Week 4: Embedded Programming

During Week 4 (Embedded Programming), we met and organized with the team, and decided to split into groups of two to complete the work. In my case, I worked with my colleague David Avila Pimentel. To divide the work, each of us focused on a different microcontroller. I documented the XIAO-ESP 32-C3, and my colleague documented the XIAO-RP2040. Afterward, we met to share our findings and compare toolchains and development workflows across different microcontroller families.

A microcontroller (MCU) is like the "brain" of many electronic devices. Imagine it as a tiny computer built into one single chip. It's responsible for making decisions and controlling other components in real time, just like your brain tells your muscles what to do. These chips are commonly found in things like home appliances, robots, thermostats, medical equipment, or smart gadgets connected to the Internet (IoT).

Microcontrollers are programmed to follow a list of instructions. Once you load a program into it, it can perform tasks automatically, like turning on a light when it gets dark or sending data to your phone when it detects motion.

The toolchain is the set of tools (compiler, linker, debugger) used to turn your code into a binary the chip can understand.

Key Points:

• • The RP2040 Ecosystem is highly portable. Because it uses the ARM standard, many developers find the transition from other chips (like STM32) very easy. The UF2 bootloader is its "secret weapon" for group projects because it removes the need for special drivers to upload code.
• • The ESP32-C3 Ecosystem is more specialized but powerful. It is essentially a "system-on-a-chip" designed to run a multitasking OS (FreeRTOS) by default. This makes the toolchain slightly heavier but allows for complex features like background Wi-Fi management.

Workflow Analysis:

• • The RP2040 Workflow is superior for rapid prototyping and educational settings. The fact that it behaves like a USB flash drive removes the "driver hell" often associated with microcontrollers. If your group wants to show a quick demo of changing code on the fly, this is the better choice.
• • The ESP32-C3 Workflow is better for IoT Deployment. Its workflow assumes the device might not be plugged into a computer forever. The ability to manage memory partitions and perform OTA updates makes it the professional choice for connected devices.

Code used:

int led = 10;   // Define el pin del led

void setup() {
  pinMode(led, OUTPUT); // Configura el pin como salida
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(led, HIGH); // Enciende el led
  delay(1000);                        // Espera 1000 ms
  digitalWrite(led, LOW);  // Apaga el LED
  delay(1000);                        // Espera 500 ms
}

• • Architecture & Power: While both share a compact footprint, the RP2040 offers a dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ focused on high-speed hardware manipulation through its unique PIO (Programmable I/O). The ESP32-C3 uses a single-core RISC-V architecture designed specifically for the IoT era, integrating native Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
• • Connectivity & Scope: The ESP32-C3 is the clear winner for wireless projects, cloud integration, and remote monitoring. The RP2040 is better suited for standalone applications, high-performance local control, or scenarios where emulating specific hardware protocols is required.
• • Toolchain & Debugging: The RP2040 follows traditional ARM standards, making it highly portable and easy to use with common compilers. However, the ESP32-C3 provides a more modern debugging experience with its built-in USB-JTAG, allowing for real-time code inspection without additional hardware.
• • Development Workflow: The RP2040 excels in ease of use for beginners and rapid prototyping thanks to its "drag and drop" UF2 bootloader. Conversely, the ESP32-C3 offers a more robust industrial workflow, supporting multitasking via FreeRTOS and professional features like Over-the-Air (OTA) updates.
• • Ecosystem & Community: The RP2040 benefits from the massive Raspberry Pi community and is the premier choice for Python-based embedded development. The ESP32-C3 leverages the mature Espressif ecosystem, which is the industry standard for low-cost, secure IoT deployment.