# Write the Uarte implementation ## Step-by-Step Solution ### Check Documentation. The UART protocol requires four pins, they are usually labelled: * RXD * TXD * CTS * RTS Check the documentation to find out which pins are reserved for these and what their configuration needs to be. ### Explore the `nrf-hal` to find out what needs to be done. The `nrf52840-hal` is a crate that exports all the `52840` flagged features from the `nrf-hal-common`. Let's take a look at the [Uarte module](https://github.com/nrf-rs/nrf-hal/blob/v0.14.1/nrf-hal-common/src/uarte.rs). In line 16 we see, that the nRF52840 uses the `hal::pac::UARTE1` peripheral. In line 44 you find the `struct Uarte(T)`, the interface to a UARTE instance `T`. Besides the instance `T`, the instantiating method takes variables of the following types as arguments: `Pins`, `Parity` and `Baudrate`. A quick search of the document reveals where to find all of them: * `Pins`: Line 463 * `Parity` and `Baudrate`: Re-export on line 34 Add the following lines as import: ```rust use hal::pac::uarte0::{ baudrate::BAUDRATE_A as Baudrate, config::PARITY_A as Parity}; use hal::uarte; ``` ### Add `struct Uarte` that serves as a wrapper for the `UARTE1` instance. The struct has one field labelled `inner`, it contains the `UARTE1` instance. ### Bring up the peripheral in the `fn init()` Take a closer look at the definition of the `Pins` struct. Import the types of the pin configuration that you don't have yet. Note that the third and fourth pin are each wrapped in an `Option`. Level? Create an instance of this struct in `fn init()` with the appropriate pins and configurations. Create an interface to the UARTE1 instance with `uarte::Uarte::new(...)`. The UARTE0 instance can be found in the `periph` variable. Set parity to `INCLUDED` and the baud rate to `BAUD115200`. ### Board struct Add a field for the `Uarte` struct in the Board struct. add the field to the instance of the Board struct in `fn init()`. ### Implementing the `fmt::Write` trait We can't just write to the Uarte instance. A simple write would write from flash memory. This does not work because of EasyDMA. We have to write a function that implements the `fmt::Write` trait. This trait guarantees that the buffer is fully and successfully written on a stack allocated buffer, before it returns. What exactly does the trait guarantee? Create a public method `write_str`. It takes a mutable reference to self and a `&str` as argument. It returns an `fmt::Result` Create a buffer. The type is an array of 16 u8, set to all 0. To copy all data into an on-stack buffer, iterate over every chunk of the string to copy it into the buffer: ```rust for block in string.as_bytes().chunks(16) { buf[..block.len()].copy_from_slice(block); self.inner.write(&buf[..block.len()]).map_err(|_| fmt::Error)?; } ``` return `Ok(())` ### Connect your computer to the virtual UART Use the following command to find the address of the nRF52840-DK on your computer. ``` ls /dev/tty* ``` Run the following command to run `screen` with the nRF52840-DK with 115200 baud. ``` screen 115200 ``` ### Run the example. In another terminal window go into the folder `down-the-stack/apps`. Use the following command. ``` cargo run --bin uarte_print ``` On your terminal window where `screen` runs, "Hello, World" should appear.