openocd_gdb_debugging.md

title	page_id
On-chip debugging	openocd_gdb_debugging

One of the key components of getting really serious about developing on the crazyflie, is to dive into the C-based firmware. If you really want to do some major changes to the intrinsic of the code, it is essential to have proper tools to be able to debug the code (place breakpoints, read real-time values ect...). On this page, we will put a few examples how to do this with IDE's and different environments.

NOTE: This page requires our debug adapter and ST Link V2 Debugger! See this page: Debug adapter

Debugging using VS Code

Thanks to the Cortex-Debug extension, it is now easily possible to debug ARM executables straight inside of VS Code!

Mac OS and Ubuntu

Prerequisites

First ensure that you have the ARM GCC toolchain and OpenOCD installed and in your path. To check, run:

which openocd
which arm-none-eabi-gcc

The path to your OpenOCD binary and ARM GCC binary should output. If not, try installing them again.

Ubuntu

These steps have been tested on Ubuntu 20.04. The link to gdb-multiarch is required because Ubuntu does not ship arm-none-eabi-gdb anymore, but the new gdb-multiarch that supports all architecture.

sudo apt-get install openocd
sudo apt-get install gcc-arm-none-eabi gdb-multiarch
sudo ln -s /usr/bin/gdb-multiarch /usr/local/bin/arm-none-eabi-gdb

If you do not have vscode yet, the easiest way to install it on Ubuntu is via snap using 'Ubuntu Software' of by typing:

sudo snap install --classic code

Mac OS

brew install open-ocd
brew tap PX4/homebrew-px
brew install arm-none-eabi-gcc

The Cortex Debug Extension

Install the extension either by clicking "Install" on the web page, or by searching "Cortex Debug" in the Extensions tab of VS Code.

Click on "Run", then "Add Configuration", then "Cortex Debug".

This should automatically create the needed "launch.json" file.

Configuring Cortex Debug

Inside of the file, replace everything with the following:

{
    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Cortex Debug",
            "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}",
            "executable": "./cf2.elf",
            "request": "launch",
            "type": "cortex-debug",
            "device": "STM32F405",
            "svdFile": "STM32F405.svd",
            "servertype": "openocd",
            "configFiles": ["interface/stlink-v2.cfg", "target/stm32f4x.cfg"],
            "runToMain": true,
            "preLaunchCommands": [
                "set mem inaccessible-by-default off",
                "enable breakpoint",
                "monitor reset"
            ]
        }
    ]
}

Explaining the Cortex Debug configuration

• "svdFile" refers to the necessary file for peripheral registers to show up nicely in the debug pane, all named and structured; we'll add it in the next step
• "configFiles" refers to the files you need so that OpenOCD knows what device and interface you're using; it should already come with them
• "runToMain" tells the GDB debug server to jump to main by default
• "preLaunchCommands" specifies the commands for the GDB server to send before giving away control to you; the commands here mimic the options that the above tutorial for Eclipse specifies

Installing the SVD file

Now for the SVD file: just download it from here and into your root directory. Make sure it has the exact name of "STM32F405.svd"!

Debugging!

After all this, go to the Debug tab of VS Code (on the left sidebar, the icon with the little bug next to the play button), and hit that play button next to "Run"!

If you followed everything, it should start running nicely and look a little something like this:

Notice the nice peripherals pane at the bottom, along with the variables pane at the top. Awesome, now you can code and debug all within VS Code!

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Debugging using eclipse

Ubuntu

Versions:

• Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS (64 bit)
• Eclipse 2019-03 (Eclipse IDE for C/C++ Developers)

Installing prerequisites

First install GDB and openOCD:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gdb
sudo apt-get install openocd

Then install java:

sudo apt install default-jre

Then install eclipse itself: Go to their download page: eclipse 20 and then go into you download folder and unzip the file.

tar -zxvf "your-downloaded-file".tar.gz

and start up eclipse:

"YOUR-UNZIPPED-FOLDER"/.eclipse

Installing required Eclipse Plugins

Install the C++ development tools and GNU MCU plugin by following the instructions here.

• C++ Development - Follow the instructions under the header 'CDT'.
• GNU MCU plugin - Follow the instructions under the header 'Plug-ins install/update -> The Eclipse Marketplace way'

Import Crazyflie Firmware

First import the crazyflie-firmware into eclipse:

• File > import...
• C/C++ > Existing Code as Makefile Project -> Next
• Give it a name
• Existing Code Location > Browse... > //Look for the firmware folder//
• //Toolchain for Indexer Settings// can be ignored.
• Finish

Setting up Eclipse Debugging environment

• Go to: Run > Debug Configurations...
• Double click 'GDB OpenOCD Debugging'

Now input the following settings in the debug configurations:

Main

Insert the filepath to the cf2.elf file to C/C++ Application.

Debugger

check the following settings: OpenOCD setup -> Config options: <code> -f interface/stlink-v2.cfg -f target/stm32f4x.cfg -c init -c targets </code> GDB Client Setup:

• Executable name: Filepath to gdb toolchain
• Commands: <code> set mem inaccessible-by-default off </code>

Startup

Hit Debug!

If you don't see any errors, eclipse should go to an dedicated debugging environment automatically and it automatically halts the crazyflie's firmware before it goes into the main function of src/init/main.c. Press F8 or Run > Resume to let it continue and place a breakpoints anywhere in the code (double clicking just in front of the line in the gray area or press Shift+Ctrl+B). Now you should be able to read out the values of the defined variables at that very position.

---

Make sure that your cf2.elf is the same as the one you uploaded to the crazyflie!

---

Mac OS

Install gdb and openocd

brew install gdb
brew install open-ocd

Install java JDK java download

Download eclipse eclipse download

Choose destination folders - Install

Run eclipse and choose work folder

Installing required eclipse Plugins

The rest is the same as for Linux. Make sure that the arm-none-eabi-gcc is properly installed and its path is configured in the debug configurations.