Flash usage of examples (bare metal vs FreeRTOS based)

[TylerD]

I'm working with nRF52832 and playing around with some peripheral examples from SDK 16.0.

The FreeRTOS based heart rate sensor example (ble_app_hrs_freertos) seems to work nice out of the box and I've done some small modifications to it, no problem so far.  However, the flash footprint of the sample app looks a bit odd to me.

The size of my FreeRTOS based app (excluding the softdevice, just the app itself) is around 110kB. I've added only some very basic functionality to the HRS example, very minimal stuff.

Does this sound reasonable? For comparison, I built the ble_app_blinky sample app that does not use any RTOS. Size of that app is only 22kB which sounds small enough to me.

I'm using the s132 soft device, if that makes any difference.

I would expect the FreeRTOS flash footprint to be only few tens of kilobytes. Any ideas where to look? I can of course start digging into the *.map output file to see exactly what the binary is built of, but any pointers are appreciated at this point.

[TylerD]

Some more info: I tried to get detailed breakdown of the flash usage by running command

nm ble_app_hrs_freertos_pca10040_s132.elf --print-size --size-sort --radix=d

The output is attached as text file (sorted by size in descending order, including only flash objects).

Fullscreen sizes.txt Download

size(dec)  name
1004 T nrf_fprintf_fmt
976 t bsp_led_indication
932 T nrf_log_frontend_dequeue
812 T pm_handler_flash_clean
804 T pm_handler_pm_evt_log
800 T gcm_ble_evt_handler
736 T GPIOTE_IRQHandler
724 T SystemInit
576 t pages_init
570 T ble_advertising_start
568 t auth_status_success_process
552 T ble_dis_init
548 T characteristic_add
528 T pm_pdb_evt_handler
510 T ble_advdata_encode
478 t uart_irq_handler
452 T nrf_fstorage_write
440 T evt_handle
440 t init_execute
412 T HardFault_c_handler
400 T ble_advertising_init
396 t uarte_irq_handler
372 T pm_init
372 T pm_peer_ranks_get
370 t sec_params_verify
368 t write_enqueue
364 t _conn_secure
360 t fds_evt_handler
356 T pm_peer_rank_highest
356 t sec_info_request_process
348 T fds_stat
344 t uuid_list_sized_encode
340 T xQueueGenericSend
336 t name_encode
336 t link_secure
332 t hrm_encode
324 T xQueueReceive
324 t service_changed_send_in_evt
322 T nrf_log_std_entry_process
320 T vPortSuppressTicksAndSleep
320 t ble_evt_handler
320 T pdb_write_buf_get
316 t ble_evt_handler
316 T im_ble_evt_handler
316 T smd_params_reply
316 T ble_bas_battery_level_update
312 T xTaskIncrementTick
312 T write_buf_store
308 t buf_prealloc
308 T ble_hrs_init
304 t unsigned_print
304 T nrf_fstorage_erase
304 t bsp_button_event_handler
300 T nrfx_uarte_tx
296 r nrf_strerror_array
292 T nrf_log_backend_serial_put
292 t sec_keyset_fill
288 T fds_init
284 t int_print
284 T xTaskResumeAll
280 T gscm_local_db_cache_apply
276 t services_init
276 T gscm_local_db_cache_update
276 T pds_peer_data_store
272 T app_button_init
272 t write_execute
264 t service_data_encode
264 t local_db_apply_in_evt
260 t log_skip
260 T vTaskSuspend
260 t prvProcessReceivedCommands
260 T nrf_ble_gatt_on_ble_evt
256 t memobj_op
252 t queue_process
248 t local_db_update_in_evt
248 T sm_conn_sec_status_get
246 T im_is_duplicate_bonding_data
244 T app_timer_start
244 t battery_level_char_add
242 T nrf_sdh_ble_default_cfg_set
240 T nrf_log_hexdump_entry_process
240 T gcm_init
236 t prvInitialiseNewTask
236 t peer_manager_init
236 t peer_data_delete_process
234 t sys_id_encode
232 T nrfx_gpiote_in_event_enable
232 T pm_peers_delete
228 t record_find
228 t set_security_req
228 T pdb_peer_free
224 t records_stat
224 T nrfx_gpiote_in_init
224 t manuf_specific_data_encode
224 T descriptor_add
224 T gcm_pdb_evt_handler
220 t event_prepare
220 t data_length_update
220 t pnp_id_encode
216 T nrfx_uart_tx
216 T bsp_init
216 t timers_init
212 t write_space_reserve
212 t prvAddNewTaskToReadyList
212 T ble_conn_params_init
212 t on_connected_evt
210 t prvCopyDataToQueue
210 t ble_device_addr_encode
210 T pds_peer_data_read
208 T vTaskNotifyGiveFromISR
208 t service_changed_pending_set
208 t on_exchange_mtu_request_evt
204 t events_send_from_err_code
204 t sec_req_process
202 T pm_buffer_block_acquire
