xds560 trace

The new XDS560 Trace module is a non-intrusive, hardware-based trace tool offering unparalleled visibility and advanced capabilities for debugging the complex problems that arise in high-performance, real-time embedded applications,

as well as for fine-tuning code performance and cache optimization of multi-channel applications.

The XDS560 Trace module includes the Blackhawk high-speed XDS560 USB JTAG Emulator and TI’s Trace pod cable assembly with high-density (HD), 60-pin header connector. Specialized watch-points based on hardware-based state machines enable complex, real-time Advanced Event Triggers to start and stop data capture. Real-time visibility and a high-speed interface provide developers with the detailed forensics they require to determine where and why complex, intermittent problems occur. Trace nonintrusively extends real-time visibility of registers and counters, requires no special drivers, and is fully supported by TI’s Code Composer Studio Integrated Development Environment.

XDS560 Trace specifically addresses the problem of isolating and fixing real-time bugs that occur in an application that continues to run for some time before the error manifests itself, often masking the root cause behind potentially millions of lines of code.

Many trace systems can only track tens to thousands of program branches, limiting the usefulness of trace capture. The XDS560 Trace solves this issue through the ability to trace back over millions of program branches, guaranteeing that the root cause will be captured within the trace buffer.

Real-time bugs are typically extremely complex and difficult to track down. Because they appear intermittently and are extremely sensitive to the overall system context, they can appear almost invisible to developers. Bugs of this nature include race conditions, crashes, scheduling conflicts, runaway code and false interrupts. Typically developers will use a watchpoint to detect that an error has occurred. However, without a comprehensive execution history, little information is available as to which line of code caused the error or why.

The XDS560 Trace Module is now available from Direct Insight. Visit our Blackhawk pages for further details of our TI DSP debug solutions.