Hardware Abstraction Resource
Author:  Alexander Brevig
Contact: alexanderbrevig@gmail.com

Harware Abstraction Libraries

For how to write Libraries, see the Library tutorial.

Current Libraries:

• Arduino Core Libraries
• Button Library
• Keypad Library
• LED Library
• Ping Library
• Potentiometer Library
• SevenSegment Library
• ShiftRegister Library
• Summer Library

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• What is a Hardware Abstration library?
• Why do we have these libraries?
• Links
• Information about this page

What is a Hardware Abstration library?

A Hardware Abstraction Library _{(later referred to as HAL)} is a library that serves as a wrapper around the Arduino API to enhance code readability and user experience. The library should be intuitive to use, and all names should describe, in an efficient way, all questions regarding what, when, and where, but should conceal the how.

It is important to remember that you do not need a HAL for interfacing with additional hardware. It only makes it simpler.

If you are interested in the inner mechanics of a library, you'll find them (if downloaded) in /hardware/libraries/library/

Most HALs uses:

• Simple logic
  • if...else
  • for
  • switch case
  • while
• Basic Arduino functions such as:
  • pinMode
  • digitalWrite
  • digitalRead
  • analogRead
  • analogWrite
  • millis
  • delay
• A few variables, usually:
  • boolean
  • char
  • string
  • byte
  • int
  • unsigned long

Why do we have these libraries?

• Simplify the use of additional hardware
• Enhance code readability
• Decentralize logic
  • Main sketch kan now simply state library.action() instead of coding the equivalent in the sketch

Links

Information about this page