4.11.2 Hardware or Software Breakpoint Selection
To select hardware or software breakpoints:
- Select your project in the Projects window. Then select File > Project Properties or right click and select Properties.
- In the Project Properties dialog under “Categories,” select PICkit 4.
- Under “Option Categories,” select Debug Options.
- Select Use software breakpoints to use software breakpoints. Clear the selection to use hardware breakpoints.
Tip: Using software breakpoints for debugging impacts device
endurance. Therefore, it is recommended that devices used in this manner are not be used as
production parts.
To help you decide which type of breakpoints to use (hardware or software), the following table compares the features of each.
Feature | Hardware Breakpoints | Software Breakpoints |
---|---|---|
Number of breakpoints | Limited | Unlimited |
Breakpoints written to* | Internal Debug Registers | Flash Program Memory |
Breakpoints applied to** | Program Memory/Data Memory | Program Memory only |
Time to set breakpoints | Minimal | Dependent on oscillator speed, time to program Flash Memory, and page size |
Breakpoint skidding | Most devices. See the online Help, Limitations section, for details. | No |
* Where information about the breakpoint is written in the device. ** What kind of device feature applies to the breakpoint. This is where the breakpoint is set. |