Not possible to restart debugging without reloading in VSCode (nrf9160dk)

I'm trying desperately to find a way to restart a debugging session (reset device and go back to main) on the nrf9160dk without reloading the FW onto the device.

I'm using VSCode and the nordic 2.3.0 sdk & toolchain.

I'm desperate to find way(s) to improve the debugging features, which aren't at the same level as those found in more customary embedded IDEs, and it's affecting our ability to use the tools at all. If there is anything I can do, I will consider it. If I can fix problems by using an external JLink (for example) or using non-nordic extension, I will try anything.

Top Replies

Håkon Alseth over 1 year ago +1

Hi, I share your concerns. This is an improvement task that I've raised internally. As a workaround, you can issue gdb commands in the debug console by first appending "-exec", for instance monitor…

0 liteyear 3 months ago in reply to Håkon Alseth

It's a pity the OP didn't continue with the thread, although their workaround is excellent.

This issue has plagued me for a long time. FWIW, here's my report. I've just replaced project/client names with placeholders.

Fullscreen nrf connect support info.txt Download

IMPORTANT: The data below could contain sensitive or confidential information about your environment.
If you do not wish this to be seen by others, please make sure to remove it before sharing.

For help and support, visit the Nordic DevZone at https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/.

{
  "platform": {
    "os": "darwin",
    "osVersion": "Darwin Kernel Version 23.3.0: Wed Dec 20 21:30:44 PST 2023; root:xnu-10002.81.5~7/RELEASE_ARM64_T6000",
    "osKernel": "23.3.0",
    "vscode": "1.88.1",
    "electron": "28.2.8",
    "node": "v18.18.2"
  },
  "system": {
    "date": "2024-04-15T06:08:02.126Z",
    "vscodeRoot": "/Applications/Visual Studio Code.app/Contents/Resources/app",
    "nrfConnectForDesktopInstalled": false,
    "vscodeUptime": "00:19:02",
    "osUptime": "172:14:34",
    "cpu": "Apple M1 Max"
  },
  "workspace": {
    "name": "project_name",
    "workspaceFile": null,
    "folders": [
      "/Users/liteyear/path/to/project_name"
    ]
  },
  "sdks": [
    {
      "version": "v2.5.2",
      "path": "/opt/nordic/ncs/v2.5.2"
    },
    {
      "version": "v2.5.0",
      "path": "/opt/nordic/ncs/v2.5.0"
    },
    {
      "version": "v2.3.0",
      "path": "/opt/nordic/ncs/v2.3.0"
    }
  ],
  "activeBuild": "/Users/liteyear/path/to/project_name/build_name",
  "apps": [
    {
      "workspace": "/Users/liteyear/path/to/project_name",
      "uri": "/Users/liteyear/path/to/project_name",
      "buildConfigurations": [
        {
          "id": "/Users/liteyear/path/to/project_name/build",
          "name": "build",
          "boardId": "board_name_cpuapp",
          "type": "Zephyr",
          "isChild": false,
          "isStale": false,
          "taskBindings": {
            "build": [],
            "pristineBuild": [],
            "flash": [],
            "eraseAndFlash": []
          }
        },
        {
          "id": "/Users/liteyear/path/to/project_name/build_name",
          "name": "build_name",
          "boardId": "board_name_cpuapp",
          "type": "Zephyr",
          "isChild": false,
          "isStale": false,
          "taskBindings": {
            "build": [],
            "pristineBuild": [],
            "flash": [],
            "eraseAndFlash": []
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "topdir": "/opt/nordic/ncs/v2.5.2",
  "workspaceState": "freestanding-ready",
  "toolchains": [
    {
      "version": "2.5.2",
      "path": "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5"
    },
    {
      "version": "2.5.0",
      "path": "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5"
    },
    {
      "version": "2.3.0",
      "path": "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/v2.3.0"
    }
  ],
  "connectedDevices": [
    {
      "serialNumber": "000176000446"
    }
  ],
  "deviceProvider": "nrfutil",
  "tools": {
    "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/zephyr-sdk/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin/arm-zephyr-eabi-gcc": "0.16.1",
    "/Applications/SEGGER/JLink/JLinkExe": "7.94e",
    "/usr/local/bin/nrfjprog": "10.24.0",
    "/usr/local/bin/nrfutil": "7.7.0",
    "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin/cmake": "3.20.5",
    "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin/west": "1.1.0",
    "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin/python3": "3.9.6",
    "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin/ninja": "1.10.2",
    "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin/gperf": "3.1",
    "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin/dtc": "1.6.1",
    "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin/gn": "2122",
    "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin/git": "2.37.3",
    "gdbPath": "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/zephyr-sdk/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin/arm-zephyr-eabi-gdb"
  },
  "nrfutil": {
    "nrfutil-device": {
      "version": "2.0.0",
      "binPath": "/Users/liteyear/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2024.3.25-darwin-arm64/platform/nrfutil/bin/nrfutil-device"
    },
    "nrfutil-toolchain-manager": {
      "version": "0.14.1",
      "binPath": "/Users/liteyear/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2024.3.25-darwin-arm64/platform/nrfutil/bin/nrfutil-toolchain-manager"
    }
  },
  "environment": {
    "westEnv": {
      "ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE": "1",
      "GIT_EXEC_PATH": "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/Cellar/git/2.37.3/libexec/git-core",
      "HOME": "/Users/liteyear",
