Debuggers & in-circuit emulators are devices that are designed to perform the debugging of code in software and to provide a window into the embedded system.

How do debuggers and in-circuit emulators work?

Debuggers and in-circuit emulators operate by making use of the processor to carry out the main function of the system and support debugging operations. This allows the programmer to use the emulator to load and run the program on to the embedded system. It also allows view and change information used by the systems software.

There are advantages to using debuggers in-circuit emulators as most embedded systems contain software and hardware elements. This allows the in-circuit emulator software element to be run so it can be tested on the hardware. This stage also gives the added convenience to the developer to help isolate faulty code.

Types of debuggers and in-circuit emulators

There is a variety of debugger and in-circuit emulator kits that are available which include variations such as different type of kit offerings as well and what they can be used with.

Types of debuggers that are available are In-circuit debuggers. These are hardware devices that connect between a computer and a target microcontroller test system. they are used to debug real-time applications with ease and speed. This can enable programmers to create breakpoints on the PIC (photonic integrated circuit), run code, single step and review variables and registers hardware.

Applications

Debuggers and in-circuit emulators have a wide range of application use such as;

Industrial communication
IT
Automation and control