200 T xTaskPriorityDisinherit
200 t prvAddCurrentTaskToDelayedList
200 t reattempt_previous_operations
198 t apply_config
198 t apply_config
198 T ble_advdata_search
196 t conn_int_encode
194 t string_print
194 t is_conn_params_ok
192 T nrf_drv_uart_init
192 T nrfx_uart_init
190 t service_changed_cccd
188 t queue_process
188 T nrf_fstorage_sys_evt_handler
188 T nrfx_uarte_init
188 T main
180 t record_find_by_desc
180 T xQueueGenericReset
176 t prefix_process
176 t gap_params_init
176 t update_timeout_handler
174 T nrf_memobj_alloc
174 t prvUnlockQueue
172 T app_timer_create
172 T xTaskRemoveFromEventList
172 T nrfx_uarte_uninit
172 t application_timers_start
172 t pairing_failure
172 t char_add
168 T pds_peer_data_iterate
168 T pdb_pds_evt_handler
168 T nrf_sdh_enable_request
164 t page_scan
164 t prvSwitchTimerLists
164 T nrfx_gpiote_init
164 T bsp_event_to_button_action_assign
164 T store_car_value
162 T nrf_ble_qwr_on_ble_evt
160 t record_find_next
160 T vTaskResume
160 t appearance_encode
160 T ah
158 T nrf_atflags_find_and_set_flag
156 t std_header_set
156 t gc_execute
156 t claim
154 T xQueueGenericSendFromISR
154 t adv_mode_next_avail_get
152 t state_set
152 T fds_record_close
152 t prvProcessTimerOrBlockTask
152 t interrupts_enable
152 t heart_rate_meas_timeout_handler
148 T nrf_drv_clock_lfclk_request
148 T ble_hrs_heart_rate_measurement_send
148 t nrf_sdh_ble_evts_poll
146 t on_exchange_mtu_rsp_evt
146 t on_rw_authorize_request
144 t std_n
144 T app_timer_stop
144 t gc_page_next
144 T nrf_fstorage_init
144 T RTC1_IRQHandler
144 T ulTaskNotifyTake
144 T gscm_service_changed_ind_send
140 t detection_delay_timeout_handler
140 T xTaskCheckForTimeOut
140 t bsp_event_handler
140 t sec_proc_start
140 t sd_nvic_EnableIRQ
138 t pins_to_default
138 t pins_to_default
136 T pvPortMalloc
136 t ble_evt_handler
136 t set_adv_mode_fast
136 t set_adv_mode_slow
136 T pds_init
134 t event_send
134 T xTaskCreate
132 t prvInsertTimerInActiveList
132 t sensor_simulator_init
132 t on_connect
132 t conn_sec_update_process
132 T smd_ble_evt_handler
132 T nrf_sdh_disable_request
128 t uart_init
128 t write_buf_store_in_event
128 T pdb_write_buf_store
128 T smd_init
128 R __RAL_ascii_ctype_map
126 t flags_encode
126 t tx_power_level_encode
126 t write_buffer_record_find
124 T fds_record_open
124 T nrf_balloc_alloc
124 T vTaskSwitchContext
124 t prvInitialiseTaskLists
124 t sd_state_evt_handler
124 t channel_port_alloc
124 t advertising_init
124 t conn_params_negotiation
124 t on_write
124 t on_data_length_update_evt
124 t conn_sec_failure
124 t flags_set_from_err_code
120 W app_error_fault_handler
120 t page_from_record
120 T fds_file_delete
120 t on_operation_success
120 T xTimerGenericCommand
120 t conn_int_check
120 T im_conn_handle_get
120 t on_write
118 W memcmp
116 T nrf_log_init
116 t sd_nvic_critical_region_enter
116 t erase
116 t sd_nvic_critical_region_enter
116 T pdb_init
114 T nrf_memobj_free
112 T nrf_log_color_id_get
112 T nrf_log_backend_add
112 t gc_swap_pages
112 t gc_state_advance
112 t write
112 T vTaskStartScheduler
112 T nrfx_prs_acquire
112 T ble_advertising_restart_without_whitelist
112 t nrf_sdh_soc_evts_poll
110 t invalid_packets_omit
110 t uuid_list_encode
110 t peer_data_find
110 T ble_bas_init
108 t gc_init
108 t gc_page_erase
108 t prvGetExpectedIdleTime
108 t prvCheckForValidListAndQueue
108 t interrupts_enable
108 t conn_params_init
108 t record_purge_disconnected
108 t sd_nvic_DisableIRQ
108 T nrf_sdh_freertos_init
106 t delete_execute
104 t backend_id_assign
104 t gpiote_event_handler
104 t page_has_space
104 T nrf_strerror_find
104 T vListInsert
104 T POWER_CLOCK_IRQHandler
104 t on_adv_evt
104 t peer_ids_load
104 T peer_id_get_next_used
104 T pm_handler_on_pm_evt
104 T sm_sec_is_sufficient
104 T sm_init
102 T nrf_atfifo_init
102 T vQueueWaitForMessageRestricted
102 t write_buf_length_words_set
100 t nrf_drv_uart_tx
100 t serial_tx
100 t module_idx_get
100 T fds_gc
100 t prvProcessExpiredTimer
100 T nrf_drv_clock_init
100 t nrf_gpiote_event_configure
100 T conn_handle_list_get
100 t car_update_pending_handle
100 t link_secure_failure
100 t sdh_request_observer_notify
98 t nrf_gpio_cfg
98 t nrf_gpio_cfg
