# Zephyr Foundations

> Foundational skills for Zephyr RTOS development. Covers essential Embedded C patterns (BIT, CONTAINER_OF), real-time concurrency primitives (mutexes, semaphores, spinlocks), hardware literacy (datasheet-to-DTS mapping), and defensive programming. Trigger when writing core application logic, drivers, or troubleshooting foundational behavior. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/zephyr-foundations` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/zephyr-foundations`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/zephyr-foundations/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/zephyr-foundations

---


# Zephyr Foundations

Mastering the bedrock of Zephyr is essential for writing efficient, robust, and idiomatic code.

## Core Workflows

### 1. Idiomatic C Patterns
Zephyr uses specific macros to manage memory and hardware-software mapping.
- **Reference**: **[zephyr_macros.md](references/zephyr_macros.md)**
- **Key Tools**: `CONTAINER_OF`, `BIT()`, `GENMASK()`, `ARRAY_SIZE`.

### 2. Real-Time Concurrency
Safe multi-threading and interrupt handling are critical for stability.
- **Reference**: **[concurrency.md](references/concurrency.md)**
- **Key Tools**: `k_mutex`, `k_sem`, `k_spinlock`, `atomic_t`, ISR safety rules.

### 3. Hardware Literacy (Devicetree)
Understanding how code interacts with the hardware description.
- **Reference**: **[devicetree_basics.md](references/devicetree_basics.md)**
- **Key Tools**: Nodes, properties, phandles, overlays, and advanced deletion.

### 4. Robust Error Handling
Preventing crashes through defensive programming.
- **Reference**: **[error_handling.md](references/error_handling.md)**
- **Key Tools**: `errno.h`, `BUILD_ASSERT`, validation patterns, return code checking.

## Quick Start (Defensive Pattern)
```c
int sensor_read_checked(const struct device *dev)
{
  if (dev == NULL || !device_is_ready(dev)) {
    return -ENODEV;
  }

  return 0;
}
```

## Validation Checklist
- [ ] Shared bit-field logic uses Zephyr macros (`BIT`, `GENMASK`) instead of raw literals.
- [ ] Thread-shared state is protected with mutex/spinlock/atomic primitives.
- [ ] Error paths return standard negative `errno` codes.
- [ ] Defensive guards exist for null pointers, bounds, and device readiness checks.

## Automation Tools
- **[errno_return_check.py](scripts/errno_return_check.py)**: Detect likely non-negative `errno` return statements in C/C++ code.

## Examples & Templates

- **[template_driver.c](assets/foundation_examples/template_driver.c)**: A complete skeleton showing how to combine DT macros, mutexes, and config-data separation.

## Resources

- **[References](references/)**:
  - `zephyr_macros.md`: Essential macros (BIT, CONTAINER_OF, etc.).
  - `concurrency.md`: Mutexes, Semaphores, Spinlocks, and ISR safety.
  - `devicetree_basics.md`: Devicetree syntax and overlay patterns.
  - `error_handling.md`: Error codes and defensive programming.
- **[Scripts](scripts/)**:
  - `errno_return_check.py`: Return-code sign checker.
- **[Assets](assets/)**:
  - `foundation_examples/`: Working code templates for drivers and logic.

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-13 -->