MCUXpresso SDK API Reference Manual  Rev 2.12.1
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Debug Console

Overview

This chapter describes the programming interface of the debug console driver.

The debug console enables debug log messages to be output via the specified peripheral with frequency of the peripheral source clock and base address at the specified baud rate. Additionally, it provides input and output functions to scan and print formatted data. The below picture shows the laylout of debug console.

debug_console_overview.jpg

Function groups

Initialization

To initialize the debug console, call the DbgConsole_Init() function with these parameters. This function automatically enables the module and the clock.

status_t DbgConsole_Init(uint8_t instance, uint32_t baudRate, serial_port_type_t device, uint32_t clkSrcFreq);

Select the supported debug console hardware device type, such as

typedef enum _serial_port_type
{

After the initialization is successful, stdout and stdin are connected to the selected peripheral.

This example shows how to call the DbgConsole_Init() given the user configuration structure.

DbgConsole_Init(BOARD_DEBUG_UART_INSTANCE, BOARD_DEBUG_UART_BAUDRATE, BOARD_DEBUG_UART_TYPE,
BOARD_DEBUG_UART_CLK_FREQ);

Advanced Feature

The debug console provides input and output functions to scan and print formatted data.

flags Description
- Left-justified within the given field width. Right-justified is the default.
+ Forces to precede the result with a plus or minus sign (+ or -) even for positive numbers. By default, only negative numbers are preceded with a - sign.
(space) If no sign is written, a blank space is inserted before the value.
# Used with o, x, or X specifiers the value is preceded with 0, 0x, or 0X respectively for values other than zero. Used with e, E and f, it forces the written output to contain a decimal point even if no digits would follow. By default, if no digits follow, no decimal point is written. Used with g or G the result is the same as with e or E but trailing zeros are not removed.
0 Left-pads the number with zeroes (0) instead of spaces, where padding is specified (see width sub-specifier).
Width Description
(number) A minimum number of characters to be printed. If the value to be printed is shorter than this number, the result is padded with blank spaces. The value is not truncated even if the result is larger.
* The width is not specified in the format string, but as an additional integer value argument preceding the argument that has to be formatted.
.precision Description
.number For integer specifiers (d, i, o, u, x, X) − precision specifies the minimum number of digits to be written. If the value to be written is shorter than this number, the result is padded with leading zeros. The value is not truncated even if the result is longer. A precision of 0 means that no character is written for the value 0. For e, E, and f specifiers − this is the number of digits to be printed after the decimal point. For g and G specifiers − This is the maximum number of significant digits to be printed. For s − this is the maximum number of characters to be printed. By default, all characters are printed until the ending null character is encountered. For c type − it has no effect. When no precision is specified, the default is 1. If the period is specified without an explicit value for precision, 0 is assumed.
.* The precision is not specified in the format string, but as an additional integer value argument preceding the argument that has to be formatted.
length Description
Do not support
specifier Description
d or i Signed decimal integer
f Decimal floating point
F Decimal floating point capital letters
x Unsigned hexadecimal integer
X Unsigned hexadecimal integer capital letters
o Signed octal
b Binary value
p Pointer address
u Unsigned decimal integer
c Character
s String of characters
n Nothing printed
* Description
An optional starting asterisk indicates that the data is to be read from the stream but ignored. In other words, it is not stored in the corresponding argument.
width Description
This specifies the maximum number of characters to be read in the current reading operation.
length Description
hh The argument is interpreted as a signed character or unsigned character (only applies to integer specifiers: i, d, o, u, x, and X).
h The argument is interpreted as a short integer or unsigned short integer (only applies to integer specifiers: i, d, o, u, x, and X).
l The argument is interpreted as a long integer or unsigned long integer for integer specifiers (i, d, o, u, x, and X) and as a wide character or wide character string for specifiers c and s.
ll The argument is interpreted as a long long integer or unsigned long long integer for integer specifiers (i, d, o, u, x, and X) and as a wide character or wide character string for specifiers c and s.
L The argument is interpreted as a long double (only applies to floating point specifiers: e, E, f, g, and G).
j or z or t Not supported
specifier Qualifying Input Type of argument
c Single character: Reads the next character. If a width different from 1 is specified, the function reads width characters and stores them in the successive locations of the array passed as argument. No null character is appended at the end. char *
i Integer: : Number optionally preceded with a + or - sign int *
d Decimal integer: Number optionally preceded with a + or - sign int *
a, A, e, E, f, F, g, G Floating point: Decimal number containing a decimal point, optionally preceded by a + or - sign and optionally followed by the e or E character and a decimal number. Two examples of valid entries are -732.103 and 7.12e4 float *
o Octal Integer: int *
s String of characters. This reads subsequent characters until a white space is found (white space characters are considered to be blank, newline, and tab). char *
u Unsigned decimal integer. unsigned int *

The debug console has its own printf/scanf/putchar/getchar functions which are defined in the header file.

int DbgConsole_Printf(const char *fmt_s, ...);
int DbgConsole_Putchar(int ch);
int DbgConsole_Scanf(char *fmt_ptr, ...);
int DbgConsole_Getchar(void);

This utility supports selecting toolchain's printf/scanf or the MCUXpresso SDK printf/scanf.

