Learn MBED-CPP with Real Code Examples
Updated Nov 21, 2025
Explain
Mbed OS enables developers to write C++ code for microcontrollers with access to RTOS features, drivers, and middleware.
It provides abstractions for hardware peripherals, sensors, communication protocols, and networking stacks.
Ideal for professional embedded development, IoT devices, and performance-critical applications.
Core Features
Runs on ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers
Preemptive RTOS with threads and mutexes
Filesystem support for onboard storage
Peripheral drivers for GPIO, ADC, PWM, UART, I2C, SPI
Networking and IoT protocols integrated
Basic Concepts Overview
Thread and RTOS task management
Digital and analog I/O
Timers, interrupts, and event queues
Peripheral drivers and abstraction layers
Networking protocols (MQTT, HTTP, BLE, LoRa, Ethernet)
Project Structure
main.cpp - entry point of application
mbed_app.json - configuration file
drivers/ - peripheral drivers
rtos/ - threads and event handling
lib/ - additional libraries and modules
Building Workflow
Setup Mbed OS project
Write application logic in C++
Include drivers for sensors, actuators, and connectivity
Compile and flash firmware
Debug using serial, SWD, or IDE debugging tools
Difficulty Use Cases
Beginner: blink LED using GPIO
Intermediate: sensor reading with interrupts
Advanced: multi-threaded IoT device
Expert: industrial IoT gateway with connectivity
Enterprise: scalable embedded system with low-power optimization
Comparisons
Mbed C++ is lower-level than MicroPython/CircuitPython
Better suited for professional-grade embedded applications
RTOS support and multi-threading not available in Python-based variants
Higher memory footprint but more performance
Production-ready with advanced connectivity and security
Versioning Timeline
2009 – Mbed platform initiated by ARM
2012 – Mbed OS 2 released with peripheral drivers
2015 – Mbed OS 5 released with RTOS and networking
2018–2022 – Expansion of connectivity modules and IoT support
2025 – Mature ecosystem with multi-threading, RTOS, and production-ready features
Glossary
main.cpp - application entry point
mbed_app.json - configuration file
Thread - RTOS thread object
EventQueue - RTOS event scheduling
NetworkInterface - networking abstraction API