From efdf93a97a8869271cde748600fbf3b895071d97 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: d00f <8052722+DrDoof@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2026 18:07:16 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Do not call write_char() from the external interrupt handlers

The EX0..EX3 handlers each emitted a single debug character through
write_char(), which busy-waits on the serial TX-empty flag that is set by
the serial interrupt. If one of these handlers runs while a byte is being
transmitted, it waits for a flag that the equal-or-lower-priority serial
interrupt cannot deliver, hanging the handler with the system tick stopped.

The characters were only ever debug markers, so drop them; the handlers now
just acknowledge the interrupt. No interrupt service routine should call the
blocking console path.
---
 rtlplayground.c | 6 ------
 1 file changed, 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/rtlplayground.c b/rtlplayground.c
index b3710c76..5a7b8709 100644
--- a/rtlplayground.c
+++ b/rtlplayground.c
@@ -493,7 +493,6 @@ void print_cmd_prompt(void)
 void isr_ext0(void) __interrupt(0)
 {
 	EX0 = 0;	// Disable interrupt for the moment
-	write_char('X');
 	IT0 = 1;	// Trigger on falling edge of external interrupt
 	EX0 = 1;	// Re-enable interrupt
 }
@@ -501,14 +500,11 @@ void isr_ext0(void) __interrupt(0)
 
 /*
  * External IRQ 1 Service Routine, triggered by the NIC recieving a packet
- * Note that all registers are being put on the STACK because of calling
- * a subroutine (write_char), we shold do better...
  */
 void isr_ext1(void) __interrupt(2)
 {
 	// This flag should only be reset after all packets have been read
 	EX1 = 0;
-	write_char('Y');
 	EX1 = 1;
 }
 
@@ -519,7 +515,6 @@ void isr_ext1(void) __interrupt(2)
 void isr_ext2(void) __interrupt(8)
 {
 	EXIF &= 0xef;	// Clear IRQ flag (bit 7) in EXIF
-	write_char('Z');
 	PCON |= 1; // Enter Idle mode until interrupt occurs
 }
 
@@ -530,7 +525,6 @@ void isr_ext2(void) __interrupt(8)
 void isr_ext3(void) __interrupt(9)
 {
 	EXIF &= 0xdf;	// Clear IRQ flag (bit 6) in EXIF
-	write_char('W');
 }
 
 // Timer2: handles system tick.