Getting started

Getting started may be the most challenging part of every new library. This guide is describing how to start with the library quickly and effectively

Download library

Library is primarly hosted on Github.

You can get it by:

  • Downloading latest release from releases area on Github

  • Cloning main branch for latest stable version

  • Cloning develop branch for latest development

Download from releases

All releases are available on Github releases area.

Clone from Github

First-time clone

This is used when you do not have yet local copy on your machine.

  • Make sure git is installed.

  • Open console and navigate to path in the system to clone repository to. Use command cd your_path

  • Clone repository with one of available options below

    • Run git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/MaJerle/lwprintf command to clone entire repository, including submodules

    • Run git clone --recurse-submodules --branch develop https://github.com/MaJerle/lwprintf to clone development branch, including submodules

    • Run git clone --recurse-submodules --branch main https://github.com/MaJerle/lwprintf to clone latest stable branch, including submodules

  • Navigate to examples directory and run favourite example

Update cloned to latest version

  • Open console and navigate to path in the system where your repository is located. Use command cd your_path

  • Run git pull origin main command to get latest changes on main branch

  • Run git pull origin develop command to get latest changes on develop branch

  • Run git submodule update --init --remote to update submodules to latest version

Note

This is preferred option to use when you want to evaluate library and run prepared examples. Repository consists of multiple submodules which can be automatically downloaded when cloning and pulling changes from root repository.

Add library to project

At this point it is assumed that you have successfully download library, either with git clone command or with manual download from the library releases page. Next step is to add the library to the project, by means of source files to compiler inputs and header files in search path.

CMake is the main supported build system. Package comes with the CMakeLists.txt and library.cmake files, both located in the lwprintf directory:

  • library.cmake: It is a fully configured set of variables and with library definition. User can include this file to the project file with include(path/to/library.cmake) and then manually use the variables provided by the file, such as list of source files, include paths or necessary compiler definitions. It is up to the user to properly use the this file on its own.

  • CMakeLists.txt: It is a wrapper-only file and includes library.cmake file. It is used for when user wants to include the library to the main project by simply calling CMake add_subdirectory command, followed by target_link_libraries to link external library to the final project.

Tip

Open library.cmake and analyze the provided information. Among variables, you can also find list of all possible exposed libraries for the user.

If you do not use the CMake, you can do the following:

  • Copy lwprintf folder to your project, it contains library files

  • Add lwprintf/src/include folder to include path of your toolchain. This is where C/C++ compiler can find the files during compilation process. Usually using -I flag

  • Add source files from lwprintf/src/ folder to toolchain build. These files are built by C/C++ compiler

  • Copy lwprintf/src/include/lwprintf/lwprintf_opts_template.h to project folder and rename it to lwprintf_opts.h

  • Build the project

Configuration file

Configuration file is used to overwrite default settings defined for the essential use case. Library comes with template config file, which can be modified according to the application needs. and it should be copied (or simply renamed in-place) and named lwprintf_opts.h

Note

Default configuration template file location: lwprintf/src/include/lwprintf/lwprintf_opts_template.h. File must be renamed to lwprintf_opts.h first and then copied to the project directory where compiler include paths have access to it by using #include "lwprintf_opts.h".

Tip

If you are using CMake build system, define the variable LWPRINTF_OPTS_FILE before adding library’s directory to the CMake project. Variable must contain the path to the user options file. If not provided and to avoid build error, one will be generated in the build directory.

Configuration options list is available available in the Configuration section. If any option is about to be modified, it should be done in configuration file

Template configuration file
 1/**
 2 * \file            lwprintf_opts_template.h
 3 * \brief           LwPRINTF configuration file
 4 */
 5
 6/*
 7 * Copyright (c) 2024 Tilen MAJERLE
 8 *
 9 * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
10 * obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
11 * files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction,
12 * including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge,
13 * publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software,
14 * and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
15 * subject to the following conditions:
16 *
17 * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
18 * included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
19 *
20 * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
21 * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
22 * OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
23 * AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
24 * HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
25 * WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
26 * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
27 * OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
28 *
29 * This file is part of LwPRINTF - Lightweight stdio manager library.
30 *
31 * Author:          Tilen MAJERLE <tilen@majerle.eu>
32 * Version:         v1.0.6
33 */
34#ifndef LWPRINTF_OPTS_HDR_H
35#define LWPRINTF_OPTS_HDR_H
36
37/* Rename this file to "lwprintf_opts.h" for your application */
38
39/*
40 * Open "include/lwprintf/lwprintf_opt.h" and
41 * copy & replace here settings you want to change values
42 */
43
44#endif /* LWPRINTF_OPTS_HDR_H */

Note

If you prefer to avoid using configuration file, application must define a global symbol LWPRINTF_IGNORE_USER_OPTS, visible across entire application. This can be achieved with -D compiler option.

Minimal example code

To verify proper library setup, minimal example has been prepared. Run it in your main application file to verify its proper execution

Absolute minimum example
 1#include "lwprintf/lwprintf.h"
 2
 3/* Called for every character to be printed */
 4int
 5lwprintf_out(int ch, lwprintf_t* lwp) {
 6    /* May use printf to output it for test */
 7    if (ch != '\0') {
 8        printf("%c", (char)ch);
 9    }
10    return ch;
11}
12
13int
14main(void) {
15    /* Initialize default lwprintf instance with output function */
16    lwprintf_init(lwprintf_out);
17
18    /* Print first text */
19    lwprintf_printf("Text: %d", 10);
20}