TDE Version 5.2

TechTools Design Environment for PICmicro® MCU Development

TechTools Design Environment and the integrated Clearview™ Debugger, have many "Creature Features" designed to help eliminate debugging discomfort.

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Download our development software for Microchip PICmicro® MCUs (includes TDE version 5.2)

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TDE serves as an editor and debugger, allowing you to enter and edit programs, then compile and debug with the Mathias In Circuit Emulator. The ability to edit, compile and debug in one seamless environment means that your projects will be up and running faster. TDE also serves as an editor and downloader when using a FLASH based target and QuickWriter's In-circuit serial programming capability.

TDE is designed to be intuitive and flexible, helping you to "make the most" of your development time. If you prefer to use a custom editor, TDE still provides a smooth work flow by detecting external file modifications. TDE provides full source-level debugging for ALL popular compilers and assemblers, plus provides a "custom" setting for non-standard or custom compilers. If you have ever used an IDE and had to ask "How do I set a breakpoint?", then you will be thrilled with TDE. A breakpoint is an easy "double-click" in the left column of any line in your source code.

Editor Features
Our Clearview™ source code editor/debugger now displays a bright blue "valid line" indicator in the left column of every line that corresponds to compiled opcodes. It will no longer be a mystery when your C compiler "optimizes out" your source. Other enhancements include bookmarks that display line context and are saved with the project.

Clearview™ Source Code Editor/Debugger

"Drag-n-Drop" Watch Groups
Our new Watch Window accepts "Drag-n-Drop" symbols from the RAM and Special Register Windows. After adding items to the window, you can drag symbols for manual sorting or sort automatically. Watches can be organized into groups for convienient viewing by using the pop-up menu. Our watch window also features independent settings for RADIX, Length, type and Byte order. (Now supports Strings, Arrays and Floats.)

Updated Watch Window

Intelligent RAM highlighting
Our RAM (General Purpose Registers) window now has "intelligent" highlighting. Instead of using one color to highlight changed RAM locations, we now distinguish the difference between allocated RAM and unallocated RAM. You can edit a RAM location in HEX, Binary or Decimal by DBL-Clicking on the locations value. ALL locations can be initialized to a specific value by Right-Clicking and choosing "Fill".

Updated RAM Editor/Viewer

CODE Window (Microchip Assembly Format)

CORE Display
A new CORE information panel in the Code Window displays a quick reference of critical status information. If you need to know the current Code Page, the page a CALL will change to, the current RAM Bank, the Zero and Carry flag status or the value of the Working Register, then you will find this panel a real time saver.

The Code Window also tracks the current execution point (Green), Breakpoints (Red) and a quick Source Cross-reference highlight (Yellow).

Symbols Window features Special Register display
The Symbols window combines four windows into a single tabbed display for easy access: Special Register Display, Variables Display, Files Display and Labels Display. The updated Special Register display has several new features:
1. Re-sizeable columns.
2. Re-locatable columns.
3. New Address column.
4. New ASCII column.
5. Sort by Address.
6. Sort by Name.

Updated Special Register Display

Build Log

Build Log Display
A new Build Log window has been added to keep you informed of depency file re-builds, compiler errors, and other build related information.

Special registers and general purpose registers:
these windows show the values in the PICmicro® MCU control and File registers. The "highlight" color indicates a changed value.

Watch list:
a list of variables or addresses that you want to watch as your program runs. Items can be added to the list by simply highlighting the desired item in your source code and then clicking the "add watch" button, or by clicking the "add watch" button and then selecting from a symbol list. Items can also be "Drag-n-Dropped" from the Special Register window or the General Purpose Register window to the Watch Window. Variables can be modified by a double-click on the displayed value.

Code window:
a view of the generated code in Microchip Assembler format, with break/execution and source cross-linking.

Stack View:
an active view of the Call Stack with visual indicators of overflow/underflow conditions.

Code Labels:
Listing of all labels used in your source code. "Click" a label in this window to jump to its location in your source code.

Data Breakpoint:
data breakpoints halt processor execution when a "match" is made between a register value and the user configured parameters. TDE provides Data Breakpointing for all Mid-Range PICmicro® MCU devices when the Advanced Family Module is present.

Code Breakpoint (red):
shows the location of a breakpoint. Breakpoints are toggled by double-clicking in the left column of a source line. This line will appear BLUE when execution stops on a breakpoint.

Execution Point (green):
shows the current program counter location. This is the next instruction to be executed. This line will appear BLUE when execution stops on a breakpoint.

Reference Point (yellow):
shows the coresponding Source line when a line is selected in the Code Window and shows the corresponding Code line when a line is selected in the Source window. This cross-link feature of the Editor and Code window makes it easy to track the compiled results of your source code.

Row/column:
shows the row and column numbers for the current cursor
location.

Execution address:
the address at the execution point.

Cycle count and time:
elapsed time and number of processor cycles since last step or run command (Only available with Timing or Trace options).

16K trace buffer:
the Trace Buffer records a history of your program's execution. By examining the Trace Buffer contents, you can determine exactly what code was executed and in what order it executed. In addition to keeping a history of program execution, the Trace Buffer also records the state of eight external inputs. These inputs can be used to record activity in your target circuit. (only available if the Trace Buffer module is installed)

TDE includes CVASM™ (TechTools Assembler), but can also be used with other popular PICmicro® MCU assemblers and C compilers .

Download the latest TDE now.