To use Visual Studio Code (VSCode) as a frontend for TRACE32, you can utilize the Debug Adapter Protocol (DAP). Although TRACE32 does not natively support DAP, you can set up a proxy to translate between DAP and TRACE32’s Remote API (RCL).  This proxy enables VSCode to function as an effective Front-End for TRACE32, facilitating enhanced debugging capabilities.

Usage

1- You need TRACE32 version Nightly from 2024-07-16 (Build 170887 or later) or starting from the DVD R.2024.09

2- Start TRACE32 with API enabled:

• By adding this block to the config file:

   
   RCL=NETTCP
   PORT=20000

• Or using the command line option (TRACE32 version Nightly from 2024-07-19 (Build 171009 or later)):

-–t32-api-rcl=TCP 20000

Example: t32marm.exe -–t32-api-rcl=TCP 20000 -c config.t32

• Or using the PRACTICE commands (TRACE32 version Nightly from 2024-07-19 (Build 170994 or later)):

SETUP.API.RCL /Interface TCP /Port 20000.

3- Open VSCode

4- Add a configuration in VSCode (Menu → Run → Add Configuration → select empty)

{
    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "type": "node",
            "request": "attach",
            "name": "dapserver attach",
            "debugServer": 58870,
            "cmm": "~~/demo/arm/compiler/arm/cppdemo.cmm", //optional cmm to be called
            "trace32Port": 20000 //API port
        }
    ]
}

5- Run t32debugadapter.exe in cmd line (can be found under ~~/demo/env/vscode or can be downloaded from our website), or check the Tip below

6- In VSCode, go to RUN AND DEBUG and start the debug of dapserver attach (or just F5)

💡 Tip:

You can automatically start the debug adapter (step 5) by using a preLaunchTask:

launch.json:

{
    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "type": "node",
            "request": "attach",
            "name": "start debug adapter and attach",
            "preLaunchTask": "start_debug_adapter",
            "debugServer": 58870,
            "cmm": "~~/demo/arm/compiler/arm/cppdemo.cmm",
            "trace32Port": 20000
        }
    ]
}

and tasks.json:

{
    "version": "2.0.0",
    "tasks": [{
        "label": "start_debug_adapter",
        "command": "start ${workspaceFolder}/t32debugadapter.exe",
        "args": [],
        "type": "shell"
    }]
}