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  • Author Author: Former Member
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Modify Variables on a Running Arduino

Former Member

New Release - Arduino Debugger

 

The Arduino Debugger has taken another step forward. Previously the debugger provided trace/break/step and graphical visualizations. The latest release allows the update of  variables and registers while an Arduino is running. Variables can be updated while the Arduino is running normally (in debug) or during a debug break (pause) event.

 

Read more about Modifying Variables On A Running Arduino at visualmicro.com

 

For this example we show a really pointless (and rubbish) arduino program in debug mode. The message trace has been frozen at a point that makes best reading. The entire arduino program code is shown, You can see that the values of variables are defined to be different to the current values shown in the expression watch window. The serial window shows confirmation that the changes to variable values were succesfully accepted by the Arduino. The variables with a yellow background color are read/write.

 

Visual Studio 2012 in debug mode with the Arduino plugin. Click the image to exand

http://www.visualmicro.com/pics/DebugSetVariableRunningExample2.png

Original Arduino Debugger Post

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  • in reply to fustini

    I was not able to figure out a way to easily provide debug with AVR capabilities. As you rightly say, the solution is to inject serial code into a copy of the sources during a debug compile.

    The code injection does not inject the text messages into the arduino code. Instead, the test messages are stored on the pc in xml files and displayed in the debug viewers when required.

    So this solution is a hybrid between adding serial debug messages and an integrated debugger. It is very easy to use and friendly but might not be a useful solution for time dependant or very limited memory solutions.

    However, we have had a couple of new users that had so many "old fashioned" arduino serial print messages in their code. So many messages that they had filled up the arduino memory and it crashed. When they used the debugger, they were able to remove the serial messages and replace with breakpoint/tracepoints. This released most of the arduino memory and their projects worked well.

    So this is a real world solution that works well but it is not a highly technical or perfect solution. One other nice thing about using serial is that we also support SoftwareSerial and other "Print" transports. So xbee, bluetooth etc can also be used for debug.

  • in reply to Former Member

    Very interesting to hear more about your approach.  I can identify with ending up with a mess of print statements across a bunch of files with a complicated Arduino project.  I didn't even consider the additional negative that it is taking up memory with the strings.

  • in reply to fustini

    I'll be honest with you. I did the same before the debugger and also did not realise the implications. Even then, it only became clear to me when the first user sent me his sketch code which caused the arduino to randomly crash Well it wasn't randomly crashing but each time he added a new debug message to try to trap the crash the crash happened in a different locationimage.

     

    At the same time, another user requested that the plugin optionally provide a detailed memory usage report after each arduino compilation. I tested the new memory report feature on the sketch and was surpised to see how easily the debug strings had consumed 80% of the arduino memory. Leaving too little for what the code neded to allocate at runtime . It was an interesting and a useful reminder!

  • in reply to Former Member

    I really like that you've added a memory usage feature, too.  I was working with a WiFi shield in which the sketch and all the libraries were on the borderline of the ATMega328 SRAM.  It was really maddening troubleshooting under those circumstances.

  • in reply to fustini

    Not wishing to steal your thunder, but there is another program undergoing beta testing for the Arduino support right now.

     

    Hanno Sander is a NZ'er that works with Parallax and has developed '12blocks' which is multi platform, using drag and drop.

    It's available for a 30 day evaluation and is cheap, given its abilities, and the number of platforms it supports, along with all three OS's.

     

    One of the great features is the ability to modify and get the value of variables in real time.

     

    Keep an eye out for it at www.12blocks.com

     

    Mark