98 t nrf_gpio_cfg
98 t nrf_gpio_cfg
98 t connection_buttons_configure
98 t advertising_buttons_configure
98 T ble_srv_report_ref_encode
98 T im_address_resolve
98 T pm_buffer_ptr_get
96 t postfix_process
96 t record_find_and_delete
96 T pxPortInitialiseStack
96 t battery_level_update
96 T ble_conn_state_user_flag_get
96 T ble_conn_state_user_flag_set
96 T im_ble_addr_get
96 T next_id_get
96 t smd_params_reply_perform
94 T PendSV_Handler
94 T ble_hrs_rr_interval_add
92 T eTaskConfirmSleepModeStatus
92 t nrf_gpio_cfg_sense_set
92 T nrfx_uart_uninit
92 t nrf_gpio_cfg_sense_set
92 t ble_stack_init
92 t buttons_leds_init
92 t for_each_set_flag
92 t link_secure_pending_handle
92 T sm_sec_params_set
90 t write_execute
90 T xQueueGenericCreate
90 T pm_buffer_init
88 t record_header_flag_dirty
88 t gc_record_copy
88 t errata_12
88 t errata_31
88 t errata_36
88 t errata_108
88 t errata_136
88 t prvIdleTask
88 t prvCheckTasksWaitingTermination
88 T addr_compare
88 T im_peer_free
88 t write_buffer_record_find_next
88 t rank_vars_update
88 T pm_buffer_release
88 t __sd_nvic_app_accessible_irq
88 t sdh_state_observer_notify
88 R __RAL_c_locale_data
87 R __RAL_c_locale_month_names
86 t nrf_atfifo_rspace_req
86 T nrf_balloc_init
86 t nrfx_power_clock_irq_init
86 t on_terminated
86 T im_peer_id_get_by_master_id
86 T nrf_ble_gatt_init
84 t sd_nvic_critical_region_exit
84 t nrf_atfifo_wspace_req
84 t sd_nvic_critical_region_exit
84 t nrfx_clock_anomaly_132
84 t on_disconnected
84 t on_conn_params_update
84 T ble_conn_state_role
84 T ble_conn_state_status
84 T im_find_duplicate_bonding_data
84 t new_evt
82 t tx_blocking
82 t set_adv_mode_directed
82 T im_master_ids_compare
82 t peer_data_id_is_valid
80 t page_can_tag
80 t write_space_free
80 t record_header_write_id
80 t record_header_write_finalize
80 t flash_end_addr
80 t NVIC_SetPriority
80 t NVIC_SetPriority
80 t prvTaskIsTaskSuspended
80 t uarte_evt_handler
80 t uart_evt_handler
80 t NVIC_SetPriority
80 t NVIC_SetPriority
80 t pin_in_use_by_te_set
80 t NVIC_SetPriority
80 t NVIC_SetPriority
80 t sleep_mode_enter
80 t flags_set
80 t instance_get
80 T ble_conn_state_for_each_set_user_flag
80 t on_data_length_update_request_evt
80 T pm_register
80 T pm_conn_secure
80 T sm_pdb_evt_handler
78 t nrf_gpio_ports_read
78 t rx_byte
78 t sec_params_request_process
76 t state_get
76 t button_get
76 t buffer_add
76 t init
76 T xPortStartScheduler
76 t clock_clk_started_notify
76 t _NRFX_IRQ_IS_ENABLED
76 T ble_advdata_parse
76 t ble_evt_handler
76 T im_peer_id_get_by_conn_handle
76 t write_buffer_record_find_stored
76 t write_buffer_record_acquire
76 T peer_id_delete
76 T nrf_sdh_evts_poll
74 T uxListRemove
74 t prvCopyDataFromQueue
74 t pairing_success_evt_send
74 t on_hrm_cccd_write
72 t address_is_valid
72 t page_identify
72 t file_find_and_delete
72 t record_write_data
72 t nrf_atfifo_space_clear
72 T vPortSetupTimerInterrupt
72 T vQueueAddToRegistry
72 T bsp_board_led_state_get
72 T bsp_board_button_state_get
72 t user_mem_reply
72 t NVIC_GetPriority
70 t header_check
70 T nrf_atflags_fetch_set
70 t prvInitialiseNewTimer
70 t wakeup_button_cfg
70 t on_disconnect
70 T gscm_service_changed_ind_needed
70 t peer_data_point_to_buffer
70 t sec_start_send
70 T smd_link_secure
68 t nrf_drv_uart_uninit
68 t usr_event
68 T app_button_enable
68 T nrf_fstorage_sdh_state_handler
68 T xTimerCreateTimerTask
68 t nrf_gpio_pin_toggle
68 t delete_bonds
68 t advertising_start
68 T ble_advertising_on_ble_evt
68 t evt_send
68 t car_update_needed
68 t update_pending_flags_check
68 t evt_send
68 T nrf_ble_qwr_init
68 t write_buffer_record_release
68 t key_is_lesc
68 T ble_hrs_on_ble_evt
66 T nrf_balloc_free
66 t mutex_lock
64 T nrf_log_module_name_get
64 t gc_next_page
64 T fds_register
64 t prvResetNextTaskUnblockTime
64 t prvGetNextExpireTime
64 T bsp_board_pin_to_button_idx
64 T nrf_drv_clock_lfclk_release
64 t clock_irq_handler
64 t nrf_bitmask_bit_set
64 t tx_byte
64 T bsp_btn_ble_init
64 t rr_interval_timeout_handler
64 t sensor_contact_detected_timeout_handler
64 t send_update_request
64 t record_activate
64 t record_invalidate
64 t sc_send_pending_handle
64 T sm_ble_evt_handler
64 T SWI2_EGU2_IRQHandler
62 T vListInsertEnd
