J-Link keeps important functions alive while debugging Cortex-M devices

In standard stop mode debugging, the CPU is halted, meaning that all parts of the application are stopped and connected peripherals are no longer serviced. With the new monitor mode for J-Link, the CPU continues to run a program during debugging.

This offers the possibility to maintain real-time, user-defined functions in selected interrupt services which have a higher priority than the debug monitor - such as motor control, data acquisition, radio communication or any application that needs some level of continuous operation.

“Monitor mode sets a new standard for debugging. Keeping critical services alive and responsive is essential when debugging many of today’s embedded systems,” says Alex Gruener, Chief Technology Officer at SEGGER.

The user experience for monitor mode debugging is identical to standard stop mode debugging. However, in monitor mode the CPU actively communicates with the J-Link to provide debug services whilst also servicing higher-priority active subsystems.

Monitor mode is a new standard feature of the J-Link Software for high-end J-Link models. Users of current high-end models will receive the new feature with the latest update. For J-Link BASE, monitor mode is available for evaluation purposes only.

A CPU core-specific monitor code is necessary to perform monitor mode debugging with J-Link. Codes for different cores are available from SEGGER.

About J-Link

The SEGGER J-Link is the most popular family of debug probes on the market. It is tool chain independent and works with free GDB-based tool chains as well as commercial IDEs. With the J-Link family, investments in the debug probe are preserved when changing compiler or even CPU architecture.

J-Link supports multiple CPU families; there is no need to buy a new J-Link or new license when switching to a different yet supported CPU family or tool-chain. SEGGER is also continuously adding support for additional cores, which in most cases, only requires a software/firmware update. Unlimited free updates are included with even the baseline model of the J-Link family.

SEGGER is excited to continue advanced development of its cutting edge embedded tool solutions to be utilized with pretty much any development environment you choose. All J-Links are fully compatible to each other, so an upgrade from a lower-end model to a higher-end model is a matter of a simple plug-and-play.