Rapid prototyping for simulation debugging environment: an enhanced developing method for embedded computer software

Embedded computers (EC) have been used widely, however, embedded computer software is often difficult to develop for the lack of a suitable debugging environment. With the traditional in-circuit debugging method, it is difficult to analyze the reason for errors; also it is impossible to debug a software before the implementation of the associated hardware; moreover, it costs both money and time to create the hardware, so that it can hardly keep up with the ever-changing requirements of a great number of ECs. To tackle the problem, we have researched a prototyping method for a simulation debugging environment (SDE) of embedded computer software. Our purpose is to establish an environment to construct SDE and use the software SDE to substitute the traditional in-circuit debugging environment. By the method, users can construct a SDE at a higher speed and lower cost, the development efficiency for embedded computer software will also be greatly increased