62 t prvInitialiseNewQueue
62 T bsp_btn_ble_sleep_mode_prepare
62 t use_whitelist
62 t write_buffer_record_invalidate
62 T pdb_write_buf_release
60 T nrf_log_panic
60 t event_send
60 t page_offsets_update
60 t record_header_write_begin
60 T nrf_section_iter_next
60 T sensorsim_increment
60 T sensorsim_decrement
60 t prvSampleTimeNow
60 t pin_in_use_by_te
60 t leds_off
60 t startup_event_extract
60 t flag_toggle
60 t send_unexpected_error
60 t db_update_pending_handle
60 T gcm_im_evt_handler
60 T im_master_id_is_valid
60 t send_unexpected_error
60 t evt_send
60 t evt_send
60 t send_unexpected_error
60 t send_params_req
58 T nrf_ringbuf_init
58 t set_adv_mode_directed_high_duty
58 W __aeabi_memmove
58 W __aeabi_memmove4
58 W __aeabi_memmove8
58 W memmove
58 R __RAL_c_locale_day_names
56 t app_timer_callback
56 t gc_record_find_next
56 t errata_16
56 t errata_32
56 t errata_37
56 t errata_57
56 t errata_66
56 T vTaskPlaceOnEventListRestricted
56 T xTimerCreate
56 t item_enqueue
56 t nrf_gpio_cfg_watcher
56 t channel_free
56 t on_conn_params_evt
56 T ble_conn_state_encrypted
56 T ble_conn_state_mitm_protected
56 T ble_conn_state_lesc
56 t service_changed_needed
56 T im_new_peer_id
56 t internal_state_reset
56 t ble_evt_handler
56 T pm_conn_sec_status_get
56 T nrf_sdh_request_continue
56 T nrf_sdh_ble_enable
54 T HardFault_Handler
54 T vListInitialise
54 t nrf_gpiote_event_clear
54 t pm_evt_handler
54 t config_is_valid
54 t send_storage_full_evt
54 T ble_bas_on_ble_evt
52 t gc_swap_promote
52 t addr_is_within_bounds
52 T nrf_memobj_put
52 T xTaskGetSchedulerState
52 t bsp_board_leds_init
52 t bsp_board_buttons_init
52 T nrfx_clock_init
52 t tx_done_event
52 t tx_done_event
52 T bsp_indication_set
52 t instance_claim
52 t pds_evt_send
52 T peer_id_free
52 T pm_peer_delete
52 t send_config_req
52 t disconnect_process
52 t params_req_send
52 t new_context_get
50 T nrf_atfifo_item_alloc
50 T nrf_atfifo_item_get
50 T sensorsim_init
50 t cccd_written
50 T sm_smd_evt_handler
49 R __RAL_c_locale_abbrev_month_names
48 T nrf_log_frontend_std_4
48 t page_tag_write_swap
48 t gc_swap_erase
48 t gc_update_swap_offset
48 T nrf_atflags_clear
48 T nrf_atflags_get
48 T nrf_atomic_u32_fetch_or
48 T nrf_atomic_u32_or
48 T nrf_atomic_u32_fetch_and
48 T nrf_atomic_u32_and
48 T nrf_atomic_u32_fetch_add
48 T nrf_atomic_u32_add
48 T nrf_atomic_u32_sub
48 T nrf_fprintf_buffer_flush
48 T nrf_fprintf
48 t queue_load_next
48 T nrf_section_iter_init
48 t NVIC_ClearPendingIRQ
48 t NVIC_DisableIRQ
48 t nrf_bitmask_bit_is_set
48 t NVIC_DisableIRQ
48 t interrupts_disable
48 t NVIC_DisableIRQ
48 t interrupts_disable
48 T nrfx_uarte_tx_in_progress
48 t adv_mode_next_get
48 T ble_conn_state_valid
48 t local_db_update
48 T gscm_db_change_notification_done
48 t evt_send
48 T nrf_ble_qwr_conn_handle_assign
48 t on_user_mem_request
48 t file_id_within_pm_range
48 t record_key_within_pm_range
48 t pdb_evt_send
48 T peer_id_is_allocated
48 T peer_id_is_deleted
48 T pm_sec_params_set
48 t rank_highest
48 t encryption_failure
48 t NVIC_DisableIRQ
46 t header_has_next
46 T nrf_atflags_set
46 T nrf_atomic_u32_fetch_store
46 T sensorsim_measure
46 t prvIsQueueFull
46 t rx_done_event
46 t rx_done_event
46 t addr_is_valid
46 T is_valid_irk
46 t link_init
46 T pds_peer_id_free
46 t link_secure_authenticate
46 t link_secure_peripheral
46 t send_unexpected_error
46 T sm_link_secure
44 T nrf_log_default_backends_init
44 T nrf_log_frontend_std_3
44 t queue_buf_get
44 t flash_bounds_set
44 T fds_record_find
44 t queue_start
44 t on_operation_failure
44 t uninit
44 t NVIC_EnableIRQ
44 T vTaskPlaceOnEventList
44 T xTimerIsTimerActive
44 t nrf_gpio_cfg_input
44 t NVIC_EnableIRQ
44 t NVIC_EnableIRQ
44 t nrf_gpiote_event_enable
44 t nrf_gpio_cfg_input
44 t nrf_gpio_pin_sense_get
44 t NVIC_EnableIRQ
44 t nrf_gpio_cfg_input
44 T nrfx_uart_tx_in_progress
44 t NVIC_EnableIRQ
44 t nrf_gpio_cfg_input
44 t leds_timer_handler
44 t gatt_init
44 t log_init
44 t uint16_encode
44 T ble_srv_is_notification_enabled
44 T pdb_peer_data_ptr_get
44 t evt_send
44 t uint16_encode
44 t uint16_encode
44 t NVIC_EnableIRQ
44 t softdevice_task
42 T fds_record_update
42 t nrf_rtc_event_clear
42 t prvIsQueueEmpty
