[esp32] Centralize FreeRTOS task priorities and reduce MAX_PRIORITIES to 16

esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py

@@ -1287,6 +1287,18 @@ async def to_code(config):
     # Increase freertos tick speed from 100Hz to 1kHz so that delay() resolution is 1ms
     add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_FREERTOS_HZ", 1000)
 
+    # Reduce FreeRTOS max priorities from 25 to 16 to save RAM
+    # pxReadyTasksLists uses 20 bytes per priority level, so this saves 180 bytes
+    # All ESPHome tasks use relative priorities (configMAX_PRIORITIES - X) to scale automatically
+    # See https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/issues/13041 for context
+    add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_FREERTOS_MAX_PRIORITIES", 16)
+
+    # Set LWIP TCP/IP task priority to fit within reduced priority range (0-15)
+    # Default is 18, which would be invalid with MAX_PRIORITIES=16
+    # Priority 8 maintains the original hierarchy: I2S speaker (10) > LWIP (8) > mixer (6)
+    # This ensures audio I/O tasks aren't blocked by network, while network isn't starved by mixing
+    add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_LWIP_TCPIP_TASK_PRIO", 8)
+
     # Place non-ISR FreeRTOS functions into flash instead of IRAM
     # This saves up to 8KB of IRAM. ISR-safe functions (FromISR variants) stay in IRAM.
     # In ESP-IDF 6.0 this becomes the default and CONFIG_FREERTOS_PLACE_FUNCTIONS_INTO_FLASH

esphome/components/esp32/core.cpp

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 #include "preferences.h"
 #include <esp_clk_tree.h>
 #include <esp_cpu.h>
@@ -66,10 +67,14 @@ void loop_task(void *pv_params) {
 extern "C" void app_main() {
   initArduino();
   esp32::setup_preferences();
+  // TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION: baseline priority for main loop - all component loops
+  // run here. Higher priority tasks (audio, network) preempt this when needed.
 #if CONFIG_FREERTOS_UNICORE
-  xTaskCreate(loop_task, "loopTask", ESPHOME_LOOP_TASK_STACK_SIZE, nullptr, 1, &loop_task_handle);
+  xTaskCreate(loop_task, "loopTask", ESPHOME_LOOP_TASK_STACK_SIZE, nullptr, TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION,
+              &loop_task_handle);
 #else
-  xTaskCreatePinnedToCore(loop_task, "loopTask", ESPHOME_LOOP_TASK_STACK_SIZE, nullptr, 1, &loop_task_handle, 1);
+  xTaskCreatePinnedToCore(loop_task, "loopTask", ESPHOME_LOOP_TASK_STACK_SIZE, nullptr, TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION,
+                          &loop_task_handle, 1);
 #endif
 }
 

esphome/components/esp32_camera/esp32_camera.cpp

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "esphome/core/application.h"
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 
 #include <freertos/task.h>
 
@@ -42,11 +43,13 @@ void ESP32Camera::setup() {
   /* initialize RTOS */
   this->framebuffer_get_queue_ = xQueueCreate(1, sizeof(camera_fb_t *));
   this->framebuffer_return_queue_ = xQueueCreate(1, sizeof(camera_fb_t *));
+  // TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION: same as main loop - camera capture is buffered,
+  // not real-time critical like audio
   xTaskCreatePinnedToCore(&ESP32Camera::framebuffer_task,
                           "framebuffer_task",           // name
                           FRAMEBUFFER_TASK_STACK_SIZE,  // stack size
                           this,                         // task pv params
-                          1,                            // priority
+                          TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION,    // priority
                           nullptr,                      // handle
                           1                             // core
   );

esphome/components/http_request/update/http_request_update.cpp

@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 #include "esphome/core/application.h"
 #include "esphome/core/version.h"
+#ifdef USE_ESP32
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
+#endif
 
 #include "esphome/components/json/json_util.h"
 #include "esphome/components/network/util.h"
@@ -46,7 +49,9 @@ void HttpRequestUpdate::update() {
     return;
   }
 #ifdef USE_ESP32
-  xTaskCreate(HttpRequestUpdate::update_task, "update_task", 8192, (void *) this, 1, &this->update_task_handle_);
+  // TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION: same as main loop - update check is background work
+  xTaskCreate(HttpRequestUpdate::update_task, "update_task", 8192, (void *) this, TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION,
+              &this->update_task_handle_);
 #else
   this->update_task(this);
 #endif

esphome/components/i2s_audio/microphone/i2s_audio_microphone.cpp

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 
 #include "esphome/components/audio/audio.h"
 
