Unable to debug ESP32S3 using esp-builtin with IDF framework, Arduino framework debugs fine

I’ve lost a couple of nights worth of sleep trying to get something simple to work. I have a esp32-s3-devkitc-1 that I’m trying to do a basic hello world debug on the IDF framework. If I do the same with the Arduino framework everything debugs fine so it is definitely a software bug and not hardware related.

Platformio.ini

[env]
platform = espressif32
framework = espidf
monitor_speed = 115200

[env:esp32-s3-devkitc-1]
board = esp32-s3-devkitc-1
upload_protocol = esp-builtin
debug_tool = esp-builtin

debug_init_break = tbreak app_main

hello_world_main.c

#include <stdio.h>
#include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
#include "freertos/task.h"
#include "esp_system.h"
#include "esp_spi_flash.h"

void app_main()
{
    while (1)
    {
        printf("Hello world!\n");
        vTaskDelay(1000 / portTICK_PERIOD_MS);
    }
}

terminal output log

Processing esp32-s3-devkitc-1 (board: esp32-s3-devkitc-1; platform: espressif32; framework: espidf)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Verbose mode can be enabled via `-v, --verbose` option
CONFIGURATION: https://docs.platformio.org/page/boards/espressif32/esp32-s3-devkitc-1.html
PLATFORM: Espressif 32 (5.2.0) > Espressif ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1-N8 (8 MB QD, No PSRAM)
HARDWARE: ESP32S3 240MHz, 320KB RAM, 8MB Flash
DEBUG: Current (esp-builtin) On-board (esp-builtin) External (cmsis-dap, esp-bridge, esp-prog, iot-bus-jtag, jlink, minimodule, olimex-arm-usb-ocd, olimex-arm-usb-ocd-h, olimex-arm-usb-tiny-h, olimex-jtag-tiny, tumpa)
PACKAGES:
 - framework-espidf @ 3.40402.0 (4.4.2)
 - tool-cmake @ 3.16.4
 - tool-esptoolpy @ 1.40201.0 (4.2.1)
 - tool-idf @ 1.0.1
 - tool-mconf @ 1.4060000.20190628 (406.0.0)
 - tool-ninja @ 1.9.0
 - tool-openocd-esp32 @ 2.1100.20220706 (11.0)
 - toolchain-riscv32-esp @ 8.4.0+2021r2-patch3
 - toolchain-xtensa-esp32s3 @ 8.4.0+2021r2-patch3
Reading CMake configuration...
LDF: Library Dependency Finder -> https://bit.ly/configure-pio-ldf
LDF Modes: Finder ~ chain, Compatibility ~ soft
Found 0 compatible libraries
Scanning dependencies...
No dependencies
Building in debug mode
Retrieving maximum program size .pio\build\esp32-s3-devkitc-1\firmware.elf
Checking size .pio\build\esp32-s3-devkitc-1\firmware.elf
Advanced Memory Usage is available via "PlatformIO Home > Project Inspect"
RAM:   [          ]   3.8% (used 12512 bytes from 327680 bytes)
Flash: [==        ]  17.6% (used 184661 bytes from 1048576 bytes)
================================================================================= [SUCCESS] Took 12.48 seconds ================================================================================= *  Terminal will be reused by tasks, press any key to close it. 

debug log output before I try and pause code

Reading symbols from c:\Users\Neil\Documents\PlatformIO\Projects\221003-112339-espidf-hello-world\.pio\build\esp32-s3-devkitc-1\firmware.elf...
PlatformIO Unified Debugger -> https://bit.ly/pio-debug
PlatformIO: debug_tool = esp-builtin
PlatformIO: Initializing remote target...
Open On-Chip Debugger  v0.11.0-esp32-20220706 (2022-07-06-15:48)
Licensed under GNU GPL v2
For bug reports, read
	http://openocd.org/doc/doxygen/bugs.html
Info : only one transport option; autoselect 'jtag'
Info : esp_usb_jtag: VID set to 0x303a and PID to 0x1001
Info : esp_usb_jtag: capabilities descriptor set to 0x2000
adapter speed: 40000 kHz