42 t nrf_gpio_pin_read
42 t nrf_gpio_pin_out_read
42 T bsp_board_init
42 t _NRFX_IRQ_PRIORITY_SET
42 t _NRFX_IRQ_PRIORITY_SET
42 t nrf_gpiote_event_is_set
42 t nrf_gpio_pin_read
42 t _NRFX_IRQ_PRIORITY_SET
42 t nrf_uart_event_clear
42 t nrf_uart_configure
42 t _NRFX_IRQ_PRIORITY_SET
42 t nrf_uarte_event_clear
42 t nrf_uarte_configure
42 t conn_secure
42 t on_write
40 t nrf_log_backend_uart_put
40 t dropped_sat16_get
40 T nrf_log_frontend_std_2
40 t timer_start
40 T app_error_handler_bare
40 t page_tag_write_data
40 T fds_record_id_from_desc
40 T nrf_atfifo_clear
40 T nrf_atfifo_item_put
40 T nrf_atfifo_item_free
40 T nrf_fstorage_sdh_req_handler
40 T nrf_memobj_write
40 T nrf_memobj_read
40 T nrf_strerror_get
40 T vPortExitCritical
40 t nrf_gpio_pin_set
40 t nrf_gpio_pin_clear
40 t soc_evt_handler
40 t nrf_clock_event_clear
40 T nrfx_prs_release
40 t nrf_gpio_pin_set
40 t nrf_gpio_pin_set
40 T ble_conn_state_user_flag_acquire
40 t nrf_mtx_trylock
40 t peer_data_const_point_to_buffer
40 t release
40 T pm_handler_flash_clean_on_return
40 t sec_procedure
40 t pairing
40 t bonding
40 t allow_repairing
40 t auth_status_failure_process
38 T fds_record_find_by_key
38 T fds_record_find_in_file
38 t adv_set_data_size_max_get
38 t auth_status_process
38 t __sd_nvic_is_app_accessible_priority
36 t NVIC_SystemReset
36 t NVIC_SystemReset
36 t NVIC_SystemReset
36 t errata_182
36 T vTaskInternalSetTimeOutState
36 t nrf_gpio_pin_write
36 T bsp_board_led_on
36 T bsp_board_led_off
36 T bsp_board_leds_off
36 T bsp_board_leds_on
36 t nrf_gpiote_event_polarity_get
36 t pin_in_use_by_port
36 t pin_in_use_by_gpiote
36 t nrf_uart_event_check
36 t nrf_uarte_event_check
36 t send_error_evt
36 t record_set_disconnected
36 t user_flag_is_acquired
36 T ble_srv_ascii_to_utf8
36 T gscm_pdb_evt_handler
36 T peer_id_allocate
36 T peer_id_get_next_deleted
36 t battery_notification_send
36 t softdevices_evt_irq_enable
36 t softdevice_evt_irq_disable
36 T nrf_sdh_ble_app_ram_start_get
36 T __RAL_ascii_mbtowc
34 T nrf_log_frontend_std_1
34 t nrf_balloc_idx2block
34 t addr_is_page_aligned
34 t read
34 T vPortStartFirstTask
34 T pvTimerGetTimerID
34 t nrf_gpio_cfg_output
34 t nrf_clock_event_check
34 t nrf_gpio_cfg_output
34 t nrf_gpio_cfg_default
34 t nrf_gpio_cfg_output
34 t nrf_gpio_cfg_default
34 t clock_init
34 t on_disconnected_evt
34 t flag_id_init
34 t flag_id_init
32 t nrf_log_backend_uart_panic_set
32 t queue_load
32 t queue_has_next
32 t queue_start
32 t flash_subsystem_init
32 t nrf_atfifo_wspace_close
32 t nrf_atfifo_rspace_close
32 t erase_execute
32 T vPortEnterCritical
32 t prvTimerTask
32 T bsp_board_led_invert
32 t item_dequeue
32 t nrf_gpiote_event_pin_get
32 T nrfx_gpiote_in_is_set
32 t prs_box_get
32 t nrf_uart_int_enable_check
32 T bsp_button_is_pressed
32 t phy_is_valid
32 T ble_conn_state_conn_handles
32 t uint16_decode
32 t params_reply_pending_handle
32 R nrf_fstorage_sd
32 r app_buttons
32 R __RAL_codeset_ascii
30 T fds_record_write
30 t nrf_balloc_block2idx
30 T nrf_memobj_get
30 T SVC_Handler
30 t ulPortRaiseBASEPRI
30 t nrf_rtc_task_trigger
30 t ulPortRaiseBASEPRI
30 t ulPortRaiseBASEPRI
30 t prvDeleteTCB
30 T nrfx_clock_lfclk_start
30 t nrf_uart_txrx_pins_set
30 t nrf_uart_hwfc_pins_set
30 t nrf_uarte_shorts_disable
30 t nrf_uarte_txrx_pins_set
30 t nrf_uarte_hwfc_pins_set
30 t nrf_uarte_tx_buffer_set
30 t on_connected
30 t apply_pending_handle
30 T pds_peer_id_is_allocated
30 T pds_next_peer_id_get
30 T pds_next_deleted_peer_id_get
30 t mutex_lock_status_get
30 t params_req_process
29 R __RAL_c_locale_abbrev_day_names
28 T nrf_log_backend_uart_init
28 t nrf_log_backend_put
28 T nrf_log_frontend_std_0
28 T buffer_is_empty
28 T app_util_critical_region_exit
28 t queue_buf_store
28 t queue_free
28 t gc_tag_new_swap
28 t queue_init
28 t is_busy
28 t nrf_rtc_cc_set
28 T vTaskStepTick
28 t _NRFX_IRQ_ENABLE
28 t nrf_clock_lf_is_running
28 t _NRFX_IRQ_ENABLE
28 t pin_in_use_clear
28 t pin_configured_set
28 t channel_port_get
28 t _NRFX_IRQ_ENABLE
28 t _NRFX_IRQ_DISABLE
28 t nrf_uart_errorsrc_get_and_clear
28 t nrf_uart_txrx_pins_disconnect
28 t nrf_uart_hwfc_pins_disconnect
28 t nrf_uart_task_trigger
28 t nrfx_is_in_ram
28 t _NRFX_IRQ_ENABLE