@@ -22,7 +23,6 @@ static const UBaseType_t MAX_LISTENERS = 16;
 static const uint32_t READ_DURATION_MS = 16;
 
 static const size_t TASK_STACK_SIZE = 4096;
-static const ssize_t TASK_PRIORITY = 23;
 
 static const char *const TAG = "i2s_audio.microphone";
 
@@ -520,8 +520,10 @@ void I2SAudioMicrophone::loop() {
       }
 
       if (this->task_handle_ == nullptr) {
-        xTaskCreate(I2SAudioMicrophone::mic_task, "mic_task", TASK_STACK_SIZE, (void *) this, TASK_PRIORITY,
-                    &this->task_handle_);
+        // TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_CAPTURE: highest application priority - real-time audio
+        // input cannot tolerate delays without dropping samples
+        xTaskCreate(I2SAudioMicrophone::mic_task, "mic_task", TASK_STACK_SIZE, (void *) this,
+                    TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_CAPTURE, &this->task_handle_);
 
         if (this->task_handle_ == nullptr) {
           ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Task failed to start, retrying in 1 second");

esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "esphome/core/application.h"
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 
 #include "esp_timer.h"
 
@@ -24,7 +25,6 @@ static const uint32_t DMA_BUFFER_DURATION_MS = 15;
 static const size_t DMA_BUFFERS_COUNT = 4;
 
 static const size_t TASK_STACK_SIZE = 4096;
-static const ssize_t TASK_PRIORITY = 19;
 
 static const size_t I2S_EVENT_QUEUE_COUNT = DMA_BUFFERS_COUNT + 1;
 
@@ -151,8 +151,10 @@ void I2SAudioSpeaker::loop() {
       }
 
       if (this->speaker_task_handle_ == nullptr) {
-        xTaskCreate(I2SAudioSpeaker::speaker_task, "speaker_task", TASK_STACK_SIZE, (void *) this, TASK_PRIORITY,
-                    &this->speaker_task_handle_);
+        // TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_OUTPUT: high priority for real-time audio output,
+        // below capture (TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_CAPTURE) but above network tasks
+        xTaskCreate(I2SAudioSpeaker::speaker_task, "speaker_task", TASK_STACK_SIZE, (void *) this,
+                    TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_OUTPUT, &this->speaker_task_handle_);
 
         if (this->speaker_task_handle_ == nullptr) {
           ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Task failed to start, retrying in 1 second");

esphome/components/micro_wake_word/micro_wake_word.cpp

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 
 #include "esphome/components/audio/audio_transfer_buffer.h"
 
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@ static const size_t DATA_TIMEOUT_MS = 50;
 static const uint32_t RING_BUFFER_DURATION_MS = 120;
 
 static const uint32_t INFERENCE_TASK_STACK_SIZE = 3072;
-static const UBaseType_t INFERENCE_TASK_PRIORITY = 3;
 
 enum EventGroupBits : uint32_t {
   COMMAND_STOP = (1 << 0),  // Signals the inference task should stop
@@ -305,8 +305,10 @@ void MicroWakeWord::loop() {
           return;
         }
 
+        // TASK_PRIORITY_INFERENCE: above main loop (TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION) but below
+        // protocol tasks (TASK_PRIORITY_PROTOCOL) - ML inference is background work
         xTaskCreate(MicroWakeWord::inference_task, "mww", INFERENCE_TASK_STACK_SIZE, (void *) this,
-                    INFERENCE_TASK_PRIORITY, &this->inference_task_handle_);
+                    TASK_PRIORITY_INFERENCE, &this->inference_task_handle_);
 
         if (this->inference_task_handle_ == nullptr) {
           FrontendFreeStateContents(&this->frontend_state_);  // Deallocate frontend state

esphome/components/mixer/speaker/mixer_speaker.cpp

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cstring>
@@ -12,8 +13,6 @@
 namespace esphome {
 namespace mixer_speaker {
 
-static const UBaseType_t MIXER_TASK_PRIORITY = 10;
-
 static const uint32_t TRANSFER_BUFFER_DURATION_MS = 50;
 static const uint32_t TASK_DELAY_MS = 25;
 