      "PATH": "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/bin:/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/usr/bin:/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/usr/local/bin:/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/bin:/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/nanopb/generator-bin:/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/zephyr-sdk/aarch64-zephyr-elf/bin:/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/zephyr-sdk/x86_64-zephyr-elf/bin:/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/zephyr-sdk/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin:/Users/liteyear/.opam/default/bin:/Users/liteyear/.nvm/versions/node/v20.5.1/bin:/Users/liteyear/.cabal/bin:/Users/liteyear/.ghcup/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:/opt/homebrew/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/local/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/appleinternal/bin:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/Users/liteyear/.cargo/bin:/Users/liteyear/Library/Python/3.11/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/llvm@12/bin:/Users/liteyear/go/bin:/Users/liteyear/.opam/default/bin:/Users/liteyear/.nvm/versions/node/v20.5.1/bin:/Users/liteyear/.cabal/bin:/Users/liteyear/.ghcup/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:/opt/homebrew/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/local/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/appleinternal/bin:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/Users/liteyear/.cargo/bin:/Users/liteyear/Library/Python/3.11/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/llvm@12/bin:/Users/liteyear/go/bin",
      "ZEPHYR_BASE": "/opt/nordic/ncs/v2.5.2/zephyr",
      "ZEPHYR_TOOLCHAIN_VARIANT": "zephyr",
      "ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR": "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/zephyr-sdk",
      "USER": "liteyear"
    },
    "inherited": {
      "ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE": "1",
      "HOME": "/Users/liteyear",
      "PATH": "/Users/liteyear/.opam/default/bin:/Users/liteyear/.nvm/versions/node/v20.5.1/bin:/Users/liteyear/.cabal/bin:/Users/liteyear/.ghcup/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:/opt/homebrew/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/local/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/appleinternal/bin:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/Users/liteyear/.cargo/bin:/Users/liteyear/Library/Python/3.11/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/llvm@12/bin:/Users/liteyear/go/bin",
      "USER": "liteyear"
    },
    "toolchainPath": "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5",
    "toolchainBinPath": "/opt/nordic/ncs/toolchains/20d68df7e5/opt/zephyr-sdk/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin",
    "toolchainVersion": "2.5.2"
  },
  "terminal": {
    "defaultProfile": null
  },
  "config": {
    "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect": {
      "topdir": "${nrf-connect.sdk:2.5.2}",
      "toolchain": {
        "path": "${nrf-connect.toolchain:2.5.2}"
      },
      "ozonePath": "",
      "applications": [],
      "applicationOptions": {},
      "kconfig": {
        "interface": "kconfig"
      },
      "west": {
        "env": {
          "$base": "terminal"
        }
      },
      "boardRoots": [],
      "taskBindings": {},
      "buildTerminal": {
        "condensedProgress": true
      },
      "debugging": {
        "flash": true,
        "bindings": {
          "${workspaceFolder}/build_name": "Launch build_name"
        },
        "justMyCode": true
      },
      "activeAppFollowActiveEditor": true,
      "deviceProvider": "",
      "flash": {
        "softreset": false,
        "erase": false,
        "recover": false
      },
      "enableTelemetry": true,
      "thirdpartyIntegration": {},
      "toolchainManager": {
        "indexURL": null,
        "installDirectory": null
      },
      "nrfutil": {
        "home": null
      },
      "defaultOpenAction": "ask"
    },
    "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal": {
      "terminalMode": "character"
    }
  },
  "extensions": {
    "internal": {
      "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect": {
        "version": "2024.3.25",
        "path": "/Users/liteyear/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2024.3.25-darwin-arm64",
        "isActive": true
      },
      "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal": {
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        "path": "/Users/liteyear/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal-2024.3.15",
        "isActive": true
      },
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        "path": "/Users/liteyear/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-devicetree-2024.3.78",
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      },
      "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig": {
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        "path": "/Users/liteyear/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig-2024.3.21",
        "isActive": true
      }
    },
    "external": {
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0 Håkon Alseth 3 months ago in reply to liteyear
Hi,

Are you seeing the same gdb-assertion message?

...gdb/gdb/infrun.c:5825: internal-error: finish_step_over: Assertion `ecs->event_thread->control.trap_expected' failed.

If yes, this is an issue that we have reported back to the toolchain:

https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/sdk-ng/issues/727

The issue seems to occur if your first breakpoint is inside interrupt context, and you have thread aware configurations (DEBUG_THREAD_INFO / DEBUG_INFO) enabled. If your first breakpoint is in thread context (main or something); the issue seems to be less frequent.

Kind regards,

Håkon
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0 liteyear 3 months ago in reply to Håkon Alseth

Håkon Alseth said:
Are you seeing the same gdb-assertion message?

I haven't even looked. My issue is as per the OP's. The workaround is just a workaround.

I want to be able to restart a debugging session without the firmware re-flashing. That fundamental function does not appear possible without this debug console workaround.

Are you saying that the original issue is due to the GDB issue?
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