*This is an updated version of the former title "Techniques for using DS-5 - How to Use Debugger Commands".
Arm® DS-5 for Intel® SoC FPGA Edition (DS-5) has been replaced by Arm® Development Studio for Intel® SoC FPGA Edition ( Arm® DS), the standard software integrated development environment for Intel® SoC FPGAs. Arm® DS is the successor to DS-5 and is not significantly different in usability. Most of the articles in this series are applicable to both Arm® DS and DS-5, but the differences are clearly noted in this update.
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This article provides additional information on how to use Arm® DS / DS-5, which is available as a software integrated development environment for Intel® SoC FPGAs.
We will introduce how to use the debugger commands in Arm® DS / DS-5. As you know, Arm® DS / DS-5 is an Eclipse GUI-based debugger tool. While basic debugging is possible by simply displaying and manipulating the various views provided (variable view, register view, memory view, etc.), the use of debugger commands expands the scope of Arm® DS / DS-5 usage.
Arm® Development Studio documentation page (Arm® Developer site)
DS-5 documentation page (Arm® Developer site)
Arm® DS Debugger Command Reference
" Arm Development Studio Debugger Command Reference " (latest English version)
DS-5 Debugger Command Reference
" Arm DS-5 Debugger Command Reference " (latest English version)
This article covers only the basics of using the debugger commands. For a list of available debugger commands and detailed specifications of each command, please refer to the Arm® DS / DS-5 Debugger Command Reference. Please also refer to the manuals for each tool for basic usage of the Arm® DS / DS-5.
Command Usage
The Arm® DS / DS-5 debugger commands are used in the following two situations
- At the start of debugging (specified in the debug configuration)
- After debugging has started (entered in Command View)
At start of debugging (specified in debug configuration)
On the debugger tab of the debug configuration (debug configuration), it is possible to specify debugger commands to be executed at the start of debugging. Figure 1 shows the setting items (1) to (3) and the order of command execution on the debugger tab.
Figure 1. Command specification on the debug configuration
In Figure 1, the "Write in script" items (1) and (2) are used to prepare a plain text script file and write the commands in the file in the order that they are to be executed as one command per line. In the "Direct description" field (③), write the commands directly in the corresponding text box in the order in which they are to be executed.
You can freely write commands in any of the items (1) to (3). This allows you to change the values of variables and registers at the start of debugging or to obtain a memory dump.
After debugging starts (input in command view)
After debugging has started, commands can be entered from the Command View displayed on the Arm® DS / DS-5 screen. Figure 2 shows an image of the Command View screen. (If it is not displayed, select Commands from the menu: Window (W) → Show View (V) to display it.)
Figure 2. Execution from Command View
Command View operation is as simple as typing any command in the command input box and clicking "Send. In addition to executing commands, debugging operations performed in windows other than Command View are also logged and displayed as commands. The contents of the log view can be used as a record of debugging procedures, but it is also useful as a reference for how to write commands.
Conclusion
As a final note, most debugger commands that involve accessing target board memory or registers can only be accepted when the target processor is stopped. (e.g., set var, etc.).
Note that the processor must be stopped before executing commands that involve memory or register rewriting. Stopping the processor can also be done with the interrupt or stop command.
The above is an introduction to the Arm® DS / DS-5 debugger commands. Some of the debugger commands are not available in the Arm® DS / DS-5 GUI, so it is recommended that you read the Debugger Command Reference.
Recommended articles and documents
How to Use the Debugger (Arm® DS / DS-5) for SoC FPGAs
Altera® SoC FPGA Summary Page
Development Flow for Altera® FPGAs