Cannot debug project in VS code [spawn Unknown system error -86]

[Marco Russi]

Hello,

I have installed VS code and the nRF Connect extensions.

I can build and flash my project into the nRF52840 DK board but as I try to Debug I get this error:

spawn Unknown system error -86

I have buit the configuration with Debug options enabled.

See the error popup message in the bottom right corner of the attached screenshot.

Can anyone please help?

Thank you.

Marco

[dejans]

Hi,

The issue you see might be related to architectural mismatch (M1 vs Intel) with some of the binaries. You could start by verifying that all tools/libraries/binaries are correctly installed.

Could you please provide Generate Support Information (by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+P and typing "nRF Connect: Generate Support Information" in VS Code)?

Best regards,
Dejan

[Marco Russi]

Here is what I get:

[16:39:15] west build --build-dir /Users/marcorussi/firmware/puritieaq/ncp_app/build /Users/marcorussi/firmware/puritieaq/ncp_app

[16:39:16] Success.

[16:39:19] west flash -d /Users/marcorussi/firmware/puritieaq/ncp_app/build --skip-rebuild -r nrfjprog --dev-id 683274154

[16:40:02] Success.

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{

"platform": {

"os": "darwin",

"osVersion": "Darwin Kernel Version 22.3.0: Mon Jan 30 20:38:43 PST 2023; root:xnu-8792.81.3~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8112",

"osKernel": "22.3.0",

"vscode": "1.76.2",

"electron": "19.1.11",

"node": "v16.14.2"

},

"system": {

"date": "2023-03-23T15:40:42.161Z",

"vscodeRoot": "/Applications/Visual Studio Code.app/Contents/Resources/app",

"nrfConnectForDesktopInstalled": false,

"vscodeUptime": "00:01:40",

"osUptime": "67:36:35",

"cpu": {

"model": "Apple M2",

"speed": "24 MHz",

"count": 4

},

"memory": {

"total": "8.00 GB",

"free": "0.11 GB"

}

},

"workspace": {

"name": "Senza titolo (Area di lavoro)",

"workspaceFile": "1679405089592",

"folders": [

"/Users/marcorussi/firmware/test/hello_world",

"/Users/marcorussi/firmware/puritieaq/ncp_app"

]

},

"extensions": {

"internal": {

"nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect": {

"version": "2023.2.56",

"path": "/Users/marcorussi/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2023.2.56-darwin-arm64",

"isActive": true

},

"nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal": {

"version": "2022.11.29",

"path": "/Users/marcorussi/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal-2022.11.29",

"isActive": true

},

"nordic-semiconductor.nrf-devicetree": {

"version": "2022.11.153",

"path": "/Users/marcorussi/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-devicetree-2022.11.153",

"isActive": true

},

"nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig": {

"version": "2022.11.50",

"path": "/Users/marcorussi/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig-2022.11.50",

"isActive": true

}

},

"external": {

"marus25.cortex-debug": "1.10.0",

"ms-vscode.cpptools": "1.14.5",

"ms-vscode.js-debug": "1.76.1",

"ms-vscode.js-debug-companion": "1.0.18",

"ms-vscode.vscode-js-profile-table": "1.0.3",

"mcu-debug.debug-tracker-vscode": "0.0.15",

"mcu-debug.memory-view": "0.0.20",

"mcu-debug.rtos-views": "0.0.6",

"MS-CEINTL.vscode-language-pack-it": "1.76.2023031509",

"ms-vscode.cpptools-extension-pack": "1.3.0",

"ms-vscode.cpptools-themes": "2.0.0",

"trond-snekvik.gnu-mapfiles": "1.1.0"

}

},

"tools": {

"/Users/marcorussi/zephyr-sdk-0.15.2/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin/arm-zephyr-eabi-gcc": "0.15.2",

"/Applications/SEGGER/JLink/JLinkExe": "7.80c",

"/usr/local/bin/nrfjprog": "10.19.0",

"nrfutil": "Not found",

"/opt/homebrew/bin/cmake": "3.26.0",

"/opt/homebrew/bin/west": "1.0.0",

"/opt/homebrew/bin/python3": "3.11.2",

"/opt/homebrew/bin/ninja": "1.11.1",

"/opt/homebrew/bin/gperf": "3.1",

"/opt/homebrew/bin/dtc": "1.7.0",

"gn": "Not found",

"/usr/bin/git": "2.37.1 (Apple Git-137.1)",

"gdbPath": "/Users/marcorussi/zephyr-sdk-0.15.2/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin/arm-zephyr-eabi-gdb"

