A Comprehensive Embedded Development Debugging Tool

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Author | ZhiGuoXin

WeChat Official Account | GuoGuoLittleBrother

Have you ever used debugging tools for embedded development? Today I am excited to share a professional and comprehensive embedded debugging toolset: Micro-Lab

Before sharing the main content, let me recommend some embedded-related positions:

What is Micro-Lab?

Micro-Lab is arguably the best embedded debugging tool to date. It addresses all the pain points encountered during debugging and introduces many new features, such as a brand new serial/network debugging service and associated modules, permanent storage of sending history with alias support, dynamic instruction programming for serial/network, virtual oscilloscopes for serial/network, super calculators, ModBus RTU calculators, DTUs, serial-network splitters, application shadowing, numerous development assistive tools and materials, and the revolutionary event-driven upper computer programming tool – VanGogh configuration canvas, among dozens of features.

Users do not need to master any PC programming language; they can easily get started by dragging and dropping components with the mouse. It takes only a few minutes from requirement to prototype! In terms of usability and functional practicality, Micro-Lab is absolutely top-notch. It can be said that Micro-Lab redefines embedded debugging tools and has become a benchmark in the industry.

Let’s take a look at what it looks like:

Micro-Lab Graphical Interface Design and Usage

Switch to the configuration canvas page, then manually drag the relevant controls from the left to the central control placement area. When one of the controls is selected, you can change its properties on the right, similar to operating a serial screen. Even if you have never used it before, you can quickly get started without looking at the documentation. Once the controls are laid out, right-click in the control placement area and select Run. The interface you just designed will pop up, as shown below:

This way, when we are debugging the board, we can operate the interface in a very convenient and more visual manner, sending the corresponding instructions. Isn’t that very convenient? Doesn’t it have a bit of GUI feel?

Porting the SDK to STM32

Here I am using the core board STM32F103C8T6. 1. Copy the SDK package into our project.

2. Add the SDK source files in MDK and include the SDK header files in MDK.

3. Modify the project

4. Use Micro-Lab

5. Here we use Micro-Lab’s dynamic canvas to control an LED light on the minimum system board.

int main(void)
{
 delay_init();
 uart_init();
 LED_Init();
 NVIC_PriorityGroupConfig(NVIC_PriorityGroup_2);
 initCanvas(events);
 while (1)
 {
 for(char i=0;i<CANVASEVENTLIST_SIZE;++i)
 {
 if(events[i].componenttype!=NONE_COMPONENT)
 {
 switch(events[i].componenttype)
 {
 case SWITCHBUTTON:
 {
 if(events[i].componentnumer==0)
 {
 if(events[i].componentmsgtype==SWITCH_ON)
 {
 LED=0;
 printf("SWITCHBUTTON  ON, ");
 printf("MSG : ");
 for(unsigned short j=0;j<events[i].msglen;++j)
 {
 printf("%2X ", events[i].msg[j]);
 }
 printf("\r\n");
 }else if(events[i].componentmsgtype==SWITCH_OFF)
 {
 LED=1;
 printf("SWITCHBUTTON  OFF, ");
 printf("MSG : ");
 for(unsigned short j=0;j<events[i].msglen;++j)
 {
 printf("%2X ", events[i].msg[j]);
 }
 printf("\r\n");
 }else
 {
 }
 }
 }
 break;
 default:
 break;
 }
 events[i].componenttype = NONE_COMPONENT;
 events[i].componentnumer = 0;
 events[i].componentmsgtype = NONE_MSG;
 events[i].msglen = 0;
 }else
 {
 }
 }
 }
}
}

Here you may notice that I used examples from ZhenDianYuanZi. Considering that most of my audience are students, they might be more familiar with ZhenDianYuanZi and YeHuo’s programs, making it easier for them to port or understand. Haha, isn’t it thoughtful of me?

6. Open MicroLab and create a new canvas.

7. After downloading the program to the board, right-click on the dynamic canvas -> Run, click the button, and the LED light on the board will turn on and off together.

The following video is courtesy of GuoGuoLittleBrother

Micro-Lab is continuously growing, and I believe there will be more fun features in the future. Stay tuned!

———— END ————

● Column “Embedded Tools”

● Column “Embedded Development”

● Column “Keil Tutorial”

● Selected Tutorials from the Embedded Column

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