Debugging a real Dragon with NoICE - serial port

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pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Debugging a real Dragon with NoICE - serial port

Post by pser1 »

Hi all,
I just wanted to share an interesting project I have had the chance to work on.
I would like to program for the module Wordpak2+ (color VIDEO cartridge fro Dragon / CoCo)
and this is going to be imposible to be debugged with GDB.
It will need to be debugged on the fly, so right on the Dragon machine.
I just had heard about an application that allows doing that: NoICE from John Hartman
http://www.noicedebugger.com

I contacted John to get that program, he was very kind and sent me the program and a license ... thanks a lot!
It is a nice Windows debugger, for quite a lot of different CPUs and microcontrollers.
The monitor for CoCo exists, so I modified it to work with our Dragon64 using the serial port at 19200 bauds.
In order to be able to debug ROM areas, it is mandatory to work in MAP1 (all RAM), so I have coded the monitor
to load from $FA00 on. I attach here the source and the binary of my 'modified' monitor for Dragon-6809

cheers
pere
Attachments
Dragon6809 Monitor x NoICE v2.0.zip
(9.15 KiB) Downloaded 506 times
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: Debugging a real Dragon with NoICE - serial port

Post by pser1 »

just some pictures - screenshots of the debugger on the PC and the monitored Dragon64

cheers
pere

01 - NoICE just started-small.jpg
01 - NoICE just started-small.jpg (66.67 KiB) Viewed 9752 times
02 - Dragon64 executing Monitor x NoICE-small.jpg
02 - Dragon64 executing Monitor x NoICE-small.jpg (43.92 KiB) Viewed 9752 times
04 - Stepping through the programsmall.jpg
04 - Stepping through the programsmall.jpg (72.3 KiB) Viewed 9752 times
05 - Program effects on first Dragon screen row-small.jpg
05 - Program effects on first Dragon screen row-small.jpg (44.45 KiB) Viewed 9752 times
07 - User quits monitor-small.jpg
07 - User quits monitor-small.jpg (65.72 KiB) Viewed 9752 times
bluearcus
Posts: 142
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 4:45 pm

Re: Debugging a real Dragon with NoICE - serial port

Post by bluearcus »

I just came across this thread... wow, another excellent Dragon tool!

To make it even more worthwhile, the NoICE author loves the 6809 and 6309 so much that, unlike every other CPU the project supports, he will offer the license for 6809 and 6309 for free if you simply email him and let him know about your project.

Supercool.

Mike
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: Debugging a real Dragon with NoICE - serial port

Post by pser1 »

Hi Mike,
if I remeber correct, I contacted John Hartman when I was wanting to have a 'debugger', to ask him for permission
and he gently sent me a free license to use the software so that I could make a Dragon version.
And he gave me permission too to upload the software here for anyone who wanted to use it ...
I should say, anyway, that I have not yet used it again :oops:
Usually I do debug the programs on XRoar even if they use the HD6309
cheers
pere
bluearcus
Posts: 142
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 4:45 pm

Re: Debugging a real Dragon with NoICE - serial port

Post by bluearcus »

Hi Pere,

I think it's probably most useful for real hardware scenarios, as you say. I have been looking for a real hardware options for some time, and this looks useful. I understand also that there is a Nitros9 module, though whether it can work in L1 may be an issue, but it's a very interesting prospect!

Kind regards,

Mike
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: Debugging a real Dragon with NoICE - serial port

Post by pser1 »

HI Mike,
there is another possible candidate ...
Do you know the Godil project?
There is a version that emulates the 6809 so that you could trace everything that it does ... you'll find info here
https://github.com/hoglet67/AtomBusMon/wiki/ICE-6809
cheers
pere
tjewell
Posts: 346
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:58 pm
Location: Cambridge, England

Re: Debugging a real Dragon with NoICE - serial port

Post by tjewell »

Oh that project looks awesome - so basically, it's a plugin 6809 emulator? I can't imagine myself every doing anything hardcore enough to justify this, but I'm tempted anyway :)
prime
Posts: 266
Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:40 am

Re: Debugging a real Dragon with NoICE - serial port

Post by prime »

I've used the Godil based emulator, and it is indeed excellent, being able to supend the CPU and look at registers / memory / single step is
indeeed useful.

There is anew version that has a proper level translator board and a cheapish FPGA development board.

Cheers.

Phill.
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