TinyPrint

Base class that provides print() and println(). This is a slimmed down version of the original Print.h Arduino library. The intent is to have a smaller flash and memory footprint. To achieve this, the String and Printable were removed, along with the error methods. Also the different parts (flashstring, number, float, print lines) can be enabled/disabled individually with conditional compilation.

Features

• Adds print() and println() functionality to your class
• Same code as Arduino's own Print
• Small (memory: 14 - 22 bytes, flash: 378 - 572 bytes)
• Individual fetures can be enabled/disabled using preprocessor directives

Using

This is a base class, so you need to inherit it in your own class:

#include <TinyPrint.h>

class testClass : public TinyPrint
{
public:
	testClass();

private:
	// Inherited via Print
	virtual byte write(uint8_t) override;
};

testClass::testClass()
{}

byte testClass::write(uint8_t)
{
	// do the actual write

	// return the number of characters written
	return size_t();
}

Inheriting from TinyPrint will give you print() and println() functions:

#include "testClass.h"

testClass testMe;

void setup()
{
  testMe.print("asdf");
  testMe.println("qwer");
}

Configuration

These preprocessor directives are used to modify the behavior and the feature set of the library.

Remember to use them, before including the header file:

// BEFORE including your class!
#define TP_PRINTLINES 1
...

#include "testClass.h"
...

TP_PRINTLINES

Enables or disables the support for println(). You can still do print lines, but you will need to manually add a '\n' or a "\r\n" to the end of your string.

  testMe.print('a');
  testMe.println('b'); // this will throw an error if TP_PRINTLINES is 0

TP_FLASHSTRINGHELPER

Enables or disables the support for the FlashStringHelper - this is the class that enables you to store string literals in the flash memory. (keywords: PROGMEM, PGM, F())

  testMe.print(F("asdf!")); // if TP_FLASHSTRINGHELPER is 0 then it should give you a warning: invalid conversion from 'const __FlashStringHelper*' to 'char' [-fpermissive]

TP_NUMBERS

Enables or disables the support for numbers. You can pass in numbers as arguments, but it will try to print out a single character. So if you want to print out the value of the number, enable this.

  testMe.print(64); // with TP_NUMBERS enabled, this prints '64', with TP_NUMBERS disabled this prints 'A'

TP_FLOAT

Enables or disables the support for floating point numbers. Note: TP_NUMBERS must be enabled as well for this to work!

  testMe.print(12.34);

TP_WINDOWSLINEENDS

Switches between having a \n and a \r\n at the end of the printed text when using println(...)

  testMe.print("asdf"); // outputs either "asdf\n" or "asdf\r\n"

Measurements

Here are a few measurements so we can compare TinyPrint with Arduino's Print. Code used for measurements can be found in the Examples folder, with the name "*M" (ArduinoPrintM, TinyPrintM).

Setup

• Arduino UNO
• Arduino IDE 1.8.5

Test code

    testMe.print('a');
    testMe.println('b');
    testMe.print(1234);
    testMe.println(4567);
    //testMe.print(12.34);
    //testMe.println(45.67);
    testMe.print(F("asdf!"));
    testMe.println(F("qwer?"));
    testMe.print("hjk");
    testMe.println("zui");

The full test code can be found in the Examples folder.

Base

File	Mode	Memory(b)	Flash(b)	Comment
BareMinimum.ino		9	444	This is the "BareMinimum" example sketch
ArduinoPrintM.ino		28(37)	806(1250)	This is a test class implementing Print, with the test code
ArduinoPrintM.ino	FP	28(37)	2238(2682)	Test class implementing Print, with the test code, with the floating point operation enabled

All values have the BareMinimum subtracted from them. Original values are in parenthesis.

TinyPrint

Mode	Memory(b)	Flash(b)
Text only	14(23)	378(822)
Text + Flash string helpers	14(23)	432(876)
Text + Flash string helpers + print lines	18(27)	530(974)
Text + numbers	14(23)	402(846)
Text + numbers + print lines	18(27)	490(934)
Text + numbers + float	14(23)	396(840)
Text + numbers + float + print lines	18(27)	492(936)
Everything enabled	22(31)	572(1016)

All values have the BareMinimum subtracted from them. Original values are in parenthesis.

Note: your milage may vary! (Ex.: Newer versions of the IDE have better optimization features. Also if you already have floating point operations in your code, enabling it here will not have as much effect. Etc.)

Find the original Print library files here:

• https://github.com/arduino/ArduinoCore-avr/blob/master/cores/arduino/Print.cpp
• https://github.com/arduino/ArduinoCore-avr/blob/master/cores/arduino/Print.h