Abstract Serial base class for HardwareSerial and SoftwareSerial [imported]

[cmaglie]

This is Issue 570 moved from a Google Code project.
Added by 2011-07-18T02:13:36.000Z by tiagocus...@gmail.com.
Please review that bug for more context and additional comments, but update this bug.

Original labels: Type-Enhancement, Priority-Medium, Component-Core

Original description

I would like to see the method begin() added to the Stream class.

I'm currently writing a hardware abstraction class that works with both HardwareSerial and NewSoftSerial (because they inherit from Stream) but i can't see how i can call the begin() method of either HardwareSerial or NewSoftSerial from within my class, leaving that task to the user and not being as abstract as it could be.

the MIDI class could benefit from this, as it could work with both HardwareSerial and NewSoftSerial, thus allowing more than one MIDI object.

I don't know if this enhancement would cause conflict with anything else, but i don't see it could cause any harm.

[wizard97]

I really think this is an important addition, can Serial and SoftwareSerial inherit from something like a BaseSerial which has a virtual begin() method?

Currently, projects that use Serial and SoftwareSerial use wonky preprocessor tricks to work with Serial and SoftwareSerial. I would be willing to do this if nobody else does.

[nospam2000]

This is not only important for SoftwareSerial, but any hardware that has more than one serial port (like the MEGA or the Galileo boards)

[brianrho]

A Serial base class is sorely needed. 5 years since this was opened and still nothing.