Abstract: An apparatus for debugging operational code of a target program comprises a memory storing the operational code and a set of instructions representing a debugger program for debugging the operational code. A microprocessor is configured to execute the operational code and the debugger program. The debugger program can inject a jump to a breakpoint handling routine into the operational code and let a compiler program create code pieces for the breakpoint handling routine.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for external access to core resources (211,212) of a processor (2) comprising a processing core (21), a shared memory (22), and a multiple paths Direct Memory Access, DMA, controller (23). Access to core critical resources can be performed while the core is executing an application program. The proposed apparatus comprises a Manager module (13) which is operable to setup the DMA controller to copy the assigned core resources via allocated DMA channel into a safe memory region. Further, an Observer module (14) is operable to read the transferred data and make the correlation on the host apparatus side. This allows accessing data used by the core via the DMA controller into, e.g., a run-time debugger accessible region.

Abstract: A method of testing software uses a debugger and a breakpoint handler. The debugger inserts a breakpoint in a target application and enters at least one filtering condition associated with the breakpoint in a data structure. When during execution the target application encounters a breakpoint at an address, the target application transfers execution to the breakpoint handler. The breakpoint handler uses the address to retrieve filtering conditions from the data structure, executes code for evaluating the filtering condition, and transfers execution back to the target application if the filtering condition is not met.

Abstract: A method for altering execution of a program on a computer. The program resides in a memory unit that has a logical address space assigned thereto. The method comprises: operating the computer to start executing the program; operating the computer to suspend execution of the program; selecting a patch insertion address within a logical address range of the program, saving the original code residing at the patch insertion address; generating a patch routine; writing a jump instruction to the patch insertion address, thus overwriting said original code, wherein the jump instruction is arranged to instruct the computer to jump to a start address of the patch routine; and operating the computer to resume execution of the program. The patch routine is arranged to prompt the computer to: save a current context of the program; execute a user code; restore the saved context of the program; and execute a surrogate code.