},

"sdks": [

{

"version": "2.2.0",

"path": "/Users/marcorussi/ncs"

}

],

"toolchains": [],

"connectedDevices": [

{

"serialNumber": "683274154"

}

],

"deviceProviders": [

"nrfjprog"

],

"config": {

"nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect": {

"topdir": "${nrf-connect.sdk:2.2.0}",

"toolchain": {

"path": "PATH"

},

"ozonePath": "",

"applications": [

"/Users/marcorussi/firmware/puritieaq/ncp_app",

"${workspaceFolder}"

],

"applicationOptions": {},

"kconfig": {

"interface": "kconfig",

"executeInDefaultShell": false

},

"welcome": {

"showOnStartup": true

},

"west": {

"env": {

"$base": "terminal"

}

},

"boardRoots": [],

"enableTelemetry": true,

"taskBindings": {},

"debugging": {

"backend": "nRF Debug",

"flash": true,

"bindings": {

"/Users/marcorussi/firmware/puritieaq/ncp_app/build": "Launch build"

}

},

"activeAppFollowActiveEditor": true

},

"nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal": {

"terminalMode": "character",

"scrollBack": 1000

},

"marus25.cortex-debug": {

"armToolchainPath": null,

"armToolchainPrefix": "arm-none-eabi",

"gdbPath": null,

"objdumpPath": null,

"JLinkGDBServerPath": null,

"openocdPath": null,

"pyocdPath": null,

"PEGDBServerPath": null,

"stutilPath": null,

"stlinkPath": null,

"stm32cubeprogrammer": null,

"enableTelemetry": true,

"registerUseNaturalFormat": true,

"variableUseNaturalFormat": true,

"dbgServerLogfile": null,

"showDevDebugOutput": "none"

}

},

"environment": {

"westExe": "west",

"westEnv": {

"ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE": "1",

"HOME": "/Users/marcorussi",

"PATH": "/Users/marcorussi/zephyr-sdk-0.15.2/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:/opt/homebrew/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin",

"ZEPHYR_BASE": "/Users/marcorussi/ncs/zephyr",

"ZEPHYR_TOOLCHAIN_VARIANT": "zephyr",

"USER": "marcorussi"

},

"inherited": {

"ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE": "1",

"HOME": "/Users/marcorussi",

"PATH": "/opt/homebrew/bin:/opt/homebrew/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin",

"USER": "marcorussi"

},

"toolchainPath": "PATH"

},

"terminal": {

"shell": null,

"defaultProfile": null

}

}

[dejans]

Hi,

It looks like you installed tools manually. What happens to debugging if your build configuration does not include Enable Debug Options?

Best regards,
Dejan

[Marco Russi]

Hi Dejan,

sorry for my late reply.

I don't know how but I got it to work. I use the "Enable Debug Options" feature of the configuration build.

Anyway I have noticed that if I leave the firmware running (in Debug mode) without breakpoints then it runs fine. If instead I stop at a breakpoint and then step forward the firmware crashes (see attached picture). I tried to increase the stack size of a couple of tasks with no luck. Do you know what the problem could be? Thanks.

[dejans]

Hi,

The error here might be related to the timing problems. Debugging might cause problems with time-sensitive applications. You could try using logging instead of breakpoints.

Best regards,
Dejan

[Marco Russi]

Hi Dejan,

yes I guess it has to do with Thread/radio timing and interrupt stuff.... 

I use logging but I wish I could debug as that's the point of using VS code.

I'll close this ticket and eventually open a new one.

Thanks.

Cheers.

Marco

[dejans]

Hi,

Marco Russi said:

I guess it has to do with Thread/radio timing and interrupt stuff....

Timing could be off after hitting the breakpoint while Softdevice Controller is running. 

Marco Russi said:

I'll close this ticket and eventually open a new one.

Thank you for the update.

Best regards,
Dejan