SDB: JTAG based Debugger for ARM

(SDB is included in the product: SCARM – C Compiler for ARM)

SDB is JTAG based Debugger for ARM micro-controllers. It provides standard debugging features like Single Stepping etc. by connecting to target hardware via a JTAG Cable.

Salient features of SDB Debugger for ARM:

· Supports most ARM micro-controllers.

· Requires JTAG Cable for connection to target hardware. Supports both models of SPJ Systems’ JTAG Cables (SJT-S and SJT-U).

· Loads SCARM project file.

· Can also load ELF file produced by gcc or any third party software tool.

· Allows user to stop (break) the running program, single step through the program and so on.

· Displays registers and symbols during debugging.

· Also includes Flash programming facility for some ARM micro-controllers (e.g. STR711, STR712…).

· SDB Debugger is part of the product SCARM – C Compiler for ARM.

How does it work?

ARM micro-controllers include JTAG interface port for debugging. The SDB Debugger software connects to the ARM micro-controller through it’s JTAG interface connector, via a JTAG Cable. Once connected, SDB can access and control the state of the ARM micro-controller. For example, it can read the contents of all Registers and display those on computer screen. It can also forcefully stop the program execution, restart it or set breakpoints at specific Program Counter values.

The physical connection is typically as shown in this figure:

The SDB program can also erase or re-program internal flash of the target ARM micro-controller. This is also done through the JTAG interface connector, via a JTAG Cable.

The SDB is intentionally included in the product SCARM, so that users get a complete development tool-set:

· The IDE included in SCARM will let you create and manage software projects, create and edit C and/or ASM programs.

· The C Compiler and related libraries included in SCARM will let you build your project and produce executable file (Intel HEX format, or plain binary format or ELF format)

· The SDB Debugger can download this executable (HEX or ELF file) into the target micro-controller’s flash. (Some ARM micro-controllers also support other means of erasing and re-programming the flash – for example ISP through serial port).

· The target hardware maybe your own board or a standard Evaluation board like MiniARM.

· The SDB Debugger will let you start and stop program execution or let you single step through the program and observe Register and Memory contents after every step.

A snapshot of the SDB Debugger program is here:

Evaluation version: Please write to us to obtain free evaluation version of SDB – which is included in SCARM C Compiler for ARM.

Have questions? Goto FAQ page.

We also make general purpose evaluation boards, based on ARM micro-controllers (for example, LPC2104, LPC2138, LPC2148…).

Note: We reserve the right to change specifications of any product without notice.