Summary of A USABLE ARDUINO DEBUGGING TOOL
eye2see uses a second Arduino (probe) connected via I2C to a target Arduino to provide richer debugging (variable watches, breakpoints, on-screen messages) than serial prints. A probe runs eye2see software and displays debug info while a host-library on the target sends data over I2C; the library slows the host program but enables powerful debugging until it is removed.
Parts used in the eye2see Project:
- Arduino or compatible microcontroller as probe
- Host Arduino (target being debugged)
- I2C bus connection between probe and host
- Display/screen attached to the probe
- eye2see probe software
- eye2see library running on host Arduino
For as popular as the Arduino platform is, it’s not without its problems. Among those is the fact that most practical debugging is often done by placing various print statements throughout the code and watching for them in the serial monitor. There’s not really a great way of placing breakpoints or stepping through code, either. But this project, known as eye2see, hopes to change that by using the i2c bus found in most Arduinos to provide a more robust set of debugging tools.
The eye2see software is set up to run on an Arduino or other compatible microcontroller, called the “probe”, which is connected to the i2c bus on another Arduino whose code needs to be debugged. Code running on this Arduino, which is part of the eye2see library, allows it to send debugging information to the eye2see probe. With a screen, the probe can act as a much more powerful debugger than would otherwise typically be available, being able to keep track of variables in the main program, setting up breakpoints, and outputting various messages on its screen.
The tool is not without its downsides, though. The library that needs to run on the host Arduino slows down the original program significantly. But for more complex programs, the tradeoff with powerful debugging tools may be worth it until these pieces of code can be removed and the program allowed to run unencumbered. If you’d like to skip needing to use a second Arduino, we’ve seen some other tools available for debugging Arduino code that can run straight from a connected PC instead.
Source: A USABLE ARDUINO DEBUGGING TOOL
- What is eye2see?
eye2see is a debugging system using a second Arduino probe connected via I2C to provide variable watches, breakpoints, and on-screen messages for a host Arduino. - How does eye2see connect to the Arduino being debugged?
It connects via the I2C bus between the probe Arduino and the host Arduino. - Can eye2see display debugging information?
Yes, the probe with a screen can output messages and track variables on its display. - Does eye2see require special software on the host Arduino?
Yes, the host must run an eye2see library to send debugging information to the probe. - Does the eye2see library affect the host program performance?
Yes, the library significantly slows down the original host program. - Is using a second Arduino mandatory for eye2see?
No, the project uses a second Arduino as the probe, but alternatives exist that run debugging from a connected PC instead. - What debugging features does eye2see provide beyond serial prints?
It provides variable tracking, breakpoints, and on-screen message output, which are more advanced than scattered serial print statements.
