Chapter 2 Program Development Flow

Source code debugger

The software developed on a workstation or personal computer must be checked using a hardware environment similar to that used by the final product.

Nearly all of this series microcomputers will ultimately be incorporated within end products. Therefore, program debugging must also be performed under the same conditions as the end product. This is why a source code debugger and in-circuit emulator are provided.

The probe of the in-circuit emulator can operate in place of the microcomputer by connecting it through the microcomputer socket in the product.

The source code debugger is a program for controlling the in-circuit emulator's hardware. The debugger downloads the application developed on a workstation or personal computer to the emulator's memory to create an environment in which the application runs as if it were in the microcomputer's ROM. It can start program execution as the address of any source statement, and can temporarily stop execution. Also, when execution is stopped, the source code debugger can display values of internal registers and memory and can be used to verify desired operation of programs by changing those values. It also enables more detailed operation checks with step operation, whereby execution proceeds one instruction at a time.

Using this development environment, the developer can prove programs in the same state as when finally incorporated into the microprocessor.

16 Program Development Flow

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Panasonic MN1030 user manual Source code debugger