Somewhere use arduino nano 328 and PIO Debugging only with onboard tools

[oehrle]

Hi there. View months ago I did a test with online debugging on a arduino nano 328 with Visual Studio Code in behaviour with PlatformIO, when I saw this articlein youtoube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wx27FcluMg

Yesterday I had a project with the nano 328, but now I use Win11, a newer version of Visual STudio Code (1.98.2) an I saw a newer video … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I00iA-QkSgI

I did the same, compiling was ok, but when I start PIO Debug I get the error with the COM-Port that there is no File … I have no idea what that means, there are a part of the output:

PlatformIO Unified Debugger -> https://bit.ly/pio-debug
PlatformIO: debug_tool = avr-stub
PlatformIO: Initializing remote target...
.pioinit:13: Error in sourced command file:
COM3: No such file or directory.

Have someone an idea, what to do?
Or is there also another way with a low cost gadget for develop in this cases?

[maxgerhardt]

@oehrle

COM3: No such file or directory.

So, you didn’t adapt the debug_port and upload_port value in your platformio.ini to actually point to the COM port that your Arduino Nano is on? Just look into your Windows device manager or into PlatformIO → devices.

[oehrle]

I did that, at first i had all three points set with the current COM-Port, but there was also the same issue

debug_port = COM3
upload_port = COM3
monitor_port = COM3

Then I deleted the other and only the debug_port = COM3 was active. But the behaviour was the same.

[maxgerhardt]

Well, GDB says COM3 doesn’t exist.

Can you show a screenshot of the PlatformIO “Devices” view when the Nano is plugged in?

[oehrle]

Hi Gerhard, I started again, with another Port, same Issue, there are some screenshots. What is the matter, are there maybe changes in the controller 328 ??

[maxgerhardt]

Can you put the debug port as

debug_port = \\.\COM4

instead?

[oehrle]

@maxgerhardt

\\.\COM4

It’s the same … see screenshot

[oehrle]

Hi, I tested another Controller, he was good. I think there is something with the Controller. But all ok, only debuging is a problem. Do you have an idea? Here are pictures.

[maxgerhardt]

That’s odd. It’s almost as if the COM port disappears for a few moments after the upload is complete. Can you confirm that by opening the Windows device manager and keeping a watch on the “COM ports” section as debugging starts up?

Is there any crazy antivirus software installed on the computer that could block access to the COM port?

[oehrle]

There is no special antivirus software. I tink there is a problem with a setting at the board. With another board (also Nano) is it working.
Strange. Can I read some information about the board which could help us?

[maxgerhardt]

…So for uploading, the device stays as COM4, but after uploading, it becomes COM5?

[oehrle]

No, the port COM5 is staying the same, he doesn’t change, neither in device manager and nor in the PIO. It’s staying at both.

I have an other controller from the same order. He has the same problem. All things are working, but only the debugging doesn’t work.
What could be the reason for them?

[oehrle]

Nobody have an idea what could be the difference of the boards. Both from China. The only problem is the debugging … could be there another config in the hex - file or something?