mdb: the microchip command-line debugger · july 2013 mdb: the microchip command-line debugger a...

July 2013

MDB: The Microchip Command-line Debugger

A look at the command-line interface to Microchip's debuggers

Friday, 9 August 13

© 2013 Microchip Technology Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. MDB: The Microchip Command-line Debugger Slide 2

What is the MDB?

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What is the MDB?

MDB allows access to Microchip debuggers from a terminal or console

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What is the MDB?


It can be faster than the IDE for some projects

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What is the MDB?


It can be faster than the IDE for some projects It can be run from scripts to automate

repetitive tasks

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What is the MDB?



repetitive tasks Run the shell or batch file to invoke it

(mdb.sh or mdb.bat)

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What is the MDB?



repetitive tasks Run the shell or batch file to invoke it

(mdb.sh or mdb.bat) Uses a syntax similar to the GNU debugger

(GDB)

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Execution and Help

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Run mdb script provided


Execution and Help

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Execution and Help

Operating System

Path

Windows c:\Program Files\Microchip\MPLABX\mplab_ide\bin\mdb.bat

Apple OS X /Applications/microchip/mplabx/mplab_ide.app/Contents/Resources/mplab_ide/bin/mdb.sh

Linux /opt/microchip/mplabx/mplab_ide/bin/mdb.sh

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Execution and Help

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Run mdb script provided Type help for assistance with commands

Use a category or command name for detailed help


Execution and Help

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Basic Use

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Basic Use≈ 6: void putch(char data) 7: { 8: while( ! TXIF) // check buffer 9: continue; // wait till ready 10: TXREG = data; // send data 11: } 12: 13: unsigned char 14: update(unsigned char cnt) 15: { 16: return cnt - 2; 17: } 18: 19: int main(void) 20: { 21: unsigned char count;≈ 29: putch('\n'); 30: for(count=10; count!=0; ) { 31: printf("%d hello world\n", count); 32: count = update(count); 33: } 34: 35: while(1) 36: continue; 37: }

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Basic Use

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Initialise the MDB environment using: device to indicate the target device hardware to indicate the debugger (Simulator/ICE

etc) program to load a built executable

Control the program with: run to execute the loaded program halt to stop execution

Print text to the console via stdio functions


Basic Use

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Set breakpoints using break Print the content of variables using print Continue execution after stopping using continue

Use step or next to single step Examine memory using the x command


Advanced Use

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Automating Tasks

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MDB commands can be scripted in a file and automatically executed


Automating Tasks

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Automating Tasks

device pic18f87j11hwtool realiceprogram product_15_B.elfbreak i2c.c:32run

product_15_B.txt:

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Automating Tasks

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Special commands synchronise the debugger and MDB script reader


Automating Tasks

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MDB invocation itself can be part of a script


Automating Tasks

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MDB invocation itself can be part of a script Stimulus SCL (Simulator Control Language)

files can be loaded using the stim command


Automating Tasks

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MDB invocation itself can be part of a script Stimulus SCL (Simulator Control Language)

files can be loaded using the stim command The MDB core jar files allow your own MDB

interface to be created


Automating Tasks

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Conclusion

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Conclusion

The MDB command-line interface is fast

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Conclusion

The MDB command-line interface is fast Especially suited to automated testing

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Conclusion


MDB can use command files and be called from a script

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Conclusion


MDB can use command files and be called from a script

Consult the Microchip Debugger (MDB) User’s Guide for full information

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mdb: the microchip command-line debugger · july 2013 mdb: the microchip command-line debugger a...

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