& usart);
~LogSystem();
void log(const char *msg);
private:
Usart& _usart;
};
"logger.cpp"
The member variable _usart is directly initialized in the constructor, before any statement is executed.
#include "logger.h"
LogSystem::LogSystem(Usart& usart) : _usart(usart)
{
_usart.init();
}
LogSystem::~LogSystem()
{
}
void LogSystem::log(const char *msg)
{
_usart.print(msg);
}
"main.cpp":
Provide the USART object on the stack, as the logger.
#include "logger.h"
int main()
{
Usart usart;
LogSystem logSystem(usart);
while(1)
{
logSystem.log("Hello");
}
return 0;
}
The singleton design pattern is deprecated since it was invented, because it is so hard to test. Simply use just one object or a limiting object factory.