How does everyone debug their code?

[mister_e]

Are you using MPLAB or MicroCodeStudio ?

[HankMcSpank]

Just some footnotes on this (as one newbie to others who may find this thread via google etc).

If you have a PICKIT2 programmer... you can use it to connect your PIC to your PC (no need to buy MAX232 interfacing chips etc). The Uart tool, is in your pickit2 programmer menu under tools.

To get text/info out of your PIC & onto your PC using the UArt tool, well, as far as I can gather you have two options...

1, The DEBUG command - from my understanding this uses software to get the data out your PIC & onto your PC screen via the Pickit2 Uart tool ...the benefit being it's simple to set up, but don't go this route if you venture into 'interupt' territory else you'll end up with all manner of garble onscreen. Take a look at Bruce's answer to my post further up for sample code that works well.

2. The HSerout command - this uses hardware in my opinion a much better route. Programming wise, it's not really anymore difficult to set up & you shouldn't have problems with interrupts messing with your text. Alas, the downside of using this method with your Pickit2 is that you'll need to wire a switch into your circuit (take a look at the diagram I posted further up to see what I mean)

If you happen to have a 16f690, then the code below will get you started (I haven't commented each line because, truthfully I haven't got much idea what they all do - but I do know that this code works in setting up HSEROUT with a 16F690!)...

@MyConfig = _XT_OSC & _WDT_ON & _MCLRE_ON & _CP_OFF
@MyConfig = MyConfig & _MCLRE_ON & _BOR_OFF
@ __config MyConfig

Include "modedefs.bas"

DEFINE OSC 4
' the following three lines set the serial port up as 9600 working with the 4Mhz oscillator freq above
DEFINE HSER_SPBRG 25
DEFINE HSER_TXSTA 24h
DEFINE HSER_CLROERR 1
ANSELH=0
ANSEL=0
CM1CON0 =0
CM2CON0 =0
CM2CON1 =0
adcon1=0
TRISB.6 = 1
TRISB.7 = 0
TRISC=%00000000 ; set all Port C pins as outputs
rcsta.7=1 'SPEN serial port enable bit
low Portc.1
low Portc.2
low Portc.3

txsta.7=1 'CSRC : Clock Source Select bit 1 = internal clock
txsta.6=0 'TX9 : 9-bit Transmit Enable bit 0 = 8 bit.
txsta.5=1 'TXEN : Transmit Enable bit
txsta.4=0 'SYNC : USART Mode Select bit 0=asynch
txsta.3=0 ' N/A
txsta.2=1 'BRGH : High Baud Rate Select bit
txsta.1=0 'TRMT : Transmit Shift Register Status bit ( Read only )
txsta.0=0 'TX9D : 9th bit of transmit data. Can be parity bit.

loop:
hserout ["Hello ", 13, 10]
pause 400
goto loop
end

(the ISCP connector header that the PIC mates with, needs a switch to 'break' Header pin 4 of from PIC pin 19 to pin 10 & Header pin 5 from PIC pin 18 to 12 - flick the switch to go from 'programming mode' to HSEROUT mode)

[sougata]

Hi,

Yesterday I hooked up a 16F676 with the PICKIT2 as I always do. Debug didn't work!! Only garbage on the PICKIT2 UART window.

After hours and hours of struggle I realized, I didn't include the OSCAL Define.

FIY : 19200 bps works fine with internal 4 MHz

        DEFINE OSCCAL_1K 1               ' MUST INCLUDE
        DEFINE OSC 4                         ' USES INTERNAL 4 MHz OSCILLATOR
        DEFINE DEBUG_REG PORTA        ' PORTA.2 IS PGD/AND Rx AS WELL
        DEFINE DEBUG_BIT 0                ' PICKIT2 Rx (Pin 4) 
        DEFINE DEBUG_BAUD 19200       ' Max Baud on Internal Osc ???
        DEFINE DEBUG_MODE 0             ' True

BTW, PICKIT2 can Regenerate OSCAL through the same ICSP pins. Find it under the tools menu.

[flotulopex]

Hi there,

For most of my debugging, I use the PIC-Simulator from OSHONSOFT.

I can track variables and/or any other info I need, emulate an LCD display, set port states and AD values and lots more.

Most of the time, I don't even have to build a proto on the breadboard and it is really time-saving.

IMHO, it is worth the few € it costs and can be an alternative to "hardware" debugging tools.

http://www.oshonsoft.com/pic.html