NAME

       hal_malloc - Allocate space in the HAL shared memory area

SYNTAX

               void *hal_malloc(long int size)

ARGUMENTS

       size   Gives the size, in bytes, of the block.

DESCRIPTION

       hal_malloc allocates a block of memory from the main HAL shared memory area.  It should be
       used by all components to allocate memory for  HAL  pins  and  parameters.   It  allocates
       `size'  bytes,  and  returns  a pointer to the allocated space, or NULL (0) on error.  The
       returned pointer will be properly aligned for any type HAL supports.  A  component  should
       allocate during initialization all the memory it needs.

       The  allocator  is very simple, and there is no `free'.  The entire HAL shared memory area
       is freed when the last component calls hal_exit.  This  means  that  if  you  continuously
       install  and  remove one component while other components are present, you eventually will
       fill up the shared memory and an install will fail.  Removing  all  components  completely
       clears memory and you start fresh.

RETURN VALUE

       A pointer to the allocated space, which is properly aligned for any variable HAL supports.
       Returns NULL on error.