@@ -385,8 +384,10 @@ esp_err_t MixerSpeaker::start_task_() {
   }
 
   if (this->task_handle_ == nullptr) {
+    // TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_MIXER: below I2S tasks (TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_OUTPUT) but
+    // above protocol tasks - mixing is buffered but feeds real-time output
     this->task_handle_ = xTaskCreateStatic(audio_mixer_task, "mixer", TASK_STACK_SIZE, (void *) this,
-                                           MIXER_TASK_PRIORITY, this->task_stack_buffer_, &this->task_stack_);
+                                           TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_MIXER, this->task_stack_buffer_, &this->task_stack_);
   }
 
   if (this->task_handle_ == nullptr) {

esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_backend_esp32.cpp

@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ bool MQTTBackendESP32::initialize_() {
     // Create the task only after MQTT client is initialized successfully
     // Use larger stack size when TLS is enabled
     size_t stack_size = this->ca_certificate_.has_value() ? TASK_STACK_SIZE_TLS : TASK_STACK_SIZE;
-    xTaskCreate(esphome_mqtt_task, "esphome_mqtt", stack_size, (void *) this, TASK_PRIORITY, &this->task_handle_);
+    // TASK_PRIORITY_PROTOCOL: above main loop (TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION) but below
+    // audio tasks - MQTT needs responsive scheduling for message handling
+    xTaskCreate(esphome_mqtt_task, "esphome_mqtt", stack_size, (void *) this, TASK_PRIORITY_PROTOCOL,
+                &this->task_handle_);
     if (this->task_handle_ == nullptr) {
       ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create MQTT task");
       // Clean up MQTT client since we can't start the async task

esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_backend_esp32.h

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/lock_free_queue.h"
 #include "esphome/core/event_pool.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 
 namespace esphome::mqtt {
 
@@ -117,8 +118,7 @@ class MQTTBackendESP32 final : public MQTTBackend {
   static const size_t MQTT_BUFFER_SIZE = 4096;
   static const size_t TASK_STACK_SIZE = 3072;
   static const size_t TASK_STACK_SIZE_TLS = 4096;  // Larger stack for TLS operations
-  static const ssize_t TASK_PRIORITY = 5;
-  static const uint8_t MQTT_QUEUE_LENGTH = 30;  // 30*12 bytes = 360
+  static const uint8_t MQTT_QUEUE_LENGTH = 30;     // 30*12 bytes = 360
 
   void set_keep_alive(uint16_t keep_alive) final { this->keep_alive_ = keep_alive; }
   void set_client_id(const char *client_id) final { this->client_id_ = client_id; }

esphome/components/openthread/openthread_esp.cpp

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "esp_task_wdt.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 
 #include "esp_err.h"
 #include "esp_event.h"
@@ -39,12 +40,14 @@ void OpenThreadComponent::setup() {
   ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_netif_init());
   ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_vfs_eventfd_register(&eventfd_config));
 
+  // TASK_PRIORITY_PROTOCOL: same as USB host/MQTT - network protocol tasks need
+  // responsive scheduling but below audio tasks
   xTaskCreate(
       [](void *arg) {
         static_cast<OpenThreadComponent *>(arg)->ot_main();
         vTaskDelete(nullptr);
       },
-      "ot_main", 10240, this, 5, nullptr);
+      "ot_main", 10240, this, TASK_PRIORITY_PROTOCOL, nullptr);
 }
 
 static esp_netif_t *init_openthread_netif(const esp_openthread_platform_config_t *config) {

esphome/components/resampler/speaker/resampler_speaker.cpp

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cstring>
@@ -13,8 +14,6 @@
 namespace esphome {
 namespace resampler {
 
-static const UBaseType_t RESAMPLER_TASK_PRIORITY = 1;
-
 static const uint32_t TRANSFER_BUFFER_DURATION_MS = 50;
 
 static const uint32_t TASK_DELAY_MS = 20;
@@ -185,8 +184,10 @@ esp_err_t ResamplerSpeaker::start_task_() {
   }
 
   if (this->task_handle_ == nullptr) {
+    // TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION: same as main loop - resampling is buffered audio
+    // processing, not real-time I/O
     this->task_handle_ = xTaskCreateStatic(resample_task, "sample", TASK_STACK_SIZE, (void *) this,
-                                           RESAMPLER_TASK_PRIORITY, this->task_stack_buffer_, &this->task_stack_);
+                                           TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION, this->task_stack_buffer_, &this->task_stack_);
   }
 
   if (this->task_handle_ == nullptr) {

esphome/components/speaker/media_player/speaker_media_player.cpp

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #ifdef USE_ESP32
 
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 
 #include "esphome/components/audio/audio.h"
 #ifdef USE_OTA
@@ -45,9 +46,6 @@ namespace speaker {
 
 static const uint32_t MEDIA_CONTROLS_QUEUE_LENGTH = 20;
 
