Method for high efficiently debugging by using software breakpoint in Flash memory

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for high efficiently debugging by using software breakpoint in a Flash memory. A Flash software breakpoint management controller, a Flash procedure downloader and an instruction resolver are arranged in a debugger; the debugger is connected to a target processing system through an ICE (internet communications engine); the debugger is used for controlling the target processing through the ICE, acquiring and modifying the state of a processor, and reading the data of the Flash memory; and the Flash software breakpoint management controller is used for storing and managing the Flash software breakpoint information, controlling the Flash software breakpoint state transition, controlling the operations of creating, deleting, recovering, shielding, enabling and updating the Flash software breakpoint, and controlling the implement of exchanging instruction sets. By using the method for high efficiently debugging by using software breakpoint in a Flash memory, the debugging time is shortened by reducing the Flash erasing operation; especially, the proceeding running from the Flash software breakpoint is as quick as the operation of arranging the software breakpoint in a RAM (random-access memory); the service life is influenced by the Flash erasing operation, thereby being capable of efficiently increasing the service life of Flash by reducing the Flash erasing operation.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to an improvement of debugging functions and tools of an integrated development environment for processor program development, in particular a method for efficiently using software breakpoint debugging in a Flash memory. Background technique [0002] Debugging a program means that program developers find and correct errors or failures in the program by controlling the program's running, stopping, single-stepping, interrupting, and viewing the status during the program development process. Online debugging is a means of downloading programs to the target system through ICE for debugging. [0003] Breakpoints are an important means to control the interruption of program execution. According to their principles, they can be divided into hardware breakpoints and software breakpoints. Hardware breakpoints require the support of the processor's internal circuits. Usually, the comparison circuit is used to trigger the interrupt of the p...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0008]1. In order to solve the problem that setting a software breakpoint in a non-volatile memory is difficult to implement, a software breakpoint for use with a memory device is proposed This method is actually a hardware implementation of software breakpoints. It needs to modify the structure of the existing processor and judge whether it is a breakpoint address by decoding the processor system address. If it is a breakpoint address, the processor will not start from Fetch instructions from non-volatile memory, and read breakpoint instructions from the software breakpoint manager, and generate an interrupt after execution

Although this method can solve the problem of setting software breakpoints in non-volatile memory, it has modified the processor structure and increased complexity, and each software breakpoint needs hardware circuits to realize, which can only be realized according to hardware resources. Set a limited number of software breakpoints

[0009]2. At present, most of the simulation development platforms debugged in Flash, including integrated development environment and ICE, use hardware breakpoints to realize debugging, such as RealView MDK+ULINK; Some simulation development platforms start to support setting software breakpoints in Flash, such as IAR J-Link for ARM and TKScope embedded simulation development platform of Guangzhou Zhiyuan Electronics Co., Ltd., they all adopt the read-modify-write method based on the sector. Operation to realize the software breakpoint, when the software breakpoint is triggered and re-runs, it is necessary to repeatedly replace the instruction at the breakpoint, so when the software breakpoint in Flash is executed, there will be an obvious pause time

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