Warn : Transport "jtag" was already selected
adapter speed: 5000 kHz

Info : tcl server disabled
Info : telnet server disabled
Error: libusb_open() failed with LIBUSB_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED
Info : esp_usb_jtag: serial (7C:DF:A1:E0:91:AC)
Info : esp_usb_jtag: Device found. Base speed 40000KHz, div range 1 to 255
Info : clock speed 5000 kHz
Info : JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu0 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
Info : JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu1 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
Info : starting gdb server for esp32s3.cpu0 on pipe
Info : accepting 'gdb' connection from pipe
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40041A76, debug_reason=00000000
Info : Set GDB target to 'esp32s3.cpu0'
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40043A3B, debug_reason=00000000
Warn : No symbols for FreeRTOS!
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : Flash mapping 0: 0x10020 -> 0x3c020020, 30 KB
Info : Flash mapping 1: 0x20020 -> 0x42000020, 90 KB
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : Auto-detected flash bank 'esp32s3.cpu0.flash' size 8192 KB
Info : Using flash bank 'esp32s3.cpu0.flash' size 8192 KB
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : Flash mapping 0: 0x10020 -> 0x3c020020, 30 KB
Info : Flash mapping 1: 0x20020 -> 0x42000020, 90 KB
Info : Using flash bank 'esp32s3.cpu0.irom' size 92 KB
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : Flash mapping 0: 0x10020 -> 0x3c020020, 30 KB
Info : Flash mapping 1: 0x20020 -> 0x42000020, 90 KB
Info : Using flash bank 'esp32s3.cpu0.drom' size 32 KB
Info : New GDB Connection: 1, Target esp32s3.cpu0, state: halted
0x40041a76 in ?? ()
Error: FreeRTOS maximum used priority is unreasonably big, not proceeding: 210
Info : JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu0 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
Info : JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu1 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu0 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu1 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
[esp32s3.cpu0] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Debug controller was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Debug controller was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x500000EF, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x500000EF, debug_reason=00000000
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu1] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
[esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Debug controller was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu1] Debug controller was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu1] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : Flash mapping 0: 0x10020 -> 0x3c020020, 30 KB
Info : Flash mapping 1: 0x20020 -> 0x42000020, 90 KB
Flash mapping 0: 0x10020 -> 0x3c020020, 30 KB
Flash mapping 1: 0x20020 -> 0x42000020, 90 KB
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : Auto-detected flash bank 'esp32s3.cpu1.flash' size 8192 KB
Info : Using flash bank 'esp32s3.cpu1.flash' size 8192 KB
** Programming Started **
Auto-detected flash bank 'esp32s3.cpu1.flash' size 8192 KB
Using flash bank 'esp32s3.cpu1.flash' size 8192 KB
** Programming Started **
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : PROF: Erased 24576 bytes in 312.955 ms
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
PROF: Erased 24576 bytes in 312.955 ms
Info : PROF: Data transferred in 234.35 ms @ 102.411 KB/s
PROF: Data transferred in 234.35 ms @ 102.411 KB/s
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : PROF: Wrote 24576 bytes in 619.505 ms (data transfer time included)
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
PROF: Wrote 24576 bytes in 619.505 ms (data transfer time included)
** Programming Finished in 2476 ms **
** Verify Started **
** Programming Finished in 2476 ms **
** Verify Started **
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : PROF: Flash verified in 186.901 ms
** Verify OK **
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
PROF: Flash verified in 186.901 ms
** Verify OK **
Info : JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu0 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
Info : JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu1 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu0 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu1 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
[esp32s3.cpu0] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Debug controller was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Debug controller was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x500000EF, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x500000EF, debug_reason=00000000
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu1] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
[esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Debug controller was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu1] Debug controller was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu1] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
** Programming Started **
** Programming Started **
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : PROF: Erased 4096 bytes in 196.232 ms
PROF: Erased 4096 bytes in 196.232 ms
Info : PROF: Data transferred in 47.446 ms @ 84.3064 KB/s