#if SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE == DEBUGCONSOLE_DISABLE /* Disable debug console */
#define PRINTF
#define SCANF
#define PUTCHAR
#define GETCHAR
#elif SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE == DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_SDK /* Select printf, scanf, putchar, getchar of SDK version. */
#define PRINTF DbgConsole_Printf
#define SCANF DbgConsole_Scanf
#define PUTCHAR DbgConsole_Putchar
#define GETCHAR DbgConsole_Getchar
#elif SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE == DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_TOOLCHAIN /* Select printf, scanf, putchar, getchar of toolchain. */
#define PRINTF printf
#define SCANF scanf
#define PUTCHAR putchar
#define GETCHAR getchar
#endif /* SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE */

SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE and SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE_UART

There are two macros SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE and SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE_UART added to configure PRINTF and low level output perihperal.

The following the matrix show the effects of SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE and SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE_UART on PRINTF and printf. The green mark is the default setting of the debug console.

SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE_UART PRINTF printf
DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_SDK defined Low level peripheral* Low level peripheral*
DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_SDK undefined Low level peripheral* semihost
DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_TOOLCHAIN defined Low level peripheral* Low level peripheral*
DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_TOOLCHAIN undefined semihost semihost
DEBUGCONSOLE_DISABLE defined No ouput Low level peripheral*
DEBUGCONSOLE_DISABLE undefined No ouput semihost

* the low level peripheral could be USB CDC, UART, or SWO, and so on.

Typical use case

Some examples use the PUTCHAR & GETCHAR function

ch = GETCHAR();
PUTCHAR(ch);

Some examples use the PRINTF function

Statement prints the string format.

PRINTF("%s %s\r\n", "Hello", "world!");

Statement prints the hexadecimal format/

PRINTF("0x%02X hexadecimal number equivalents 255", 255);

Statement prints the decimal floating point and unsigned decimal.

PRINTF("Execution timer: %s\n\rTime: %u ticks %2.5f milliseconds\n\rDONE\n\r", "1 day", 86400, 86.4);

Some examples use the SCANF function

PRINTF("Enter a decimal number: ");
SCANF("%d", &i);
PRINTF("\r\nYou have entered %d.\r\n", i, i);
PRINTF("Enter a hexadecimal number: ");
SCANF("%x", &i);
PRINTF("\r\nYou have entered 0x%X (%d).\r\n", i, i);

Print out failure messages using MCUXpresso SDK __assert_func:

void __assert_func(const char *file, int line, const char *func, const char *failedExpr)
{
PRINTF("ASSERT ERROR \" %s \": file \"%s\" Line \"%d\" function name \"%s\" \n", failedExpr, file , line, func);
for (;;)
{}
}

Note:

To use 'printf' and 'scanf' for GNUC Base, add file 'fsl_sbrk.c' in path: ..\{package}\devices\{subset}\utilities\fsl_sbrk.c to your project.

Macros

#define DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_TOOLCHAIN   0U
 Definition select redirect toolchain printf, scanf to uart or not. More...
 
#define DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_SDK   1U
 Select SDK version printf, scanf. More...
 
#define DEBUGCONSOLE_DISABLE   2U
 Disable debugconsole function. More...
 
#define SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE   DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_SDK
 Definition to select sdk or toolchain printf, scanf. More...
 
#define PRINTF   DbgConsole_Printf
 Definition to select redirect toolchain printf, scanf to uart or not. More...
 

Variables

serial_handle_t g_serialHandle
 serial manager handle
 

Initialization

status_t DbgConsole_Init (uint8_t instance, uint32_t baudRate, serial_port_type_t device, uint32_t clkSrcFreq)
 Initializes the peripheral used for debug messages. More...
 
status_t DbgConsole_Deinit (void)
 De-initializes the peripheral used for debug messages. More...
 
status_t DbgConsole_EnterLowpower (void)
 Prepares to enter low power consumption. More...
 
status_t DbgConsole_ExitLowpower (void)
 Restores from low power consumption. More...
 
int DbgConsole_Printf (const char *fmt_s,...)
 Writes formatted output to the standard output stream. More...
 
int DbgConsole_Vprintf (const char *fmt_s, va_list formatStringArg)
 Writes formatted output to the standard output stream. More...
 
int DbgConsole_Putchar (int ch)
 Writes a character to stdout. More...
 
int DbgConsole_Scanf (char *fmt_s,...)
 Reads formatted data from the standard input stream. More...
 
int DbgConsole_Getchar (void)
 Reads a character from standard input. More...
 
int DbgConsole_BlockingPrintf (const char *fmt_s,...)
 Writes formatted output to the standard output stream with the blocking mode. More...
 
int DbgConsole_BlockingVprintf (const char *fmt_s, va_list formatStringArg)
 Writes formatted output to the standard output stream with the blocking mode. More...
 
status_t DbgConsole_Flush (void)
 Debug console flush. More...
 

Macro Definition Documentation

#define DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_TOOLCHAIN   0U

Select toolchain printf and scanf.

