Getting started with ARM Cortex M4 - setting up debug environments

In this post, I'll write about setting up debug environments for Kinetis Design Studio(KDS). These tools are required for on chip debugging at runtime of the code.

PART A: Installing the GNU ARM Eclipse debugger

First we'll install the GNU ARM Eclipse tools, which sets up the OpenOCD. To do this, first open KDS. Select Help -> Install New Software... In the Install window, click the Add button on the top right corner.

The Name text area is optional. Type "http://gnuarmeclipse.sourceforge.net/updates" in the Location text area and click OK.

Expand the GNU ARM C/C++ Cross Development Tools and select the packages as shown below.

Click Next and accept the licence agreement and then Finish. The installation will take place in the background. After it is done, KDS needs to be restarted for changes to take effect.

PART B: Installing the PEMicro debugger

The following procedure will work both on KDS or any other standalone version of eclipse (Eclipse Luna). Follow the same procedure as above, except for the Location text area in the Add Repository window. Here, you have to type "http://www.pemicro.com/eclipse/updates". Rest of the procedure is the same.

To test the successful installation, we will write a basic hello world program and try to debug it in the next post.

Cheers,

Vijay.