Is it possible to debug an ESP32 without uploading the code

Is it possible to debug an ESP32 without uploading the code.
For testing it would be nice to debug basic code, what does not effect the ESP32 core.
For Instance String routines, Usually I do the off Code debugging with Visual Studio but sadly they don’t have a a String Class like the Arduino environment.

You can test Arduino logic like Strings etc. against Mock libraries running on the computer with PlatformIO’s unit test feature. See the repository GitHub - FabioBatSilva/ArduinoFake: Arduino mocking made easy and especially the String test.

Wow will try it thank you Max. Have a wonderful week

When I try to compile I get
c:/mingw/bin/…/lib/gcc/mingw32/8.2.0/…/…/…/…/mingw32/bin/ld.exe: c:/mingw/bin/…/lib/gcc/mingw32/8.2.0/…/…/…/libmingw32.a(main.o):(.text.startup+0xc0): undefined reference to `WinMain@16’
the main file is in the src Folder what I’m missing

Hm I got the same error because they don’t define main() in the library itself.

But what works is taking the wiring-blink example and adding

test_build_project_src = yes

to the platformio.ini and then using pio test.

C:\Users\Maxi\Desktop\ArduinoFake-master\examples\wiring-blink>pio test -v
Collected 1 items

Processing * in native environment
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Building...
LDF: Library Dependency Finder -> http://bit.ly/configure-pio-ldf
LDF Modes: Finder ~ chain, Compatibility ~ soft
Framework incompatible library C:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\lib\MCCI LoRaWAN LMIC library
Framework incompatible library C:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\lib\Nextion_ID37
Framework incompatible library C:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\lib\dcf77_xtal_ID1482
Framework incompatible library C:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\lib\esp32ModbusRTU_ID5876
Found 1 compatible libraries
More details about "Library Compatibility Mode": https://docs.platformio.org/page/librarymanager/ldf.html#ldf-compat-mode
Scanning dependencies...
Dependency Graph
|-- <ArduinoFake> 0.2.2 (C:\Users\Maxi\Desktop\ArduinoFake-master\examples\wiring-blink\.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake)
Building in release mode
g++ -o .pio\build\native\test\test_main.o -c -std=gnu++11 -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -Isrc -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity test\test_main.cpp
gcc -o .pio\build\native\test\tmp_pio_test_transport.o -c -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -Isrc -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity test\tmp_pio_test_transport.c
g++ -o .pio\build\native\src\main.o -c -std=gnu++11 -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -Isrc -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity src\main.cpp
g++ -o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\ArduinoFake.o -c -std=gnu++11 -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity .pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src\ArduinoFake.cpp
g++ -o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\ClientFake.o -c -std=gnu++11 -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity .pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src\ClientFake.cpp
g++ -o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\FunctionFake.o -c -std=gnu++11 -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity .pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src\FunctionFake.cpp
g++ -o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\PrintFake.o -c -std=gnu++11 -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity .pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src\PrintFake.cpp
g++ -o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\SerialFake.o -c -std=gnu++11 -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity .pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src\SerialFake.cpp
g++ -o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\StreamFake.o -c -std=gnu++11 -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity .pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src\StreamFake.cpp
g++ -o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\arduino\IPAddress.o -c -std=gnu++11 -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity .pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src\arduino\IPAddress.cpp
g++ -o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\arduino\WString.o -c -std=gnu++11 -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity .pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src\arduino\WString.cpp
gcc -o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\arduino\noniso.o -c -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -I.pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity .pio\libdeps\native\ArduinoFake\src\arduino\noniso.c
gcc -o .pio\build\native\UnityTestLib\unity.o -c -DPLATFORMIO=40400 -DUNIT_TEST -DUNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H -I.pio\build\native\UnityTestLib -IC:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity C:\Users\Maxi\.platformio\packages\tool-unity\unity.c
ar rc .pio\build\native\libUnityTestLib.a .pio\build\native\UnityTestLib\unity.o
ranlib .pio\build\native\libUnityTestLib.a
ar rc .pio\build\native\lib400\libArduinoFake.a .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\ArduinoFake.o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\ClientFake.o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\FunctionFake.o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\PrintFake.o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\SerialFake.o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\StreamFake.o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\arduino\IPAddress.o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\arduino\WString.o .pio\build\native\lib400\ArduinoFake\arduino\noniso.o
ranlib .pio\build\native\lib400\libArduinoFake.a
g++ -o .pio\build\native\program.exe .pio\build\native\test\test_main.o .pio\build\native\test\tmp_pio_test_transport.o .pio\build\native\src\main.o -L.pio\build\native -Wl,--start-group .pio\build\native\lib400\libArduinoFake.a .pio\build\native\libUnityTestLib.a -Wl,--end-group
Testing...
test\test_main.cpp:36:test_setup        [PASSED]
test\test_main.cpp:37:test_loop [PASSED]

