Abstract: A microprocessor system debug tool has a mainframe which interfaces with a user. A ROM emulator replaces a ROM unit of the microprocessor system to be tested and has a monitor portion which is used to perform debug functions specified by the user. A user defined control line is connected to the interrupt system of the microprocessor system to cause the target microprocessor to stop execution of the user's program and jump to the monitor portion upon the occurrence of a user defined event to execute microprocessor specific debug code generated by the mainframe in response to the user's input. At the conclusion of debug code execution the microprocessor resumes the user's program. A word recognizer is connected to the microprocessor bus to detect the results of the debug code execution, the results being forwarded to the mainframe for display to the user.