PROF: Data transferred in 47.446 ms @ 84.3064 KB/s
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : PROF: Wrote 4096 bytes in 382.304 ms (data transfer time included)
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
PROF: Wrote 4096 bytes in 382.304 ms (data transfer time included)
** Programming Finished in 1309 ms **
** Verify Started **
** Programming Finished in 1309 ms **
** Verify Started **
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : PROF: Flash verified in 174.556 ms
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
PROF: Flash verified in 174.556 ms
** Verify OK **
** Verify OK **
Info : JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu0 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
Info : JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu1 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu0 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu1 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
[esp32s3.cpu0] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Debug controller was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Debug controller was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x500000EF, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x500000EF, debug_reason=00000000
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu1] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
[esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Debug controller was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu1] Debug controller was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu1] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
** Programming Started **
** Programming Started **
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : PROF: Erased 188416 bytes in 944.69 ms
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
PROF: Erased 188416 bytes in 944.69 ms
Info : PROF: Data transferred in 1710.75 ms @ 107.555 KB/s
PROF: Data transferred in 1710.75 ms @ 107.555 KB/s
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : PROF: Wrote 188416 bytes in 2125.18 ms (data transfer time included)
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
PROF: Wrote 188416 bytes in 2125.18 ms (data transfer time included)
** Programming Finished in 3795 ms **
** Verify Started **
** Programming Finished in 3795 ms **
** Verify Started **
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
Info : PROF: Flash verified in 274.359 ms
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x403B2482, debug_reason=00000001
PROF: Flash verified in 274.359 ms
** Verify OK **
** Verify OK **
Info : JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu0 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
Info : JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu1 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu0 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
JTAG tap: esp32s3.cpu1 tap/device found: 0x120034e5 (mfg: 0x272 (Tensilica), part: 0x2003, ver: 0x1)
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
[esp32s3.cpu0] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Debug controller was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Debug controller was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x500000EF, debug_reason=00000000
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x500000EF, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu1] requesting target halt and executing a soft reset
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Debug controller was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Core was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu1] Debug controller was reset.
[esp32s3.cpu1] Core was reset.
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40000400, debug_reason=00000000
Temporary breakpoint 1 at 0x42000de7: file src/hello_world_main.c, line 19.
PlatformIO: Initialization completed
PlatformIO: Resume the execution to `debug_init_break = tbreak app_main`
PlatformIO: More configuration options -> https://bit.ly/pio-debug
Note: automatically using hardware breakpoints for read-only addresses.

debug log after I pause the code

Info : [esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40041A76, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu0] Target halted, PC=0x40041A76, debug_reason=00000000
Info : Set GDB target to 'esp32s3.cpu0'
Set GDB target to 'esp32s3.cpu0'
Info : [esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40043A40, debug_reason=00000000
[esp32s3.cpu1] Target halted, PC=0x40043A40, debug_reason=00000000
Error: FreeRTOS maximum used priority is unreasonably big, not proceeding: 210

Program
 received signal SIGINT, Interrupt.
0x40041a76 in ?? ()

I’m able to read global variables but no local variables or hit a break point at printf or taskDelay for example.

Any help will be appreciated.

Hello there.
I’m encountering a similar phenomenon. However, what I have met is that it also occurs with the Arduino framework.
Its log records the Resume the execution to debug_init_break=tbreak app_main message after setting a temporary breakpoint in the Arduino setup() function. But, the program does not seem to halt in the VSCode editor. Then, when I apply the Pause button manually, it will stop somewhere in the loop() function. It accompanies a console message of SIGINT receipt.
A similar phenomenon has been reported in the platformio-respressif32 repository, which is still open.
Debugging does not work in platform-espressif32 release 4.2.0 · Issue #793 · platformio/platform-espressif32 (github.com)