Port11 Debugger

A VS Code extension for programming and debugging MSPM0 microcontroller boards.

What Does This Do?

This extension lets you:

• Build your code
• Upload (flash) programs to your board
• Debug your programs
• View memory and registers

All from within VS Code - no external tools needed.

Installation

1. Download the .vsix file from releases
2. Open VS Code
3. Go to Extensions (click the blocks icon on the left, or press Ctrl+Shift+X)
4. Click the "..." menu at the top → "Install from VSIX..."
5. Select the downloaded file

First Time Setup

When you first use the extension:

1. The extension will download and install the required tools automatically
2. This takes a few minutes
3. Once done, you're ready to go!

You can check setup status in the "Port11: Setup" panel on the left sidebar.

How to Use

1. Connect Your Board

1. Plug your MSPM0 board into your computer via USB
2. The extension will automatically detect it
3. If not detected, click "Boards" panel and click "Detect"

2. Open Your Project

1. Open a folder containing your .c source files
2. The extension recognizes MSPM0 projects automatically

3. Build Your Code

Option A: Click the "Build" button in the status bar at the bottom Option B: Press Ctrl+Shift+B Option C: Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) → type "Port11: Build"

The extension compiles your code. Any errors will show in the Problems panel.

4. Upload to Board (Flash)

After building successfully:

1. Click the "Flash" button in the status bar
2. Wait for the upload to complete
3. Your program is now running on the board!

5. Debug Your Program

Start Debugging:

1. Click the "Debug" button in the status bar
2. Your program will pause at the start

While Debugging:

• Halt - Pause the program
• Resume - Continue running
• Step - Execute one instruction at a time

View Information:

• Data View - See register values and variables
• Breakpoints - Manage breakpoints
• Call Stack - See function call history
• Console - View debug messages

6. Setting Breakpoints

1. Open a .c file
2. Click to the left of a line number (a red dot appears)
3. Run debug - program will pause at that line
4. Use "Resume" to continue to the next breakpoint

Common Issues

"Board not detected"

1. Make sure your board is plugged in via USB
2. Try a different USB cable or port
3. Click "Detect" in the Boards panel

"Build failed"

1. Check the Problems panel for specific errors
2. Make sure your .c files are in the open folder
3. Try running setup again from the Setup panel

"Flash failed"

1. Make sure your board is connected
2. Build your project first (Flash button only works after a successful build)
3. Check that no other program is using the board

"Setup taking too long"

1. The first-time setup downloads large files (this is normal)
2. Make sure you have a stable internet connection
3. Check that you have at least 2GB of free disk space

"Debug not working"

1. Flash your program to the board first
2. Make sure the board is connected
3. Try clicking "Halt" first, then look at the Data View

Tips

• Save your work often - Build and flash frequently to catch errors early
• Use breakpoints - They help you see what's happening step-by-step
• Check the Console - It shows detailed information about what the extension is doing
• Status bar buttons - The quickest way to Build, Flash, and Debug

Supported Boards

This extension works with:

• Port11 Extension Board

Supported Systems

• Windows 10/11
• macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)
• Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora)

Need Help?

• Check the Console panel (View → Output → select "Port11 Debugger")
• Look at the Setup panel to verify everything is installed
• Report issues on GitHub

Version

Current version: 0.1.0

License

MIT License - Free to use and modify