blues · Bucknalla · Nov 20, 2025 · Nov 17, 2025 · Nov 17, 2025 · Nov 17, 2025
diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+version: 2
+
+updates:
+  - package-ecosystem: gitsubmodule
+    schedule:
+      interval: "daily"
+    directory: "."
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-component.yml b/.github/workflows/validate-component.yml
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set up Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
-          python-version: '3.11'
+          python-version: '3.12'
 
       - name: Install IDF Component Manager
-        run: pip install 'idf-component-manager==1.5.2'
+        run: pip install idf-component-manager
 
       - name: Validate and Pack Component
         run: compote component pack --name Notecard
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -48,8 +48,11 @@ Component config  --->  Notecard Configuration
 ## Thread Safety
 
 The component automatically provides thread-safe access to the Notecard in multi-threaded FreeRTOS applications.
+This is specific to the ESP-IDF implementation of `malloc` as referenced in their [documentation](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/stable/esp32/api-reference/system/mem_alloc.html#thread-safety).
 The underlying [note-c](https://github.com/blues/note-c) library protects the Notecard from concurrent access using internal mutexes, so no additional locking is required for normal use.
 
+> Note: Due to the nature of note-c and how it protects the Notecard from concurrent access, if you application has sensitive timing requirements, your Notecard operations may need to be handled in their own task. Consider using a message queue to offload data to a Notecard send/receive task.
+
 ### I2C Bus Sharing
 
 If you have other I2C peripherals on the same bus as the Notecard, register your I2C mutex with `note-c` using `NoteSetFnI2CMutex()` to minimize the time spent under lock.

diff --git a/examples/basic_usage_i2c/README.md b/examples/basic_usage_i2c/README.md
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@ This example demonstrates basic Notecard usage with ESP-IDF in a standard ESP-ID
 - Initialize the Notecard with I2C communication using the new I2C master API
 - Configure Notehub connection
 - Use FreeRTOS tasks for sensor data collection
-- Read built-in sensors from the Notecard (temperature and voltage)
+- Read built-in sensors from the Notecard (temperature)
 - Send sensor data to Notehub using a dedicated task
-- Handle JSON requests and responses with proper thread safety
+- Handle JSON requests and responses
+- Properly deinitialize the Notecard on cleanup
 
 ## Hardware Requirements
 

diff --git a/examples/basic_usage_i2c/main/main.c b/examples/basic_usage_i2c/main/main.c
@@ -22,23 +22,18 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
 #include "freertos/task.h"
-#include "freertos/semphr.h"
 #include "esp_log.h"
 #include "esp_system.h"
 #include "esp_chip_info.h"
 #include "esp_timer.h"
 #include "driver/i2c_master.h"
 #include "notecard.h"
 
-// Platform function declaration for I2C scan
-extern esp_err_t notecard_platform_i2c_scan(uint8_t start_addr, uint8_t end_addr, uint8_t *found_devices, uint8_t max_devices, uint8_t *device_count);
-
 static const char *TAG = "notecard_basic";
 
 // Task handles
 static TaskHandle_t notecard_task_handle = NULL;
 static bool notecard_initialized = false;
-static SemaphoreHandle_t notecard_mutex = NULL;
 
 // Task stack sizes
 #define NOTECARD_TASK_STACK_SIZE    (4 * 1024)
@@ -74,10 +69,6 @@ static esp_err_t notecard_configure_hub(void)
 
     // Create hub.set request
     J *req = NoteNewRequest("hub.set");
-    if (req == NULL) {
-        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create hub.set request");
-        return ESP_ERR_NO_MEM;
-    }
 
     // Set Notehub product ID
     JAddStringToObject(req, "product", CONFIG_NOTEHUB_PRODUCT_UID);
@@ -108,54 +99,34 @@ static void notecard_sensor_task(void *pvParameters)
     const TickType_t reading_interval = pdMS_TO_TICKS(15000); // 15 seconds
 
