.. zephyr:code-sample:: blinky
:name: Blinky
:relevant-api: gpio_interface
Blink an LED forever using the GPIO API.
Overview
********
The Blinky sample blinks an LED forever using the :ref:`GPIO API <gpio_api>`.
The source code shows how to:
#. Get a pin specification from the :ref:`devicetree <dt-guide>` as a
:c:struct:`gpio_dt_spec`
#. Configure the GPIO pin as an output
#. Toggle the pin forever
See :zephyr:code-sample:`pwm-blinky` for a similar sample that uses the PWM API instead.
.. _blinky-sample-requirements:
Requirements
************
Your board must:
#. Have an LED connected via a GPIO pin (these are called "User LEDs" on many of
Zephyr's :ref:`boards`).
#. Have the LED configured using the ``led0`` devicetree alias.
Building and Running
********************
Build and flash Blinky as follows, changing ``reel_board`` for your board:
.. zephyr-app-commands::
:zephyr-app: samples/basic/blinky
:board: reel_board
:goals: build flash
:compact:
After flashing, the LED starts to blink and messages with the current LED state
are printed on the console. If a runtime error occurs, the sample exits without
printing to the console.
Build errors
************
You will see a build error at the source code line defining the ``struct
gpio_dt_spec led`` variable if you try to build Blinky for an unsupported
board.
On GCC-based toolchains, the error looks like this:
.. code-block:: none
error: '__device_dts_ord_DT_N_ALIAS_led_P_gpios_IDX_0_PH_ORD' undeclared here (not in a function)
Adding board support
********************
To add support for your board, add something like this to your devicetree:
.. code-block:: DTS
/ {
aliases {
led0 = &myled0;
};
leds {
compatible = "gpio-leds";
myled0: led_0 {
gpios = <&gpio0 13 GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW>;
};
};
};
The above sets your board's ``led0`` alias to use pin 13 on GPIO controller
``gpio0``. The pin flags :c:macro:`GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH` mean the LED is on when
the pin is set to its high state, and off when the pin is in its low state.
Tips:
- See :dtcompatible:`gpio-leds` for more information on defining GPIO-based LEDs
in devicetree.
- If you're not sure what to do, check the devicetrees for supported boards which
use the same SoC as your target. See :ref:`get-devicetree-outputs` for details.
- See :zephyr_file:`include/zephyr/dt-bindings/gpio/gpio.h` for the flags you can use
in devicetree.
- If the LED is built in to your board hardware, the alias should be defined in
your :ref:`BOARD.dts file <devicetree-in-out-files>`. Otherwise, you can
define one in a :ref:`devicetree overlay <set-devicetree-overlays>`.
