Method and system for setting a breakpoint

A system for setting a breakpoint, the system comprising:

• a target module comprising:
• a first machine-accessible medium to store a first plurality of instructions;
• and
• a second machine-accessible medium to store a second plurality of instructions;
• a development module comprising:
• a debugger comprising:
• an input unit to receive an input specifying a location for insertion of a breakpoint in the first plurality of instructions;
• an address unit coupled to the input unit, the address unit configured to determine a breakpoint address in the first plurality of instructions, the breakpoint address corresponding to the specified location;
• a write unit coupled to the address unit, the write unit configured to write a breakpoint instruction into the second machine-accessible medium at the breakpoint address;
• and
• a lock unit coupled to the write unit, the lock unit configured to lock a line containing the breakpoint instruction into the second machine-accessible medium to prevent the breakpoint instruction from being overwritten;
• and
• a communications and control interface to connect the development module to the target module.

A debugger comprising:

• an input process to receive an input specifying a location for insertion of a breakpoint in a first machine-accessible medium;
• an address process to determine a breakpoint address in the first machine-accessible medium, the breakpoint address corresponding to the specified location;
• a write process to write a breakpoint instruction into a second machine-accessible medium at the breakpoint address;
• and
• a lock process to lock a line containing the breakpoint instruction into the second machine-accessible medium to prevent the breakpoint instruction from being overwritten.

A machine-accessible medium configured to be accessed by a debugger, the machine-accessible medium comprising:

• an input instruction to receive an input specifying a location for insertion of a breakpoint in a first storage medium;
• an address instruction to determine a breakpoint address in the first storage medium, the breakpoint address corresponding to the specified location;
• a write instruction to write a breakpoint instruction into a second storage medium at the breakpoint address, the second storage medium being physically separate from the first storage medium;
• and
• a lock instruction to lock a line containing the breakpoint instruction into the second storage medium to prevent the breakpoint instruction from being overwritten.