Test hardware helps pinpoint software bugs

The use of an in-circuit emulator and a bus-state analyzer as debugging tools is described to help solve some of the software debugging problems that are more difficult to both isolate and fix. Debugging can take weeks longer if only software-based debugging tools are employed, but the use of these hardware devices can not only cut the time involved, but can find bugs that would otherwise not be found. Data on conditions that lead to intermittent crashes can be sent to a printer or disk file. The devices also permit continuing of a session safely after making a patch and making corrections to source code at a later time using the fixes recorded in a printed log. A count of the number of cycles between two program points using an analyzer command provides an easy method of ensuring that a loop works properly.