resource-optimization-lowend

Original：🇺🇸 English

Translated

Resource optimization skill for constrained embedded targets. Use when reducing flash/RAM usage, analyzing stack depth, reading linker map files, or tuning size vs speed on MCUs. Activates on queries about firmware size optimization, linker map, stack usage, -Os, flash RAM budget, or bloat analysis.

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Sourcemohitmishra786/low-level-dev-skills

Added on2026-10-01

NPX Install

npx skill4agent add mohitmishra786/low-level-dev-skills resource-optimization-lowend

SKILL.md Content

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Resource Optimization (Low-End Systems)

Purpose

Guide agents through flash and RAM optimization on constrained devices: compiler size flags, linker map analysis, stack usage measurement, dead code elimination, and size-vs-speed tradeoffs — for bare-metal and small RTOS images.

When to Use

Firmware exceeds flash budget
Stack overflow in production only
Choosing
```
-Os
```
vs
```
-O2
```
on MCU
Finding unexpected
```
.rodata
```
or
```
.bss
```
growth

Workflow

1. Size measurement toolchain

bash

arm-none-eabi-size -A firmware.elf
arm-none-eabi-objdump -h firmware.elf
nm --size-sort -S firmware.elf | tail -20

2. Linker map file

ld

/* linker.ld */
OUTPUT_FORMAT("elf32-littlearm")
ENTRY(Reset_Handler)

SECTIONS
{
  /* ... */
}

/* Generate map */
/* gcc ... -Wl,-Map=firmware.map */

bash

grep -E '\.text|\.rodata|\.data|\.bss' firmware.map | head

Identify largest symbols and unexpected library pull-in.

3. Compiler flags

Flag	Effect
`-Os`	Size-first optimization
`-ffunction-sections -fdata-sections`	Per-symbol sections
`-Wl,--gc-sections`	Drop unused sections
`-flto`	Cross-TU dead code elimination
`-specs=nano.specs`	Smaller newlib (GCC ARM)

makefile

CFLAGS += -Os -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections
LDFLAGS += -Wl,--gc-sections -Wl,--print-memory-usage

4. Stack analysis

bash

# Static (if built with -fstack-usage)
find . -name '*.su' -exec cat {} \;

# Linker stack symbol
grep _estack firmware.map

Runtime: fill stack with pattern (

0xDEADBEEF

), run tests, scan high-water mark. FreeRTOS:

uxTaskGetStackHighWaterMark

.

5. RAM categories

Section	Tactic
`.bss`	Shrink buffers; pool allocators
`.data`	Move const to flash ( `const` → `.rodata` )
Heap	Avoid malloc; fixed pools
Stack	Reduce nesting; smaller ISR stacks

6. Size vs speed decision

Hot path in ISR or 1 kHz loop?
├── Yes → -O2 for that file (#pragma GCC optimize)
└── No  → -Os globally

7. Agent usage

/resource-optimization-lowend Find top 10 flash consumers in firmware.map and suggest -gc-sections fixes

Common Problems

Symptom	Cause	Fix
printf pulls 20+ KB	Full newlib printf	`_write` retarget; tiny printf
`--gc-sections` broke IRQ	Section collected	`KEEP()` in linker script
Stack overflow late	Deep call + IRQ nest	Measure HW stack; increase `_estack`
RAM zero but big ELF	`.data` not loaded	Check VMA/LMA
LTO link fail	Mixed compiler versions	Same GCC for all objects

Related Skills

```
skills/embedded/linker-scripts
```
— MEMORY/Sections layout
```
skills/baremetal/baremetal-startup
```
— stack symbol
```
skills/baremetal/low-power-embedded
```
— RAM retention
```
skills/compilers/gcc
```
— optimization flags
```
skills/rust/rust-no-std
```
— embedded Rust size patterns

resource-optimization-lowend

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content

Resource Optimization (Low-End Systems)

Purpose

When to Use

Workflow

1. Size measurement toolchain

2. Linker map file

3. Compiler flags

4. Stack analysis

5. RAM categories

6. Size vs speed decision

7. Agent usage

Common Problems

Related Skills