Using the Debug Environment - Using the Debug Environment - 2026.1 English - UG1702

Vitis Reference Guide (UG1702)

Document ID
UG1702
Release Date
2026-06-23
Version
2026.1 English

You can use the Vitis Unified IDE's debug environment to add breakpoints, step over or step into lines of codes, loops, or functions, examine and set variables.

The Debug view shows the states of cores that are under debug. These states include where the debugger stops at and what action it is taking (for example, breakpoint or step-over).

Figure 1. Debug View

In the following figure, the square with a check mark indicates that you enabled a breakpoint. Click the check mark to disable the breakpoint. You can manage breakpoints without needing to remove them or add them back into the code.

Figure 2. Breakpoints View
Important: Each AI Engine tile supports four breakpoints when debugging on the AI Engine simulator or when performing co-simulation. The TCF framework stops at the AI Engine kernel main() by default. Breakpoints attached to a while statement consume two breakpoint resources. A workaround is to attach the breakpoint inside the while loop, resulting in consumption of one breakpoint.

In the source-level debugger, you can trace the source variables that the tool allocates to memory or registers. Tracing allows you to visualize location and contents. The following conditions can lead to difficulty in tracing variables.

  • Local scalar variables typically reside in registers. Different variables at different points in the execution can lead to difficulty in tracing.
  • Variables you allocate to memory that do not automatically update can lead to difficulty in tracing. For example, you can load a global variable in registers in front of a loop.
  • Stepping through the source code can be difficult when you scatter a line across the eventual object code.