To select hardware or software breakpoints:
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. |