-static const UBaseType_t MEDIA_PIPELINE_TASK_PRIORITY = 1;
-static const UBaseType_t ANNOUNCEMENT_PIPELINE_TASK_PRIORITY = 1;
-
 static const char *const TAG = "speaker_media_player";
 
 void SpeakerMediaPlayer::setup() {
@@ -70,9 +68,10 @@ void SpeakerMediaPlayer::setup() {
   ota::get_global_ota_callback()->add_global_state_listener(this);
 #endif
 
-  this->announcement_pipeline_ =
-      make_unique<AudioPipeline>(this->announcement_speaker_, this->buffer_size_, this->task_stack_in_psram_, "ann",
-                                 ANNOUNCEMENT_PIPELINE_TASK_PRIORITY);
+  // TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION: same as main loop - media pipelines handle buffered
+  // audio streaming, not real-time I/O, so they don't need elevated priority
+  this->announcement_pipeline_ = make_unique<AudioPipeline>(
+      this->announcement_speaker_, this->buffer_size_, this->task_stack_in_psram_, "ann", TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION);
 
   if (this->announcement_pipeline_ == nullptr) {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create announcement pipeline");
@@ -81,7 +80,7 @@ void SpeakerMediaPlayer::setup() {
 
   if (!this->single_pipeline_()) {
     this->media_pipeline_ = make_unique<AudioPipeline>(this->media_speaker_, this->buffer_size_,
-                                                       this->task_stack_in_psram_, "med", MEDIA_PIPELINE_TASK_PRIORITY);
+                                                       this->task_stack_in_psram_, "med", TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION);
 
     if (this->media_pipeline_ == nullptr) {
       ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create media pipeline");

esphome/components/uart/uart_component_esp_idf.cpp

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include "esphome/core/gpio.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 #include "driver/gpio.h"
 #include "soc/gpio_num.h"
 #include "soc/uart_pins.h"
@@ -367,12 +368,13 @@ void IDFUARTComponent::check_logger_conflict() {}
 
 #ifdef USE_UART_WAKE_LOOP_ON_RX
 void IDFUARTComponent::start_rx_event_task_() {
-  // Create FreeRTOS task to monitor UART events
-  BaseType_t result = xTaskCreate(rx_event_task_func,    // Task function
-                                  "uart_rx_evt",         // Task name (max 16 chars)
-                                  2240,                  // Stack size in bytes (~2.2KB); increase if needed for logging
-                                  this,                  // Task parameter (this pointer)
-                                  tskIDLE_PRIORITY + 1,  // Priority (low, just above idle)
+  // TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION: same as main loop - UART RX monitoring is lightweight,
+  // just wakes main loop when data arrives
+  BaseType_t result = xTaskCreate(rx_event_task_func,  // Task function
+                                  "uart_rx_evt",       // Task name (max 16 chars)
+                                  2240,                // Stack size in bytes (~2.2KB)
+                                  this,                // Task parameter (this pointer)
+                                  TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION,
                                   &this->rx_event_task_handle_  // Task handle
   );
 

esphome/components/usb_cdc_acm/usb_cdc_acm_esp32.cpp

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "usb_cdc_acm.h"
 #include "esphome/core/application.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 
 #include <cstring>
 #include <sys/param.h>
@@ -162,7 +163,9 @@ void USBCDCACMInstance::setup() {
   // Create a simple, unique task name per interface
   char task_name[] = "usb_tx_0";
   task_name[sizeof(task_name) - 1] = format_hex_char(static_cast<char>(this->itf_));
-  xTaskCreate(usb_tx_task_fn, task_name, stack_size, this, 4, &this->usb_tx_task_handle_);
+  // TASK_PRIORITY_USB_SERIAL: above main loop (TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION) and
+  // wake word (TASK_PRIORITY_INFERENCE), below protocol tasks (TASK_PRIORITY_PROTOCOL)
+  xTaskCreate(usb_tx_task_fn, task_name, stack_size, this, TASK_PRIORITY_USB_SERIAL, &this->usb_tx_task_handle_);
 
   if (this->usb_tx_task_handle_ == nullptr) {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create USB TX task for itf %d", this->itf_);

