An apparatus and method for controlling debugging of program instructions including a transaction

A debug control method comprising:

• employing processing circuitry to execute program instructions including a transaction comprising a number of program instructions that execute to generate updates to state data and to commit said updates if said transaction completes without a conflict;
• storing at least one watchpoint identifier;
• creating a pending watchpoint debug event on detecting a watchpoint match condition with reference to the at least one watchpoint identifier during execution of a program instruction within said transaction;
• responsive to execution of the transaction finishing, initiating a watchpoint debug event for the pending watchpoint debug event;
• and
• responsive to a conflict arising during execution of the transaction, cancelling the pending watchpoint debug event.

An apparatus comprising:

• processing means for executing program instructions including a transaction comprising a number of program instructions that execute to generate updates to state data, and for committing said updates if said transaction completes without a conflict;
• and
• control means for storing at least one watchpoint identifier;
• the processing means, when detecting a watchpoint match condition with reference to the at least one watchpoint identifier during execution of a program instruction within said transaction, for creating a pending watchpoint debug event;
• the processing means, responsive to execution of the transaction finishing, for initiating a watchpoint debug event for the pending watchpoint debug event;
• and
• the processing means, responsive to a conflict arising during execution of the transaction, for cancelling the pending watchpoint debug event.