28 t _NRFX_IRQ_DISABLE
28 t nrf_uarte_errorsrc_get_and_clear
28 t nrf_uarte_txrx_pins_disconnect
28 t nrf_uarte_hwfc_pins_disconnect
28 t nrf_uarte_task_trigger
28 t apply_pending_flags_check
28 t service_changed_pending_flags_check
28 t internal_state_reset
28 T pm_sm_evt_handler
28 t internal_state_reset
28 t mutex_unlock
28 t __RAL_ascii_isctype
28 t __RAL_ascii_iswctype
26 t nrf_log_backend_id_set
26 t is_word_aligned
26 t addr_is_aligned32
26 t nrf_clock_task_trigger
26 t nrf_gpiote_event_addr_get
26 t nrf_uart_txd_set
26 t button_timer_handler
26 t logger_thread
26 T ble_advertising_conn_cfg_tag_set
26 t peer_data_id_to_record_key
26 T ble_hrs_sensor_contact_detected_update
24 t uart_evt_handler
24 t nrf_log_backend_panic_set
24 t nrf_log_backend_flush
24 t fs_event_handler
24 T nrf_atomic_flag_set_fetch
24 T nrf_atomic_flag_set
24 T nrf_atomic_flag_clear_fetch
24 t queue_free
24 t vPortEnableVFP
24 T xTaskGetTickCountFromISR
24 T bsp_board_button_idx_to_pin
24 T nrfx_clock_lfclk_stop
24 t nrf_gpiote_int_enable
24 t nrf_gpiote_int_is_enabled
24 t channel_handler_get
24 T nrfx_gpiote_is_init
24 T nrfx_uart_0_irq_handler
24 T nrfx_uarte_0_irq_handler
24 T bsp_wakeup_button_enable
24 T gscm_init
24 t peer_id_to_file_id
24 t file_id_to_peer_id
24 t internal_state_reset
22 t __sd_nvic_irq_disable
22 t header_jump
22 T nrf_memobj_pool_init
22 t __sd_nvic_irq_disable
20 T nrf_log_module_cnt_get
20 T app_util_critical_region_enter
20 t record_id_new
20 T SystemCoreClockUpdate
20 t nrf_rtc_int_enable
20 t nrf_rtc_int_disable
20 t nrf_rtc_prescaler_set
20 t nrf_rtc_event_enable
20 T vTaskSuspendAll
20 T xTaskGetTickCount
20 t nrf_gpio_port_out_set
20 t nrf_gpio_port_out_clear
20 t lfclk_stop
20 t nrf_clock_int_enable
20 t nrf_clock_int_disable
20 t nrf_clock_lf_src_set
20 t nrf_uart_int_enable
20 t nrf_uart_int_disable
20 t nrf_uart_baudrate_set
20 t nrf_gpio_port_out_set
20 t nrf_uarte_int_enable
20 t nrf_uarte_int_disable
20 t nrf_uarte_baudrate_set
20 t nrf_gpio_port_out_set
20 t alert_timer_handler
20 t nrf_qwr_error_handler
20 t conn_params_error_handler
20 T vApplicationIdleHook
20 t nrf_mtx_init
20 t nrf_mtx_unlock
20 t record_key_to_peer_data_id
20 T pds_peer_data_iterate_prepare
20 T pm_gcm_evt_handler
20 T pm_gscm_evt_handler
20 T pm_im_evt_handler
20 t evt_forward
20 t on_connect
20 t on_disconnect
20 T __RAL_isctype
20 R log_mempool
19 r __func__.7738
19 r __func__.7745
19 r m_unknown_str
18 t nrf_log_backend_enable
18 t nrf_log_backend_enable
18 W HardFault_process
18 t nrf_uart_enable
18 t nrf_uart_disable
18 t nrf_uart_rxd_get
18 t nrf_uarte_enable
18 t nrf_uarte_disable
18 t battery_level_meas_timeout_handler
18 t instance_free
18 t write_buffer_record_find_unused
18 r __func__.7717
16 t nrf_log_backend_id_get
16 t nrf_log_backend_is_enabled
16 T vListInitialiseItem
16 t nrf_rtc_counter_get
16 T vTaskMissedYield
16 t nrf_gpio_port_in_read
16 t nrf_gpio_port_out_read
16 t nrfx_get_irq_number
16 T nrfx_clock_enable
16 t nrf_gpio_port_in_read
16 T UARTE0_UART0_IRQHandler
16 t nrfx_get_irq_number
16 t nrf_uart_tx_pin_get
16 t nrf_uart_rx_pin_get
16 t nrf_uart_rts_pin_get
16 t nrf_uart_cts_pin_get
16 t nrfx_get_irq_number
16 t nrf_uarte_tx_pin_get
16 t nrf_uarte_rx_pin_get
16 t nrf_uarte_rts_pin_get
16 t nrf_uarte_cts_pin_get
16 t nrf_uarte_tx_amount_get
16 t nrf_uarte_rx_amount_get
16 t whitelist_has_entries
16 t internal_state_reset
16 T pds_peer_id_allocate
16 T peer_id_init
16 r uart_log_backend
16 r _aV2C.7544
16 r m_evt_handlers
16 r __func__.10745
16 r __func__.10440
15 R __RAL_c_locale_date_time_format
14 t rmap
14 t wmap
14 t prvTaskExitError
14 t nrf_gpio_pin_port_decode
14 t nrf_gpio_pin_port_decode
14 t nrf_gpio_pin_port_decode
14 t nrf_gpio_pin_port_decode
14 t nrf_gpio_pin_port_decode
14 t nrf_section_iter_get
14 t nrf_section_iter_get
14 t nrf_section_iter_get
14 T __RAL_ascii_wctomb
13 r __RAL_ascii_ctype_mask
12 t timestamp_print
12 t on_user_mem_release
12 T nrf_sdh_is_enabled
12 t __RAL_ascii_toupper
12 t __RAL_ascii_tolower
12 t __RAL_ascii_towupper
12 t __RAL_ascii_towlower
12 R nrf_log_backend_uart_api
12 r m_log_push_ringbuf
12 r m_flash_info
12 r sdh_req_observers
12 r sdh_state_observers
12 r sdh_stack_observers
