How to debug TI Boards with an Arduino project and GDB?

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A variety of TI boards have built in debugging interfaces, which are now supported directly in vMicro.

Built-In Debugger Connections

If you have a board with an built in debugger, ensure you know which port is for debugging and which is for normal programming, only the DEBUG port needs to be connected (there may only be one as on the CC3200 which is the DEBUG port as well)

If there is a switch (as in the below), ensure this is also moved to the DEBUG position

No further connections are required beyond the USB Lead.

e.g. TI TivaC USB Connection

TivaC Connection to DEBUG port

 

Software Setup

Ensure you have Visual Studio and the vMicro Extension Installed

Open your Sketch and select the Debug > Hardware, and the relevant Debugger you have available:

TI Built In Debug Toolbar Settings

You may need to install an additional USB Driver on Interface 0 of your debugger to allow it to function with this software (e.g CC3200 needs this, the TivaC doesn't)

Remember - If you have installed a new driver, you may have to do it again if you connect the debugger to a different USB port next time.....

 

Start Debugger

  1. Ensure you have the Debug Configuration selected from the Configuration Manager Window
  2. If you know where you want the first breakpoint in your code, add it now
  3. To start the debugging process, you can either:
    • "Debug > Attach to Process" button if your code has already been uploaded to the TI board
    • "Debug > Start Debugging" if your code has not been uploaded
SAMD Debugging in vMicro and Visual Studio

Congratulations - you should have the debugger running, and further windows can be opened from the "Debug > Windows" menu once you have started debugging

 

See our GDB Debugging in Brief guide, or our detailed GDB Debugging Tutorial for Arduino to learn more about using the debugging interface.