     while (eventCounter < max_readings) {
-        if (xSemaphoreTake(notecard_mutex, portMAX_DELAY) == pdTRUE) {
-            eventCounter++;
-
-            ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Reading sensors (sample %d/%d)...", eventCounter, max_readings);
-
-            // Read temperature from Notecard's built-in sensor
-            double temperature = 0;
-            J *rsp = NoteRequestResponse(NoteNewRequest("card.temp"));
-            if (rsp != NULL) {
-                temperature = JGetNumber(rsp, "value");
-                NoteDeleteResponse(rsp);
-            } else {
-                ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Failed to read temperature");
-            }
-
-            // Read voltage from Notecard's V+ pin
-            double voltage = 0;
-            rsp = NoteRequestResponse(NoteNewRequest("card.voltage"));
-            if (rsp != NULL) {
-                voltage = JGetNumber(rsp, "value");
-                NoteDeleteResponse(rsp);
-            } else {
-                ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Failed to read voltage");
-            }
-
-            // Send data to Notehub
-            J *req = NoteNewRequest("note.add");
-            if (req != NULL) {
-                JAddBoolToObject(req, "sync", true);
-                J *body = JAddObjectToObject(req, "body");
-                if (body != NULL) {
-                    JAddNumberToObject(body, "temp", temperature);
-                    JAddNumberToObject(body, "voltage", voltage);
-                    JAddNumberToObject(body, "count", eventCounter);
-                }
-
-                bool success = NoteRequest(req);
-                if (success) {
-                    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Sample %d sent: temp=%.2f°C, voltage=%.2fV",
-                             eventCounter, temperature, voltage);
-                } else {
-                    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to send sample %d", eventCounter);
-                }
-            } else {
-                ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create note request");
-            }
-
-            xSemaphoreGive(notecard_mutex);
+        eventCounter++;
+
+        ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Reading sensors (sample %d/%d)...", eventCounter, max_readings);
+
+        // Read temperature from Notecard's built-in sensor
+        double temperature = 0;
+        J *rsp = NoteRequestResponse(NoteNewRequest("card.temp"));
+        if (rsp != NULL) {
+            temperature = JGetNumber(rsp, "value");
+            NoteDeleteResponse(rsp);
+        } else {
+            ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Failed to read temperature");
+        }
+
+        // Send data to Notehub
+        J *req = NoteNewRequest("note.add");
+        JAddBoolToObject(req, "sync", true);
+
+        J *body = JAddObjectToObject(req, "body");
+        JAddNumberToObject(body, "temp", temperature);
+        JAddNumberToObject(body, "count", eventCounter);
+
+        bool success = NoteRequest(req);
+        if (success) {
+            ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Sample %d sent: temp=%.2f°C",
+                        eventCounter, temperature);
+        } else {
+            ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to send sample %d", eventCounter);
         }
 
         // Wait before next reading
@@ -181,27 +152,14 @@ void app_main(void)
              CONFIG_IDF_TARGET, chip_info.revision, chip_info.cores);
     ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Free heap: %u bytes", esp_get_free_heap_size());
 
-    // Create mutex for Notecard access
-    notecard_mutex = xSemaphoreCreateMutex();
-    if (notecard_mutex == NULL) {
-        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create Notecard mutex");
-        return;
-    }
-
     // Initialize Notecard hardware and configure for Notehub
-    // Use mutex to protect note-c global state during initialization
-    esp_err_t ret = ESP_FAIL;
-    if (xSemaphoreTake(notecard_mutex, portMAX_DELAY) == pdTRUE) {
-        ret = notecard_hardware_init();
-        if (ret == ESP_OK) {
-            ret = notecard_configure_hub();
-        }
-        xSemaphoreGive(notecard_mutex);
+    esp_err_t ret = notecard_hardware_init();
+    if (ret == ESP_OK) {
+        ret = notecard_configure_hub();
     }
 
     if (ret != ESP_OK) {
         ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Notecard initialization failed");
-        vSemaphoreDelete(notecard_mutex);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -240,10 +198,8 @@ void app_main(void)
                  (notecard_task_handle != NULL) ? "yes" : "no");
     }
 
-    // Cleanup
-    if (notecard_mutex) {
-        vSemaphoreDelete(notecard_mutex);
-    }
+    // Cleanup - deinitialize Notecard
+    notecard_deinit();
 
     ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Application ended gracefully");
 }
diff --git a/examples/basic_usage_uart/README.md b/examples/basic_usage_uart/README.md
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@ This example demonstrates basic Notecard usage with ESP-IDF using UART communica
 - Initialize the Notecard with UART communication
 - Configure Notehub connection
 - Use FreeRTOS tasks for sensor data collection
-- Read built-in sensors from the Notecard (temperature and voltage)
+- Read built-in sensors from the Notecard (temperature)
 - Send sensor data to Notehub using a dedicated task
-- Handle JSON requests and responses with proper thread safety
+- Handle JSON requests and responses
+- Properly deinitialize the Notecard on cleanup
 
 ## Hardware Requirements
 

diff --git a/examples/basic_usage_uart/main/main.c b/examples/basic_usage_uart/main/main.c
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
 #include "freertos/task.h"
-#include "freertos/semphr.h"
 #include "esp_log.h"
 #include "esp_system.h"
 #include "esp_chip_info.h"
@@ -44,7 +43,6 @@ static const char *TAG = "notecard_uart";
 // Task handles
 static TaskHandle_t notecard_task_handle = NULL;
 static bool notecard_initialized = false;
-static SemaphoreHandle_t notecard_mutex = NULL;
 
 // Task stack sizes
 #define NOTECARD_TASK_STACK_SIZE    (4 * 1024)
@@ -82,10 +80,6 @@ static esp_err_t notecard_configure_hub(void)
 
