Practical Debugging for Embedded ARM Systems: Core techniques for tracing, profiling, and fixing system-level faults

Learn advanced debugging techniques for embedded ARM systems and uncover how to trace, profile, and analyze firmware issues using professional tools in real-world scenariosFree with your book: DRM-free PDF version + access to Packt's next-gen Reader*Key FeaturesExplore advanced debugging tools like hardware tracing and power profilingLearn techniques for analyzing bootloaders, RTOS, and memory issuesApply practical debugging workflows based on ARM Cortex-M firmware examplesBook DescriptionAre you truly unlocking the full potential of your embedded debugging tools? This hands-on guide cuts through the confusion of common workflows and shows you how to trace, profile, and debug ARM-based systems like a professional firmware engineer.Written by an industry expert, this book guides you through practical debugging scenarios using real hardware setups. You’ll explore both essential and advanced techniques, from setting breakpoints and analyzing memory to using hardware tracing, power profiling, and RTOS awareness. Through real-world crash analysis, you'll learn how to detect stack overflows, communication errors, memory leaks, and more.You will explore practical examples based on ARM Cortex-M target devices, which help you build structured and efficient debugging workflows. The learned skills can then be easily applied to other chip architectures as well. You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of the tools available, how to apply them in complex firmware projects, and the confidence to tackle even the most elusive bugs in production systems.Whether you’re refining your setup or debugging embedded systems at scale, this book will sharpen your skills and elevate your embedded development workflow.*Email sign-up and proof of purchase requiredWhat you will learnSet up a debugging workflows for ARM-based embedded systemsTrace firmware execution using hardware toolsAnalyze stack, memory, and registersDebug bootloaders and bare-metal applications confidentlyIdentify issues with power, interrupts, or RTOSDetect memory leaksApply crash analysis techniques in real-world scenariosUse live symbol tracking and code profiling toolsWho this book is forThis book is ideal for embedded developers and firmware engineers working with ARM-based systems who want to improve their debugging workflows. It is not just a beginner’s guide, but a practical resource for those already familiar with building and programming embedded firmware. Whether you’re debugging bootloaders, analyzing RTOS behavior, or using advanced hardware tools, this book will help you streamline your workflow and solve complex issues with confidence.Table of ContentsA Brief History of Embedded Systems DebuggingWhat Is Debugging and Why Should You Care?Basic Debugging FeaturesAdvanced Debugging FeaturesFrom Theory to Practice Read more