Real-Time Variable Monitoring in VS Code and ST-Link Debugger

PlatformIO IDE
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Hello everyone,

I’m facing an issue with real-time variable monitoring while debugging with VS Code and PlatformIO. My setup is a Blue Pill STM32 board programmed using the Arduino framework, and I’m using an ST-Link debugger.

Problem:

  • I can’t view variable values in real-time while the program is running. I need to pause the execution to see the values, which is inconvenient for my application involving an optical encoder.
  • When using the “WATCH” feature in the debugger, it shows “not available” during runtime, but values appear once I pause the execution.

What I’m Trying to Achieve:

  • I want to debug and read variable values in real-time without pausing the program, similar to using Serial.print.

Here’s a snippet of my basic code for context:


const int encoderPinA = PB10; // Pin with interrupt
const int encoderPinB = PB11; // Second pin without interrupt
const int ledPin = PC13; // Built-in LED on Blue Pill

volatile int encoderValue = 0;
volatile bool wasTurned = false;

void handleEncoder() {
  int A = digitalRead(encoderPinA);
  int B = digitalRead(encoderPinB);
  encoderValue += (A == HIGH) ? ((B == LOW) ? 1 : -1) : ((B == HIGH) ? 1 : -1);
  wasTurned = true;
}

void setup() {
  HAL_Init();
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(encoderPinA, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(encoderPinB, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
  attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(encoderPinA), handleEncoder, CHANGE);
}

void loop() {
  if (wasTurned) {
    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
    delay(100);
    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
    delay(100);
    wasTurned = false;
  }
  Serial.println(encoderValue);
}```

Here’s my platformio.ini configuration:

```platform = ststm32
board = bluepill_f103c8
framework = arduino
upload_protocol = stlink
debug_tool = stlink
debug_extra_cmds =
  monitor reset init
  monitor halt
  set breakpoint pending off
  continue
debug_init_break = tbreak setup```

How can I achieve real-time feedback for variable values using an ST-Link debugger in this setup? Any advice or workarounds would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help!