12 r sdh_ble_observers
12 r sdh_soc_observers
12 R __RAL_c_locale
10 t nrf_log_backend_uart_flush
10 T vPortFree
10 t rank_init
10 W isprint
9 R __RAL_c_locale_date_format
9 R __RAL_c_locale_time_format
8 t sd_flash_write
8 t sd_flash_page_erase
8 t sd_app_evt_wait
8 t sd_ble_gap_disconnect
8 t sd_ble_gap_appearance_set
8 t sd_ble_gap_ppcp_set
8 t sd_ble_gap_device_name_set
8 t sd_ble_gap_phy_update
8 t sd_power_system_off
8 t sd_ble_gap_addr_get
8 t sd_ble_gap_appearance_get
8 t sd_ble_gap_device_name_get
8 t sd_ble_uuid_encode
8 t sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure
8 t sd_ble_gap_adv_start
8 t sd_ble_gap_adv_stop
8 t sd_ble_gap_conn_param_update
8 t sd_ble_gap_disconnect
8 t sd_ble_gap_ppcp_set
8 t sd_ble_gap_ppcp_get
8 t sd_ble_gatts_characteristic_add
8 t sd_ble_gatts_descriptor_add
8 t sd_ble_gattc_char_value_by_uuid_read
8 t sd_ble_gattc_read
8 t sd_ble_gatts_value_get
8 t sd_ble_gatts_initial_user_handle_get
8 t sd_ble_gatts_attr_get
8 t sd_ble_gatts_service_changed
8 t sd_ble_gatts_sys_attr_set
8 t sd_ble_gatts_sys_attr_get
8 t sd_ble_gatts_initial_user_handle_get
8 t sd_ecb_block_encrypt
8 t sd_ble_gap_data_length_update
8 t sd_ble_gattc_exchange_mtu_request
8 t sd_ble_gatts_exchange_mtu_reply
8 t sd_ble_gatts_rw_authorize_reply
8 t sd_ble_user_mem_reply
8 t sd_ble_gap_disconnect
8 t sd_ble_gap_authenticate
8 t sd_ble_gap_sec_params_reply
8 t sd_ble_gap_sec_info_reply
8 t sd_ble_gatts_service_add
8 t sd_ble_gatts_value_set
8 t sd_ble_gatts_hvx
8 t sd_ble_gatts_service_add
8 t sd_ble_gatts_service_add
8 t sd_ble_gatts_hvx
8 t sd_softdevice_enable
8 t sd_softdevice_disable
8 t sd_ble_enable
8 t sd_ble_cfg_set
8 t sd_ble_evt_get
8 t sd_evt_get
8 r m_sys_obs
8 r m_soc_evt_observer
8 r m_ble_evt_observer
8 r m_ble_observer
8 r m_gatt_obs
8 r m_advertising_ble_obs
8 r m_ble_observer
8 r m_ble_evt_observer
8 r m_bas_obs
8 r m_hrs_obs
8 r m_qwr_obs
8 r m_ble_observer.12567
8 r m_state_obs
8 r m_sd_state_observer
8 r m_nrf_sdh_ble_evts_poll
8 r m_nrf_sdh_soc_evts_poll
8 R m_req_obs
8 R m_nrf_log_CLOCK_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_GPIOTE_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_PRS_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_UART_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_UARTE_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_app_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_app_button_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_ble_bas_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_clock_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_hardfault_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_nrf_ble_gatt_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_nrf_fstorage_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_nrf_sdh_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_nrf_sdh_ble_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_nrf_sdh_freertos_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_nrf_sdh_soc_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_peer_manager_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_peer_manager_gcm_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_peer_manager_gscm_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_peer_manager_handler_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_peer_manager_im_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_peer_manager_pdb_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_peer_manager_pds_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_peer_manager_sm_logs_data_const
8 R m_nrf_log_peer_manager_smd_logs_data_const
8 r page_tag_swap.8646
8 r page_tag_data.8650
8 r m_evt_handlers
8 r __func__.10559
7 R __RAL_c_locale_am_pm_indicator
6 T app_timer_init
6 t __sd_nvic_irq_enable
6 t __sd_nvic_irq_enable
4 r m_detection_delay_timer_id
4 r dirty_header.8777
4 r m_board_led_list
4 r m_board_btn_list
4 r irq_handlers.8950
4 r irq_handlers.8992
4 r m_bsp_leds_tmr
4 r m_bsp_alert_tmr
4 r m_bsp_button_tmr
4 r car_value_true.10477
4 r car_value_false.10478
4 r service_changed_pending.10179
4 r service_changed_pending.10236
2 R __RAL_data_utf8_period
1 R __RAL_data_empty_string

