Debugger in IDE 2.3

[andre_alm10]

It will be great with guide for how to use the Debugger IDE 2.3 with Mbed and also NANO ESP32.

[ptillisch]

Hi @andre_alm10. Thanks for your suggestion.

@andre_alm10

how to use the Debugger IDE 2.3 with Mbed

I agree this would be a valuable addition to the documentation.

Is there a specific Mbed OS core-based board you are interested in using the debugger with? I might be able to provide some guidance here that will serve until such time as a formal guide is published.

@andre_alm10

and also NANO ESP32.

As was mentioned in the 2.3.0 release announcement:

@ptillisch

Due to the unusual implementation of the debugging configuration used by the "esp32" platform to overcome limitations of the initial system, debugging support is temporarily lost for ESP32-based boards in Arduino IDE 2.3.0.

This breakage affects the Nano ESP32 in addition to the 3rd party ESP32-based boards.

The work to migrate the platform to the new system is already underway and compatibility will be restored in an upcoming release of the ESP32 platforms that will be available for update via Boards Manager as usual. For now, please continue to use Arduino IDE 2.2.1 if you need ESP32 debugger support.

I'll provide instructions you can follow to install Arduino IDE 2.2.1:

1. Click the following link to open the page for the 2.2.1 release in the Arduino IDE GitHub repository:
   Release 2.2.1 · arduino/arduino-ide · GitHub

2. From the list of download links under the "Assets" section of the page, click the link with the name:

   • If you want the installer package: arduino-ide_2.2.1_Windows_64bit.exe
   • If you want the "MSI" package: arduino-ide_2.2.1_Windows_64bit.msi
   • If you want the "ZIP" package: arduino-ide_2.2.1_Windows_64bit.zip

   ⓘ If you aren't sure which one you need, use arduino-ide_2.2.1_Windows_64bit.exe

3. Wait for the download to finish.

4. Install Arduino IDE from the downloaded file as you would normally do.

When using Arduino IDE 2.2.1, you will find that Arduino IDE periodically shows an "Update Available" dialog to offer you an update to the newer version of Arduino IDE. You must not accept these updates until after you see that a new version of the "esp32" boards platform has been released.

---

There is already a guide for using the Arduino IDE 2.2.1 debugger with the Nano ESP32 board:

https://docs.arduino.cc/tutorials/nano-esp32/debugging/

Once the new release of the "Arduino ESP32 Boards" platform comes out, you will be able to use that same guide with Arduino IDE >=2.3.0.

[andre_alm10]

Hello, Mbed, Arduino NANO 33 BLE is the one im using right now. Im using MacOS.

[ptillisch]

@andre_alm10

Im using MacOS.

Oops. I made the unwarranted assumption you were using Windows. The instructions for installing Arduino IDE 2.2.1 on a macOS machine:

1. Click the following link to open the page for the 2.2.1 release in the Arduino IDE GitHub repository:
   Release 2.2.1 · arduino/arduino-ide · GitHub
2. From the list of download links under the "Assets" section of the page, click the link with the name "arduino-ide_2.2.1_macOS_64bit.dmg".
3. Wait for the download to finish.
4. Install Arduino IDE from the downloaded file as you would normally do.

[ptillisch]

@andre_alm10

Arduino NANO 33 BLE is the one im using right now.

OK, great. I'll provide some general instructions:

1. Connect a debug probe to the SWD pins on the test pads on the bottom of your Nano 33 BLE board:
   
   
   
   The supported debug probes:
   • Any CMSIS-DAP-compliant probe
   • Black Magic Probe
   • Segger J-Link¹
   • STMicroelectronics ST-LINK
2. Connect the debug probe to your computer with a USB cable.
3. Power the Nano 33 BLE board (can be by connecting it to your computer with the USB cable) if the debug probe doesn't provide power.
4. Open the Arduino IDE Boards Manager.
5. Scroll down through the list of platforms until you find "Arduino Mbed OS Nano Boards".
6. Verify that you have version 4.1.1 or newer installed.
   ⓘ Debugger support was added in version 4.1.1 of the platform, so it will not be usable with older versions.
7. Open the sketch you want to debug.
8. Select Tools > Board > Arduino Mbed OS Nano Boards > Arduino Nano 33 BLE from the Arduino IDE menus.
9. Enable Sketch > Optimize for Debugging in the Arduino IDE menus.
10. Select Sketch > Verify/Compile from the Arduino IDE menus.
11. Wait for the compilation to finish successfully.
12. Select the type of debug probe you are using from the Tools > Programmer menu.
13. Click the "Start Debugging" button on the Arduino IDE toolbar.
14. Wait for the "DEBUG" panel to open at the left side of the Arduino IDE window.

Footnotes

1. Some additional configuration will be required if using the J-Link. If you are using this probe and require assistance, let me know and I'll provide instructions.

[andre_alm10]

Hello, thank you very much.
I have ordered "Lucky DRG WL CMSIS DAP".
I hope it will work. Looks good anyway.

[ptillisch]

Very cool!

I don't have experience with that particular debug probe, but I've had good luck with several others.

Fortunately we have this standardized and widespread CMSIS-DAP protocol that allows a variety of debug probes to be used with a variety of boards so we aren't locked in to a single proprietary probe for each target, priced out of the reach of the average hobbyist or student. You will likely find that you are able to use the same probe with other boards that are common in the Arduino ecosystem.