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Software Tools for

Software Tools for Hardware Debugging Hardware
Page last updated 09 Nov 2016 (09 Nov 2016), by (/users/4180_1/) jim hamblen (/users/4180_1/). 1 reply Debugging
(/users/4180_1/notebook/software-tools-for-hardware-debugging/#commentform)  debugging (/search/?
q=debugging&type=Notebook), ethernet (/search/?q=ethernet&type=Notebook), I2C (/search/?q=I2C&type=Notebook), JTAG  debugging (/search/?
(/search/?q=JTAG&type=Notebook), rs232 (/search/?q=rs232&type=Notebook), Serial (/search/?q=Serial&type=Notebook), SPI q=debugging&type=Notebook),
(/search/?q=SPI&type=Notebook), USB (/search/?q=USB&type=Notebook), Wi Fi (/search/?q=Wi Fi&type=Notebook) ethernet (/search/?
q=ethernet&type=Notebook),
Here are some links to software that can be used for debugging a new embedded device when a PC is involved. Most I2C (/search/?
run on a PC (some have MAC versions) and are free or have a free time-limited demo. These can be used at the same q=I2C&type=Notebook), JTAG
time as the application is running and do not require any source code changes in the application. Adding debug printf's (/search/?
everywhere in code is always another option, but it takes time in complex code with multiple source files and in some q=JTAG&type=Notebook), rs232
cases the additional time delays added by printfs in an application may also cause problems to change. (/search/?
q=rs232&type=Notebook), Serial
(/search/?
q=Serial&type=Notebook), SPI
Ethernet and Wi Fi (/search/?
q=SPI&type=Notebook), USB
WireShark (https://www.wireshark.org/download.html) - Monitor, capture, and display network packets using a PC. (/search/?
Handy for debugging applications using Ethernet networking. Wireshark can also be used for Wi Fi q=USB&type=Notebook), Wi Fi
(http://www.wireless-nets.com/resources/tutorials/sniff_packets_wireshark.html), but in some cases special Wi Fi (/search/?q=Wi
hardware might be needed to capture everything. Fi&type=Notebook)

Page owner: (/users/4180_1/)

jim hamblen (/users/4180_1/)

Created 01 Oct 2015 (01 Oct

2015).

Last updated 09 Nov 2016 (09

Nov 2016)

RS232 and Serial Ports

Free Serial Port Analyzer (http://freeserialanalyzer.com) or Serial Port Monitor
(http://www.eltima.com/products/serial-port-monitor//) - Monitor, capture and display the data on a serial port
including
Important USB virtualforcom
Information this ports
Arm using a PC. Handy for debugging applications that use serial communications.
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USB
USBcap (http://desowin.org/usbpcap/) and USB Monitor (http://www.eltima.com/products/usb-port-monitor) -
Monitor, capture, and display the data transfers to a USB device using a PC. Handy for debugging USB applications.

I2C, SPI, 1-Wire, CAN, RS232 and JTAG

Some new scopes and logic analyzers will capture I2C, SPI, CAN and RS232 cycles, decode, and display them. There are
I2C and SPI software monitors for PCs, but they will require a special hardware box for the PC ($200-$300) with a USB
interface that is used to capture the data. The Bus Pirate (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9544) is probably the
lowest cost option (around $30), but many of the more expensive options will support higher clock rates.
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 Bus Pirate Logic Analyzer

Bluetooth
There areInformation
Important several Bluetooth packet sniffers available such as this one seen below from Adafruit.
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Adafruit's Bluetooth LE Packet Sniffer requires a Bluetooth dongle (https://www.adafruit.com/products/2269)

1 comment on Software Tools for Hardware Debugging:

(/users/AlexandrGreen/) Alex Green (/users/AlexandrGreen/)
# (/comments/perm/23205/) 08 Jul 2016 (08 Jul 2016)

You can monitoring the data RS232/422/485 COM ports and also displays, logs and analyzes all serial port activity
in a system by utility Serial Port Monitor by Eltima. I also used it in my work to "sniff" the serial commands
sent/received over the serial port. This product is fully baked. Good developer tech support. Product does all it
claims to do. (http://www.eltima.com/products/serial-port-monitor/ (http://www.eltima.com/products/serial-port-
monitor/))

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