A Programmer's
Guide to Logging Best
Practices in
Embedded Systems
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Why Logging Matters in Embedded
Systems
3. Core Principles of Logging
4. Embedded-Specific Challenges
5. Techniques for Logging in
Embedded Systems
6. Best Practices for Logging
Implementation
7. Example 1: Basic C UART Logger
8. Example 2: Ring Buffer Logger
9. Example 3: Compile-Time Debug
Macros
10.Common Pitfalls to Avoid
11.Conclusion & Key Takeaways
Introduction
Introduction
In embedded systems development, debugging
is often one of the most time-consuming tasks.
Unlike desktop applications, you cannot always
rely on interactive debuggers or rich runtime
environments. This is where logging becomes
indispensable. Logging provides developers
with a window into the runtime behavior of
their system, enabling faster troubleshooting,
validation, and long-term maintenance.
However, logging in embedded systems is not
the same as logging in desktop or cloud
applications.
Introduction
Constraints such as limited memory, real-time
requirements, and restricted I/O bandwidth
demand carefully designed logging strategies.
This article explores logging best practices
tailored for embedded systems, guiding both
beginners and intermediate engineers toward
efficient and maintainable solutions.
Why Logging Matters
in Embedded Systems
Why Logging Matters in
Embedded Systems
• Debugging in real time: Logs capture
program execution flow and errors without
halting execution.
• Post-mortem analysis: Persistent logs stored
in Flash or EEPROM help identify issues after
resets.
• System validation: Logging provides insights
into performance metrics, timing, and state
transitions.
• Maintainability: Clean, structured logs
simplify collaboration and future debugging
by different engineers.
Core Principles of
Logging
Core Principles of Logging
Log Levels and Severity
Classify logs into levels (e.g., DEBUG, INFO,
WARN, ERROR). This allows selective filtering
depending on development stage.
Consistent Formatting
Consistency makes logs easier to parse —
whether by humans or automated tools. Use
fixed prefixes, severity tags, and clear
delimiters.
Timestamping and Context
Logs should include timestamps (e.g., from a
system tick counter) and relevant context such
as task IDs or function names.
Embedded-Specific
Challenges
Embedded-Specific
Challenges
Limited Memory and Flash
MCUs may have only a few kilobytes of RAM.
Storing verbose logs is impractical, so
developers must prioritize what gets logged.
Performance Trade-offs
Logging consumes CPU cycles and
communication bandwidth. Excessive logging
may disrupt real-time tasks.
Handling Power Loss or Resets
Systems that lose power unexpectedly should
have a strategy (e.g., ring buffers in RAM, or
selective persistence in Flash).
Techniques for
Logging in
Embedded Systems
Techniques for Logging in
Embedded Systems
Using UART/Serial Logs
The most common method: sending logs over
UART. Simple and lightweight but requires a
serial connection and may slow down critical
loops.
Circular Buffers and Ring Buffers
Logs are stored in a fixed-size buffer. When full,
new entries overwrite the oldest. This
guarantees space efficiency while retaining
recent events.
Techniques for Logging in
Embedded Systems
Persistent Storage (EEPROM/Flash)
Critical logs (e.g., fault conditions) can be
stored in non-volatile memory. Use with care:
Flash and EEPROM have limited write cycles.
Conditional and Compile-Time Logging
Use macros to enable or disable logging at
compile time. This prevents debug code from
bloating production builds.
Best Practices for
Logging
Implementation
Best Practices for
Logging Implementation
• Keep It Lightweight: Avoid heavy string
formatting (e.g., printf) inside time-critical
ISRs.
• Filter by Log Level: Log only what matters.
DEBUG-level logs can be compiled out in
release builds.
• Balance Detail vs Overhead: Too little
logging is unhelpful; too much logging floods
buffers and reduces performance.
• Use Structured Logging: Where possible,
include key-value pairs for easier parsing by
automated tools.
Example 1: Basic C
UART Logger
Example 1: Basic C UART
Logger
Example 1: Basic C UART
Logger
This example shows a lightweight logger that
supports severity levels and outputs to UART. In
a real MCU, uart_send() would be replaced with
HAL or driver code.
Example 2: Ring
Buffer Logger
Example 2: Ring Buffer
Logger
Example 2: Ring Buffer
Logger
This implementation efficiently stores logs in
RAM, keeping the most recent entries without
overflowing. It can be flushed periodically over
UART or stored in non-volatile memory.
Example 3: Compile-
Time Debug Macros
Example 3: Compile-Time
Debug Macros
This approach ensures that debug messages
can be included during development and
excluded in production builds to save memory
and CPU time.
Common Pitfalls to
Avoid
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
• Overusing printf: Standard I/O functions are
expensive in embedded environments. Use
lightweight alternatives.
• Logging inside ISRs: Avoid heavy logging
inside interrupt routines; instead, flag events
and log them in tasks.
• Ignoring buffer overflows: Always implement
bounds checking for log storage.
• Too much verbosity in production: Shipping
firmware with excessive logging wastes
resources and may expose sensitive details.
Conclusion & Key
Takeaways
Conclusion & Key
Takeaways
Logging is not just about printing messages —
it is about capturing meaningful information
efficiently within the constraints of embedded
systems. By adopting log levels, structured
formats, ring buffers, and conditional
compilation, developers can achieve reliable
and low-overhead logging.
The best embedded logs are:
• Lightweight to minimize system impact.
• Structured to improve readability and post-
processing.
• Configurable so verbosity can be tuned per
environment.
Conclusion
environment. & Key
Takeaways
By following these best practices, beginner and
intermediate engineers can transform logging
from a quick debugging hack into a powerful
diagnostic tool that strengthens reliability and
maintainability in embedded systems..
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