#define DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_SDK   1U
#define DEBUGCONSOLE_DISABLE   2U
#define SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE   DEBUGCONSOLE_REDIRECT_TO_SDK

The macro only support to be redefined in project setting.

#define PRINTF   DbgConsole_Printf

if SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE defined to 0,it represents select toolchain printf, scanf. if SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE defined to 1,it represents select SDK version printf, scanf. if SDK_DEBUGCONSOLE defined to 2,it represents disable debugconsole function.

Function Documentation

status_t DbgConsole_Init ( uint8_t  instance,
uint32_t  baudRate,
serial_port_type_t  device,
uint32_t  clkSrcFreq 
)

Call this function to enable debug log messages to be output via the specified peripheral initialized by the serial manager module. After this function has returned, stdout and stdin are connected to the selected peripheral.

Parameters
instanceThe instance of the module.If the device is kSerialPort_Uart, the instance is UART peripheral instance. The UART hardware peripheral type is determined by UART adapter. For example, if the instance is 1, if the lpuart_adapter.c is added to the current project, the UART periheral is LPUART1. If the uart_adapter.c is added to the current project, the UART periheral is UART1.
baudRateThe desired baud rate in bits per second.
deviceLow level device type for the debug console, can be one of the following.
  • kSerialPort_Uart,
  • kSerialPort_UsbCdc
clkSrcFreqFrequency of peripheral source clock.
Returns
Indicates whether initialization was successful or not.
Return values
kStatus_SuccessExecution successfully
status_t DbgConsole_Deinit ( void  )

Call this function to disable debug log messages to be output via the specified peripheral initialized by the serial manager module.

Returns
Indicates whether de-initialization was successful or not.
status_t DbgConsole_EnterLowpower ( void  )

This function is used to prepare to enter low power consumption.

Returns
Indicates whether de-initialization was successful or not.
status_t DbgConsole_ExitLowpower ( void  )

This function is used to restore from low power consumption.

Returns
Indicates whether de-initialization was successful or not.
int DbgConsole_Printf ( const char *  fmt_s,
  ... 
)

Call this function to write a formatted output to the standard output stream.

Parameters
fmt_sFormat control string.
Returns
Returns the number of characters printed or a negative value if an error occurs.
int DbgConsole_Vprintf ( const char *  fmt_s,
va_list  formatStringArg 
)

Call this function to write a formatted output to the standard output stream.

Parameters
fmt_sFormat control string.
formatStringArgFormat arguments.
Returns
Returns the number of characters printed or a negative value if an error occurs.
int DbgConsole_Putchar ( int  ch)

Call this function to write a character to stdout.

Parameters
chCharacter to be written.
Returns
Returns the character written.
int DbgConsole_Scanf ( char *  fmt_s,
  ... 
)

Call this function to read formatted data from the standard input stream.

Note
Due the limitation in the BM OSA environment (CPU is blocked in the function, other tasks will not be scheduled), the function cannot be used when the DEBUG_CONSOLE_TRANSFER_NON_BLOCKING is set in the BM OSA environment. And an error is returned when the function called in this case. The suggestion is that polling the non-blocking function DbgConsole_TryGetchar to get the input char.
Parameters
fmt_sFormat control string.
Returns
Returns the number of fields successfully converted and assigned.
int DbgConsole_Getchar ( void  )

Call this function to read a character from standard input.

Note
Due the limitation in the BM OSA environment (CPU is blocked in the function, other tasks will not be scheduled), the function cannot be used when the DEBUG_CONSOLE_TRANSFER_NON_BLOCKING is set in the BM OSA environment. And an error is returned when the function called in this case. The suggestion is that polling the non-blocking function DbgConsole_TryGetchar to get the input char.
Returns
Returns the character read.
int DbgConsole_BlockingPrintf ( const char *  fmt_s,
  ... 
)

Call this function to write a formatted output to the standard output stream with the blocking mode. The function will send data with blocking mode no matter the DEBUG_CONSOLE_TRANSFER_NON_BLOCKING set or not. The function could be used in system ISR mode with DEBUG_CONSOLE_TRANSFER_NON_BLOCKING set.

Parameters
fmt_sFormat control string.
Returns
Returns the number of characters printed or a negative value if an error occurs.
int DbgConsole_BlockingVprintf ( const char *  fmt_s,
va_list  formatStringArg 
)

Call this function to write a formatted output to the standard output stream with the blocking mode. The function will send data with blocking mode no matter the DEBUG_CONSOLE_TRANSFER_NON_BLOCKING set or not. The function could be used in system ISR mode with DEBUG_CONSOLE_TRANSFER_NON_BLOCKING set.

Parameters
fmt_sFormat control string.
formatStringArgFormat arguments.
Returns
Returns the number of characters printed or a negative value if an error occurs.
status_t DbgConsole_Flush ( void  )

Call this function to wait the tx buffer empty. If interrupt transfer is using, make sure the global IRQ is enable before call this function This function should be called when 1, before enter power down mode 2, log is required to print to terminal immediately

Returns
Indicates whether wait idle was successful or not.