     // Create hub.set request
     J *req = NoteNewRequest("hub.set");
-    if (req == NULL) {
-        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create hub.set request");
-        return ESP_ERR_NO_MEM;
-    }
 
     // Set Notehub product ID
     JAddStringToObject(req, "product", CONFIG_NOTEHUB_PRODUCT_UID);
@@ -116,54 +110,34 @@ static void notecard_sensor_task(void *pvParameters)
     const TickType_t reading_interval = pdMS_TO_TICKS(15000); // 15 seconds
 
     while (eventCounter < max_readings) {
-        if (xSemaphoreTake(notecard_mutex, portMAX_DELAY) == pdTRUE) {
-            eventCounter++;
-
-            ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Reading sensors (sample %d/%d)...", eventCounter, max_readings);
-
-            // Read temperature from Notecard's built-in sensor
-            double temperature = 0;
-            J *rsp = NoteRequestResponse(NoteNewRequest("card.temp"));
-            if (rsp != NULL) {
-                temperature = JGetNumber(rsp, "value");
-                NoteDeleteResponse(rsp);
-            } else {
-                ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Failed to read temperature");
-            }
-
-            // Read voltage from Notecard's V+ pin
-            double voltage = 0;
-            rsp = NoteRequestResponse(NoteNewRequest("card.voltage"));
-            if (rsp != NULL) {
-                voltage = JGetNumber(rsp, "value");
-                NoteDeleteResponse(rsp);
-            } else {
-                ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Failed to read voltage");
-            }
-
-            // Send data to Notehub
-            J *req = NoteNewRequest("note.add");
-            if (req != NULL) {
-                JAddBoolToObject(req, "sync", true);
-                J *body = JAddObjectToObject(req, "body");
-                if (body != NULL) {
-                    JAddNumberToObject(body, "temp", temperature);
-                    JAddNumberToObject(body, "voltage", voltage);
-                    JAddNumberToObject(body, "count", eventCounter);
-                }
-
-                bool success = NoteRequest(req);
-                if (success) {
-                    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Sample %d sent: temp=%.2f°C, voltage=%.2fV",
-                             eventCounter, temperature, voltage);
-                } else {
-                    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to send sample %d", eventCounter);
-                }
-            } else {
-                ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create note request");
-            }
-
-            xSemaphoreGive(notecard_mutex);
+        eventCounter++;
+
+        ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Reading sensors (sample %d/%d)...", eventCounter, max_readings);
+
+        // Read temperature from Notecard's built-in sensor
+        double temperature = 0;
+        J *rsp = NoteRequestResponse(NoteNewRequest("card.temp"));
+        if (rsp != NULL) {
+            temperature = JGetNumber(rsp, "value");
+            NoteDeleteResponse(rsp);
+        } else {
+            ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Failed to read temperature");
+        }
+
+        // Send data to Notehub
+        J *req = NoteNewRequest("note.add");
+        JAddBoolToObject(req, "sync", true);
+
+        J *body = JAddObjectToObject(req, "body");
+        JAddNumberToObject(body, "temp", temperature);
+        JAddNumberToObject(body, "count", eventCounter);
+
+        bool success = NoteRequest(req);
+        if (success) {
+            ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Sample %d sent: temp=%.2f°C",
+                        eventCounter, temperature);
+        } else {
+            ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to send sample %d", eventCounter);
         }
 
         // Wait before next reading
@@ -189,27 +163,14 @@ void app_main(void)
              CONFIG_IDF_TARGET, chip_info.revision, chip_info.cores);
     ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Free heap: %u bytes", esp_get_free_heap_size());
 
-    // Create mutex for Notecard access
-    notecard_mutex = xSemaphoreCreateMutex();
-    if (notecard_mutex == NULL) {
-        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create Notecard mutex");
-        return;
-    }
-
     // Initialize Notecard hardware and configure for Notehub
-    // Use mutex to protect note-c global state during initialization
-    esp_err_t ret = ESP_FAIL;
-    if (xSemaphoreTake(notecard_mutex, portMAX_DELAY) == pdTRUE) {
-        ret = notecard_hardware_init();
-        if (ret == ESP_OK) {
-            ret = notecard_configure_hub();
-        }
-        xSemaphoreGive(notecard_mutex);
+    esp_err_t ret = notecard_hardware_init();
+    if (ret == ESP_OK) {
+        ret = notecard_configure_hub();
     }
 
     if (ret != ESP_OK) {
         ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Notecard initialization failed");
-        vSemaphoreDelete(notecard_mutex);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -248,10 +209,8 @@ void app_main(void)
                  (notecard_task_handle != NULL) ? "yes" : "no");
     }
 
-    // Cleanup
-    if (notecard_mutex) {
-        vSemaphoreDelete(notecard_mutex);
-    }
+    // Cleanup - deinitialize Notecard
+    notecard_deinit();
 
     ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Application ended gracefully");
 }