ESP32-S3 (Arduino core) – NimBLEDevice::init() triggers TLSF assert

[Moksh-Mehta-1937]

Operating system: Linux Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop Image
Arduino IDE version: 2.3.7
CLI Version: 1.3.1
Library: NimBLE-Arduino by h2zero version 2.3.7
Board: ESP32S3 Dev Module

Board: Custom PCB using ESP32-S3-Mini-1
Chip source: https://tinyurl.com/p7sxu79p

I am new to the BLE part of the ESP32-S3 board and dont know what is wrong but here is the minimal script and the issue below:

"""
#include <NimBLEDevice.h>
void setup(){ NimBLEDevice::init("x"); NimBLEDevice::getAdvertising()->start(); }
void loop(){}
"""

Error:

17:00:06.270 -> Rebooting...
17:00:06.270 -> ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
17:00:06.270 -> Build:Mar 27 2021
17:00:06.270 -> rst:0xc (RTC_SW_CPU_RST),boot:0xb (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
17:00:06.270 -> Saved PC:0x4037e6da
17:00:06.270 -> SPIWP:0xee
17:00:06.270 -> mode:DIO, clock div:1
17:00:06.270 -> load:0x3fce2820,len:0x10cc
17:00:06.270 -> load:0x403c8700,len:0xc2c
17:00:06.270 -> load:0x403cb700,len:0x30c0
17:00:06.270 -> entry 0x403c88b8
17:00:06.432 -> btdm: bss start 0x3fcef180, len 36
17:00:06.432 -> btdm: data start 0x3fcef174, data start rom 0x40057350, len 12
17:00:06.432 -> MAGIC fadebead VERSION 0001000a
17:00:06.432 -> MAGIC fadebead VERSION 00010001
17:00:06.432 ->
17:00:06.432 -> assert failed: block_locate_free tlsf_control_functions.h:618 (block_size(block) >= *size)
17:00:06.432 ->
17:00:06.432 ->
17:00:06.432 -> Backtrace: 0x40380cbd:0x3fceba80 0x40380c85:0x3fcebaa0 0x40387b96:0x3fcebac0 0x40386d2d:0x3fcebc00 0x40386725:0x3fcebc20 0x40386888:0x3fcebc40 0x40376497:0x3fcebc60 0x403764b1:0x3fcebc90 0x4037662d:0x3fcebcb0 0x40376659:0x3fcebcd0 0x40387ba9:0x3fcebcf0 0x42027246:0x3fcebd10 0x42023973:0x3fcebd60 0x42003378:0x3fcebdb0 0x420021ca:0x3fcebe20 0x42013225:0x3fcebe60 0x40381c09:0x3fcebe80
17:00:06.464 ->
17:00:06.464 ->
17:00:06.464 ->
17:00:06.464 ->
17:00:06.464 -> ELF file SHA256: afb1fead1
17:00:06.850 ->

I do not know if anyone else has encountered this issue or not. Any information on solving this potential issue will be a great help. Thank you very much for any help

[h2zero]

It looks to me that there is something else going on. I am not familiar with the file referenced in the error message.

Which arduino core version are you using?

[mazgch]

I had the same issue with Arduino core 3.3.7 and NimBle 2.3.7 on a ESP32-S3. Downgrading to ESP32 core 3.3.6 helped.

[Moksh-Mehta-1937]

My Arduino core version is 3.3.7. Is this a known bug? I can downgrade the core version but I am not sure if this is a suitable method for long term applications on custom hardware

[mLihs]

I had the same issue. fix is:

Since version 3.3.7, the ESP32 core uses btInUse() to check if Bluetooth is being used before startup.
Only libraries that include esp32-hal-bt-mem.h will report themselves as Bluetooth users.
The core's internal BLE library does this, but the external library NimBLE-Arduino does not.
As a result, the core's BLE remains unused, freeing up the Bluetooth controller memory.
When NimBLEDevice::init() is called later, this memory is missing, and the heap is modified → TLSF assertion.

#if defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32)
#include "esp32-hal-bt-mem.h"
#endif

or

extern "C" bool btInUse(void) {
return true;
}