What are some tricks I can use with macros? [closed]

Answer 1

On micro controllers it is common to debug code using UART, as hardware breakpoints have many drawbacks.

This is a simple macro that has proven very useful:

#define DEBUG_OUT(value) sprintf(uartTxBuf, "%s = 0x%04X\n", #value, value);\
                         puts_UART((uint16_t *) uartTxBuf)

Usage example:

for (i=0; i < 4; i++)
{
    DEBUG_OUT(i);
    DEBUG_OUT(i % 3);
}

Recieved stream:

i = 0x0000
i % 3 = 0x0000
i = 0x0001
i % 3 = 0x0001
i = 0x0002
i % 3 = 0x0002
i = 0x0003
i % 3 = 0x0000

Yes, it's crude and unsafe. It's only applied until the bug is isolated, so this macro does no harm.