SoFunction
Updated on 2025-03-01

Steps to develop hardware drivers using Go

1. Preparation

Before you start, you need to complete the following preparations:

  • Install Golang (/dl/) and configure environment variables.
  • Understand the basic concepts and principles of hardware-driven development.
  • Determine the specifications and interface types of the hardware device you are developing.

2. Golang's hardware driver library

In Golang, there are several popular hardware driver libraries to choose from. Here are some of the commonly used libraries:

  • : This is a powerful library that provides many hardware-driven interfaces and implementations, and supports multiple interface types, such as GPIO, I2C, SPI, etc.
  • go-ole: This library provides the function of interacting with the COM interface in Windows systems, suitable for controlling some external devices or sensors.
  • gohid: This is a library for USB HID devices, suitable for interacting with USB keyboards, mouses and other devices.
  • go-serial: This is a library for serial port communication, suitable for interacting with serial port devices.

Select the appropriate library for development based on your hardware device type and interface needs.

3. Write hardware drivers

Here, we will use the library to develop an LED controller based on the GPIO interface as an example.

First, you need to install the library. Run the following command in the terminal:

go get -u /x/periph/...

Next, create a new Golang file, e.g., and add the following code:

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"log"
	"time"

	"/x/periph/conn/gpio"
	"/x/periph/conn/gpio/gpioreg"
	"/x/periph/host"
)

const (
	ledPin = "GPIO17"
)

func main() {
	// Initialize the hardware	if _, err := (); err != nil {
		(err)
	}

	// Get LED pins	led := (ledPin)
	if led == nil {
		("Failed to find LED pin: %s", ledPin)
	}

	// Set the LED pin to output mode	if err := (); err != nil {
		(err)
	}

	// Control LED status	for {
		// Turn on LED		()
		("LED ON")
		(1 * )

		// Turn off the LED		()
		("LED OFF")
		(1 * )
	}
}

In the above code, we first use the() function to initialize the hardware. Then, we use the() function to get the GPIO object of the LED pin. Next, we use the() function to set the LED pin to output mode and control the state of the LED through and parameters. Finally, we use an infinite loop to alternately turn the LED on and off and print the status information in the terminal.

4. Build and run the project

Now we can build and run our project. Run the following command in the terminal:

go build
./your_project_name

If everything works fine, you will see the LEDs alternately brighten and darken every 1 second.

5. Case introduction

In this section, we will introduce three practical cases of developing hardware drivers using Golang to demonstrate its flexibility and scope of application.

Case 1: Temperature and humidity sensor

In this case, we will use Golang and the library to develop a program that interacts with the temperature and humidity sensor. We will use a DHT11 sensor that sends temperature and humidity data through digital pins.

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"log"
	"time"

	"/x/periph/conn/gpio"
	"/x/periph/conn/gpio/gpioreg"
	"/x/periph/conn/gpio/gpiostream"
	"/x/periph/conn/i2c"
	"/x/periph/conn/i2c/i2creg"
	"/x/periph/host"
)

const (
	sdaPin = "GPIO2"
	sclPin = "GPIO3"
)

func main() {
	// Initialize the hardware	if _, err := (); err != nil {
		(err)
	}

	// Get the I2C bus	bus, err := ("")
	if err != nil {
		(err)
	}
	defer ()

	// Obtain the temperature and humidity sensor	dev, err := i2c.NewDS18B20(bus, 0x68)
	if err != nil {
		(err)
	}

	// Control the sensor to read temperature and humidity data	for {
		temp, err := ()
		if err != nil {
			(err)
		}

		humidity, err := ()
		if err != nil {
			(err)
		}

		("Temperature: %.2f°C   Humidity: %.2f%%\n", temp, humidity)

		(2 * )
	}
}

In this case, we first initialize the hardware and get the I2C bus and the temperature and humidity sensor. We then use the() and() functions to read the temperature and humidity data from the sensor and print it out in the terminal. Finally, we use a cycle to continuously update the temperature and humidity data.

Case 2: Smart Home Controller

In this case, we will use the Golang and go-serial libraries to develop a smart home controller that communicates with external devices through the serial port.

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"log"
	"time"

	"/tarm/serial"
)

func main() {
	// Configure serial port parameters	config := &{
		Name:        "/dev/ttyUSB0",
		Baud:        9600,
		ReadTimeout: ,
	}

	// Open the serial port	port, err := (config)
	if err != nil {
		(err)
	}
	defer ()

	// Send command	command := []byte("turn on lights")
	_, err = (command)
	if err != nil {
		(err)
	}

	// Read the response	response := make([]byte, 128)
	n, err := (response)
	if err != nil {
		(err)
	}

	("Response: %s\n", response[:n])
}

In this case, we first configure the serial port parameters and open the serial port. Then, we use()The function sends commands to an external device, using()The function reads the response of the external device and prints it out in the terminal.

Case 3: Camera Controller

In this case, we will use the Golang and gohid libraries to develop a camera controller that interacts with the camera via a USB HID interface.

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"log"

	"/GeertJohan/"
)

func main() {
	// Find camera equipment	devices := (0x0c45, 0x6001)
	if len(devices) == 0 {
		("No camera devices found")
	}

	// Turn on the camera device	device, err := devices[0].Open()
	if err != nil {
		(err)
	}
	defer ()

	// Send command	command := []byte{0x01, 0x02, 0x03}
	_, err = (command)
	if err != nil {
		(err)
	}

	// Read the response	response := make([]byte, 128)
	n, err := (response)
	if err != nil {
		(err)
	}

	("Response: %s\n", response[:n])
}

In this case, we first use()Functions look for the camera device and get the first device. Then, we use()The function sends commands to the camera, using()The function reads the camera's response and prints it out in the terminal.

Summarize

This article describes how to develop hardware drivers using Golang and provides an example of an LED controller based on the GPIO interface. We discussed some popular Golang hardware driver libraries and wrote a program that controls LEDs to turn off.

Golang's simplicity and concurrency performance make it an ideal choice for developing hardware drivers. Hope this article can help you get started with Golang hardware driver development and provide some help for your next hardware project!

The above is the detailed process of using Go to develop hardware drivers. For more information about Go to develop hardware drivers, please follow my other related articles!