-----------------------
2 Tests 0 Failures 0 Ignored
OK
======================================================================================================== [PASSED] Took 6.16 seconds ========================================================================================================

Test    Environment    Status    Duration
------  -------------  --------  ------------
*       native         PASSED    00:00:06.160
======================================================================================================== 1 succeeded in 00:00:06.160 ========================================================================================================

Thx Max
I figured out that we have to use the original c Syntax like

 #include "ArduinoFake.h"

#include <stdio.h>

String a;

void setup()
{

a = "Matin Michael";

}




int main()
{
 setup();
 
    printf("hello is String %s working\n" , a.c_str() );

    Serial.print("Hallo");
}

this works but one thing to do the main reason Debugging when I try now I get error

Error: Please setup environments in platformio.ini file

my ini is

[env:native]

platform = native

build_flags = -std=gnu++11

When I add build_type = debug I can see that the Program.exe file changes from 900 Kb to 6 MB file so the debug information are added but the debugger does not start and PlatformIO tells me somerhing is missing in platforIO. inni

Debugging of native applications is not natively possible (Using platformio and vscode to debug native linux (x86_x64) application - #2 by ivankravets) but

  1. that’s why there are unit tests to run statically using unity + unit test frameworks (Redirecting... and ArduinoFake/test_my_service.cpp at master · FabioBatSilva/ArduinoFake · GitHub)
  2. can be added manually

E.g. with the src\main.cpp code as

#include "ArduinoFake.h"

String a;

void setup()
{
    a = "Matin Michael";
}

void loop()
{
    printf("hello is String %s working\n" , a.c_str() );
}

int main() {
    printf("Main\n");
    setup();
    while(true) {
        //serialEventRun();
        loop();
    }
    return 0;
}

and a platformio.ini with

[env:native]
platform = native
build_flags = -std=gnu++11
lib_deps = ArduinoFake
# lib_deps = git@github.com:FabioBatSilva/ArduinoFake.git
test_build_project_src = yes
build_type = debug 

Then press “Build” as normal.

You then open the .vscode\launch.json in VSCode and press the “Add configuration” → “GDB: Start” configuration with adapted path information e.g.

Adapt the program and miDebuggerPath accordingly to the location of the compiled program and GDB path. Found mine using

>where gdb
C:\Program Files (x86)\mingw-w64\i686-7.2.0-posix-dwarf-rt_v5-rev1\mingw32\bin\gdb.exe

Now you can select the newly created configuration in the Debug menu

grafik

And press the “Run” button to debug the program

You see that the string was printed perfectly fine.

Changes to the launch.json will be overwritten by PlatformIO when the IntelliSense is rebuilt, so it’s wise to keep the new configuration in a notepad file or something.