esphome/components/usb_host/usb_host.h

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #if defined(USE_ESP32_VARIANT_ESP32P4) || defined(USE_ESP32_VARIANT_ESP32S2) || defined(USE_ESP32_VARIANT_ESP32S3)
 #include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
+#include "esphome/core/task_priorities.h"
 #include <vector>
 #include "usb/usb_host.h"
 #include <freertos/FreeRTOS.h>
@@ -69,7 +70,6 @@ static constexpr trq_bitmask_t ALL_REQUESTS_IN_USE = MAX_REQUESTS == 32 ? ~0 : (
 
 static constexpr size_t USB_EVENT_QUEUE_SIZE = 32;   // Size of event queue between USB task and main loop
 static constexpr size_t USB_TASK_STACK_SIZE = 4096;  // Stack size for USB task (same as ESP-IDF USB examples)
-static constexpr UBaseType_t USB_TASK_PRIORITY = 5;  // Higher priority than main loop (tskIDLE_PRIORITY + 5)
 
 // used to report a transfer status
 struct TransferStatus {

esphome/components/usb_host/usb_host_client.cpp

@@ -215,11 +215,12 @@ void USBClient::setup() {
   }
 
   // Create and start USB task
+  // TASK_PRIORITY_PROTOCOL: above main loop (TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION) but below
+  // audio tasks - USB host needs responsive scheduling for device communication
   xTaskCreate(usb_task_fn, "usb_task",
               USB_TASK_STACK_SIZE,  // Stack size
               this,                 // Task parameter
-              USB_TASK_PRIORITY,    // Priority (higher than main loop)
-              &this->usb_task_handle_);
+              TASK_PRIORITY_PROTOCOL, &this->usb_task_handle_);
 
   if (this->usb_task_handle_ == nullptr) {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to create USB task");

esphome/core/task_priorities.h

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#ifdef USE_ESP32
+
+#include <freertos/FreeRTOS.h>
+
+namespace esphome {
+
+/// @brief FreeRTOS task priority definitions for ESPHome
+///
+/// All priorities use relative values based on configMAX_PRIORITIES so they
+/// scale automatically if CONFIG_FREERTOS_MAX_PRIORITIES changes.
+///
+/// Priority hierarchy (with CONFIG_FREERTOS_MAX_PRIORITIES = 16):
+///
+///   14: Audio capture (I2S microphone) - highest, real-time audio input
+///   10: Audio output (I2S speaker) - real-time audio output
+///    8: Network stack (LWIP TCP/IP) - set via CONFIG_LWIP_TCPIP_TASK_PRIO
+///    6: Audio mixing - buffered audio processing
+///    5: Protocol tasks (MQTT, USB host, OpenThread) - communication
+///    4: USB serial TX - serial communication
+///    3: ML inference (wake word) - background ML processing
+///    1: Application (main loop, media pipelines, camera, UART RX) - baseline
+///    0: Idle task (FreeRTOS system)
+///
+/// Guidelines:
+/// - Real-time audio I/O tasks need highest priorities to prevent glitches
+/// - Network/protocol tasks should be above application but below audio
+/// - Background processing (ML, media decoding) can run at low priority
+
+/// Audio capture task priority (I2S microphone)
+/// Highest application priority - audio input cannot tolerate delays
+static constexpr UBaseType_t TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_CAPTURE = configMAX_PRIORITIES - 2;
+
+/// Audio output task priority (I2S speaker)
+/// High priority - audio output needs consistent timing
+static constexpr UBaseType_t TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_OUTPUT = configMAX_PRIORITIES - 6;
+
+/// Audio mixer task priority
+/// Medium-high - mixing is buffered but feeds real-time output
+static constexpr UBaseType_t TASK_PRIORITY_AUDIO_MIXER = configMAX_PRIORITIES - 10;
+
+/// Protocol/communication task priority (MQTT, USB host, OpenThread)
+/// Above application tasks for responsive network handling
+static constexpr UBaseType_t TASK_PRIORITY_PROTOCOL = configMAX_PRIORITIES - 11;
+
+/// USB serial TX task priority
+/// Slightly below protocol tasks
+static constexpr UBaseType_t TASK_PRIORITY_USB_SERIAL = configMAX_PRIORITIES - 12;
+
+/// ML inference task priority (wake word detection)
+/// Background processing - can yield to communication tasks
+static constexpr UBaseType_t TASK_PRIORITY_INFERENCE = configMAX_PRIORITIES - 13;
+
+/// Application task priority (main loop, media pipelines, camera, etc.)
+/// Baseline priority - just above idle task
+static constexpr UBaseType_t TASK_PRIORITY_APPLICATION = tskIDLE_PRIORITY + 1;
+
+}  // namespace esphome
+
+#endif  // USE_ESP32