Flashing!
Hello, im trying to use a delay of some form in a C program but i cannot find out how to do one!
I am trying to make a light flash on a piece of hardware, i have worked out i need to do this by using a loop, with some for of delay so it makes the light go on for a bit wait.. then off, wait again and loop this cycle for so long until the rest of my program comes in!
I gather there must be a single command to do this but i cant find one!
Can someone please help me!
thanks!
Mike
The only portable way to do this is grossly antisocial, you should look in the libraries available to you for a sleep, delay, pause, or wait function that does what you want. However, if you really want the portable method, here is one way to do it:
Code:#include <stdio.h> #include <time.h> void mypause ( int sec ) { clock_t end = clock() + ( sec * CLOCKS_PER_SEC ); while ( clock() < end ) ; } void flash ( int n ) { while ( --n >= 0 ) { printf ( "*\r" ); mypause ( 1 ); printf ( " \r" ); mypause ( 1 ); } } int main ( void ) { flash ( 5 ); return 0; }
My best code is written with the delete key.
the clock() function is very slow and should be avoided at all costs.
Especilly if your looking to use the code in an embedded enviroment.
Who needs social? ive been in uni working solid for the past 3 days! not good!
thanks!
Mike
Make a loop which wastes time, although the speed of the CPU will make times differ.
Code:#define DELAY (50000) int junk; for (junk=0; junk<DELAY;junk++){ }
Ill just try them all!
i think a time dely suits my purposes better!
Mike
It depends on which OS you program for, if it's a POSIX compilant one, you can use sleep, or usleep in *BSD or Linux. If you program for windows, i think there's a Sleep() function (?), but i'm not sure. It depends on which programming environment you're using too.
% gcc -v
Configured with: FreeBSD/i386 system compiler
Thread model: posix
gcc version 3.3.3 [FreeBSD] 20031106
Its windows! and we are using some dofdy enviroment that my lecturer said to use because its free, dont like it personally but got moaned at for using another last time.....
Im trying them all seeing whiich is the best! thanks all!
Mike
There is another function GetClockTickCount() or something like that which will be more accurate. You can then divide the ticks by 1,000 or the resolution of your timer on your machine.