1 Like

Thank you Max
that is my launch.json
// AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED FILE. PLEASE DO NOT MODIFY IT MANUALLY

// PIO Unified Debugger

//

// Documentation: https://docs.platformio.org/page/plus/debugging.html

// Configuration: https://docs.platformio.org/page/projectconf/section_env_debug.html

{

    "version": "0.2.0",

    "configurations": [

        {

            "name": "(gdb) Anfügen",

            "type": "cppdbg",

            "request": "attach",

            "program": "Programmnamen eingeben, z. B. \"${workspaceFolder}/.pio/build/native/program.exe",

            "processId": "${command:pickProcess}",

            "MIMode": "gdb",

            "miDebuggerPath": "C:/MinGW/bin/gdb.exe",

            "setupCommands": [

                {

                    "description": "Automatische Strukturierung und Einrückung für \"gdb\" aktivieren",

                    "text": "-enable-pretty-printing",

                    "ignoreFailures": true

                }

            ]

        },

        {

            "name": "(gdb) Starten",

            "type": "cppdbg",

            "request": "launch",

            "program": "Programmnamen eingeben, z. B. \"${workspaceFolder}/.pio/build/native/program.exe",

            "args": [],

            "stopAtEntry": false,

            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",

            "environment": [],

            "externalConsole": false,

            "MIMode": "gdb",

            "miDebuggerPath": "C:/MinGW/bin/gdb.exe",

            "setupCommands": [

                {

                    "description": "Automatische Strukturierung und Einrückung für \"gdb\" aktivieren",

                    "text": "-enable-pretty-printing",

                    "ignoreFailures": true

                }

            ]

        },

        {

            "type": "platformio-debug",

            "request": "launch",

            "name": "PIO Debug",

            "executable": "d:/__Dokus/Documents/PlatformIO/ArduinoFake-0.2.2/.pio/build/native/program2.exe",

            "toolchainBinDir": "",

            "preLaunchTask": {

                "type": "PlatformIO",

                "task": "Pre-Debug"

            },

            "internalConsoleOptions": "openOnSessionStart"

        },

        {

            "type": "platformio-debug",

            "request": "launch",

            "name": "PIO Debug (skip Pre-Debug)",

            "executable": "d:/__Dokus/Documents/PlatformIO/ArduinoFake-0.2.2/.pio/build/native/program2.exe",

            "toolchainBinDir": "",

            "internalConsoleOptions": "openOnSessionStart"

        }

    ]

}

my ini

[env:native]

platform = native

build_flags = -std=gnu++11

lib_deps = ArduinoFake

# lib_deps = git@github.com:FabioBatSilva/ArduinoFake.git

test_build_project_src = yes

build_type = debug

PlatformIO always tries to overwrite my launch.json File and still PlatformIO complains about something missing in platformio.ini

When I change program.exe to “executable”: “d:/__Dokus/Documents/PlatformIO/ArduinoFake-0.2.2/.pio/build/native/program2.exe”,

PlatformIO does not care it is writing a Program.exe file that is my Problem PlatforIO does not access/care the launch.json file THe overwriting is solve can do this in launch.json.tpl
Even when I delete launch.json compiling is fine. so where does PlatformIO get the information about linking to make a program.exe file

You must select the new launch configuration name in the Debug panel, not the PlatformIO Unified Debugger (which will complain). Also your config uses the “attach” config and not the launch one.

Also your config uses the “attach” config and not the launch one.

I don’t understand attach config what file name is this.

When I start Debug with gdb start … I get program.exeare missing but there is a prgram.exe is this folder with 7.5 M bytes

I got it Thx Max
i had to change
"Programmnamen eingeben, z. B. “${workspaceFolder}/.pio/build/native/program.exe”,
with
“d:/__Dokus/Documents/PlatformIO/ArduinoFake-0.2.2/.pio/build/native/program.exe”
Thank you Max for your Patience

That’s the launch.json configuration part which I used:

        {
            "name": "(gdb) Start",
            "type": "cppdbg",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${workspaceFolder}/.pio/build/native/program.exe",
            "args": [],
            "stopAtEntry": false,
            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
            "environment": [],
            "externalConsole": false,
            "MIMode": "gdb",
            "miDebuggerPath": "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\mingw-w64\\i686-7.2.0-posix-dwarf-rt_v5-rev1\\mingw32\\bin\\gdb.exe",
            "setupCommands": [
                {
                    "description": "Pretty printing for \"gdb\"",
                    "text": "-enable-pretty-printing",
                    "ignoreFailures": true
                }
            ]
        },