blackmagic-debug/blackmagicArchived
Blackmagic
Blackmagic is a GDB server for embedded hardware that translates GDB remote protocol messages into JTAG and SWD commands. It functions as an ARM and RISC-V debugger and hardware debug probe manager, enabling users to inspect memory, control execution, and manage registers on ARM Cortex and RISC-V cores.
The project distinguishes itself by acting as a remote hardware debugging bridge that can stream GDB server traffic over TCP/IP to control physical hardware from a remote machine. It also provides a JTAG and SWD interface to connect host computers to target hardware and serves as an embedded flash programmer for reading, erasing, and writing firmware images to on-chip and SPI flash memory.
The system covers broad capabilities in debug probe management, interfacing with various hardware probes such as CMSIS-DAP, J-Link, and ST-Link. It includes features for embedded device monitoring, such as capturing real-time logs and data using semihosting or serial wire output, and supports automated target identification to remove the need for configuration scripts.
The software communicates with host operating systems using a standard USB CDC ACM virtual serial port to eliminate the need for proprietary drivers.
Features
- GDB Server Implementations - Implements a GDB server that allows standard debuggers to control ARM Cortex and RISC-V microcontrollers.
- Embedded Systems Debugging - Performs low-level analysis, watchpoints, and register examinations on ARM Cortex and RISC-V embedded targets.
- RISC-V Debugging - Acts as a GDB server to control execution and inspect registers and memory on RISC-V processor cores.
- Flash Memory Access - Provides raw flash memory hardware access for reading and writing persistent data, including SPI flash.
- Flash Memory Erasing Tools - Provides utilities for clearing specific memory ranges or performing mass erasures of target device flash memory.
- Flash Storage Managers - Manages non-volatile flash memory including reading, writing, and erasing for various bank configurations.
- Network Bridging - Streams GDB server traffic over IPv4 and IPv6 networks to enable remote hardware debugging via TCP/IP.
- Signal Translation - Translates high-level GDB remote protocol commands into low-level JTAG and SWD physical signals.
- Interface Detection - Automatically detects whether a target microcontroller uses JTAG or SWD communication protocols.
- ARM Cortex Debugging - Controls and inspects ARM Cortex-M, Cortex-A, and Cortex-R processor cores via JTAG and SWD.
- ARM Debugging - Enables memory inspection and execution control on ARM Cortex processor cores.
- Automatic Target Detection - Automatically identifies connected microcontrollers by scanning hardware IDs and ROM tables.
- Binary Flashing - Writes compiled binary images to microcontroller flash and verifies the data against the source.
- Firmware Flashing - Uploads firmware images in standard formats like Intel HEX to a microcontroller's non-volatile memory.
- Debug Probe Abstractions - Interfaces with a variety of debug probes to establish stable communication with target hardware.
- Probe Managers - Interfaces with various hardware probes like CMSIS-DAP, J-Link, and ST-Link to manage target devices.
- Microcontroller Flash Programmers - Reads, writes, and verifies binary files directly on the non-volatile flash memory of microcontrollers.
- GDB-to-Hardware Bridges - Connects GDB to microcontrollers via JTAG and SWD interfaces to enable hardware debugging.
- Microcontroller Debugging Workflows - Provides workflows for monitoring microcontroller state and diagnostic data via serial interfaces.
- SPI Flash Programming - Reads and writes to external SPI NOR flash chips through emulated programmer interfaces.
- Protocol Translation Bridges - Acts as a structural bridge translating GDB remote protocol messages into JTAG and SWD commands.
- Probe Backend Abstractions - Interfaces with target hardware using multiple probe backends to maintain stable communication links.
- Hardware Execution Control - Manages target execution through a combination of hardware watchpoints and flash memory breakpoints.
- Hardware Watchpoint Management - Enables monitoring of specific execution paths by setting hardware watchpoints on ARM and RISC-V processors.
- Remote Debugging Bridges - Streams debugging traffic over IPv4 or IPv6 network sockets to enable remote control of hardware probes.
- Hardware Debugging Protocols - Implements protocols to communicate between GDB and remote hardware probes for physical target control.
- Hardware Watchpoints - Configures hardware watchpoints to trigger execution breaks on specific memory address accesses.
- Debug Probe Interfaces - Establishes communication links between the host and target hardware using standardized debug probes.
- Debug Probe Compatibility - Communicates with a diverse range of hardware probes including ST-Link, CMSIS-DAP, J-Link, and FTDI MPSSE.
- Hardware Capability Probes - Manages various hardware probe types and adaptors to ensure a reliable connection to the target.
- Processor State Inspection - Analyzes the internal state of the target processor, including registers and memory.
- Embedded System State Managers - Manages target power states and freezes watchdog timers to prevent system resets during CPU halts.
- Transfer Stubs - Uses optimized memory-resident code on the target device to accelerate binary image writing to flash.
- Port-Based Detection - Scans connected hardware ports automatically to identify specific microcontroller devices before attaching a debugger.
- Hardware Debugging - Provides tools for diagnosing and managing live hardware environments, including sleep modes and option bytes.
- Host-Target Data Streaming - Exchanges data between the target microcontroller and host computer using semihosting and serial channels.
- Serial Communication Interfaces - Communicates with host computers using a virtual serial port (USB CDC ACM) to eliminate proprietary drivers.
- USB Serial Interfaces - Uses standard USB CDC ACM virtual serial ports to communicate with host operating systems without proprietary drivers.
- Real-Time Target Data Streaming - Captures and displays real-time transfer data from the target microcontroller via a USB serial connection.
- Semihosting Data Exchange - Exchanges data and logs between target hardware and the host computer using semihosting and serial wire.
- Interface Protocol Scanning - Implements automated scanning of target devices to determine the active communication protocol for connection automation.
- Hardware ID Device Discovery - Identifies connected microcontrollers by scanning hardware interfaces for designer IDs and ROM tables.
- Semihosting Redirections - Redirects microcontroller system calls and real-time transfer data to a host USB serial connection.
- Hardware Probe Logs - Streams real-time diagnostic and debug logs from the probe's auxiliary serial interface.
- Probe Hardware Identification - Scans for and identifies connected debug probes across various communication backends.
- Embedded Log Capture - Captures real-time logs and execution data from embedded microcontrollers using semihosting and serial wire.
