Quantum Leap's QP framework offers a compelling alternative to traditional RTOS solutions for hard real-time, high-reliability embedded software development. The event-driven hierarchical state machine framework and implementation of the actor model are excellent for effectively managing complexity and preventing common concurrency issues. However, good resources and examples of design patterns using QP for common microcontroller use cases are limited.

This talk provides an opinionated guide to developing a complex microcontroller application using the QP framework, in C or C++. I’ll cover device drivers, shared I2C and SPI buses, board communication with USB and/or UART, host-based unit testing, and design patterns for controlling electromechanical systems.

By the end of this talk, you should have a roadmap for how to use QP in your next microcontroller project.