Configurable debug system using source and data objects

In a software development system, a method for dynamically updating address parameters in a debug job, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying source code of the program being debugged in a first area of a graphical user interface (GUI);
• selecting a portion of the source code to specify a location for the debug job;
• creating a source code object containing an address of the selected portion of source code;
• initiating the debug job by using the address from the source code object;
• associating the source code object with the debug job;
• editing the source code such that the address of the portion of source code is changed;
• updating the source code object in response to the step of editing;
• and
• updating the debug job in response to the step of updating the source code object.

In a software debugging system, a method for initiating a debug job, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying at least a part of the source code of the program being debugged in a first area of a display;
• selecting a portion of the source code for a debug activity;
• displaying a parameter input area in a second area of the display for inputting a set of parameters required by the debug job;
• and
• dragging and dropping the portion of source code from the first area of a display to the second area of the display and thereby causing one or more of the parameters required by the debug job to be extracted from the selected portion of source code.

A software development system, comprising:

• a memory storage system holding a software development tool program;
• a host computer connected to the memory storage system, the host computer operable to execute the software development tool program;
• an access mechanism for connecting to a hardware system, the hardware system being operable to execute an application program;
• and
• wherein the software development tool is operable to perform debugging jobs on the application program by using a method to dynamically determine debugging information from source code of the application program, the method comprising the steps of:
• displaying at least part of the source code of the program being debugged in a first area of a display;
• selecting a portion of the source code for a debug activity;
• creating a source code object containing debugging information relevant to the portion of source code;
• and
• initiating a debug activity by using the debugging information from the source code object to send a debug command to the hardware system via the test port to initialize a set of debug components while executing the application program on the hardware system.

A digital system, comprising:

• a microprocessor having a first architecture for executing application programs;
• a memory circuit connected to the microprocessor holding a first application program for execution by the microprocessor;
• and
• wherein the first application program was developed with a software development system using a method for dynamically determining debugging information from source code of a program being debugged, the method comprising the steps of:
• displaying at least a part of the source code of the program being debugged in a first area of a display;
• selecting a portion of the source code for a debug activity;
• creating a source code object containing debugging information relevant to the portion of source code;
• and
• initiating a debug activity by using the debugging information from the source code object to send a debug command to a first hardware system via a test port to initialize a set of debug components while executing the application program on the first hardware system.