Sum of the sizes is around 95 kB and this was generated from the original FreeRTOS HRS example from SDK 16.0.0, built for devkit pca10040.

I can't spot from the list any obvious things that would be consuming lots of flash. There's just a very long list of small stuff that eventually creates a rather big image.

Should I be looking into compiler/linker settings? Possibly the linker is not dropping unused functions but keeping everything which would explain why the resulting image is a bit bloated. Any ideas?

[TylerD]

Any comments? It's been a week and I doubt that I'm the only one experimenting with the FreeRTOS based example for nRF52. Is it normal for the simple HRS app to be > 100kB in size??

I'm relatively new to Nordic parts so don't know exactly what to expect...

[Susheel Nuguru]

sorry for the late reply. Seems like you are including NRF_LOG_ENABLED in your sdk_config.h file. That would increase a log of foot print. This also makes the BACKEDEND (seems uart in your case) included which includes uart libraries and drivers

[TylerD]

Thanks for the tip. Changing NRF_LOG_ENABLED to 0 made the flash footprint ~31kB smaller. This is a good start.

After disabling log, the size of the HRS sample app is still 70+ kB which seems a bit large, considering it is a very simple app. Is there perhaps some other options that I may need to adjust?

The 70kB app size is not a showstopper as such. However, I am in the process of setting up the template for a project that will go into production use eventually and I would like to strip off all the unnecessary fat from the project right from the start (instead of trying to shave it off few days before the deadline...)

This project is FreeRTOS based and the OS obviously adds some bulk to the image. So basically I have two follow-up questions:

1) What settings should I be looking at to optimize the flash consumed by FreeRTOS

2) How to minimize the footprint of the BLE application itself (excluding the OS)

Regarding question 2: the softdevice is a fixed binary with fixed size, so that cannot be optimized. I'm new to Nordic BLE stack so it's a bit unclear how I can optimize my app footprint, considering that I only need a (relatively small) subset of the features that are available in the s132 stack. If there are some appnotes, blogs etc on this topic then please let me know.

[Susheel Nuguru]

I would highly recommend you to understand the sdk_config.h file. This knowledge is quite useful for you in the future, so it will be a good investment in time. After that disable all those things that are not needed in your project. When you start to think about the best performance/lowest power/smallest foot print, then you need to have control on these variables and select them accordingly. 

TylerD said:

1) What settings should I be looking at to optimize the flash consumed by FreeRTOS

 The flash size directly is impacted by what features are included in your project. By default we add all the drivers and libraries into your project and hope/expect that you select their inclusion wisely by enabling or disabling them in sdk_config.h file. 

Please start to disable the things in sdk_config that you think are definitely not needed in your production version. I am sure you will get  better results. It is quite hard from our perspective to suggest what to disable and what to keep enabled. Since these are given as template example for making this functionality work and leaving the footprint engineering to the experts like you by selecting them from sdk_config.h