STM32 + Jlink + Docker + Vscode

[totti001]

I try to setup a devcontainer for stm32 with jlink. I have windows with wsl2 with a running docker container. Inside the container I have stm32cubeclt installed and cortex debug extension. I started Jlink GDB server on Windows it connects to the uC after that start debug inside the container with that configuration:
{ "name": "J-Link cortex-debug gdbServer", "type": "cortex-debug", "request": "launch", "serverpath": null, "servertype": "external", "gdbTarget": "host.docker.internal:2331", "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}", "executable": "${command:cmake.launchTargetPath}", "armToolchainPath": null, "device": "STM32xxxx", "interface": "swd", "runToEntryPoint": "main", //"main" or "ResetISR" "rtos": "FreeRTOS", "svdFile": "STM32xxx.svd", },
The issue is that the gbd session is working, but it does not flash the compiled SW. I can use cortex debug on windows with vscode and usb connection without any problem.
What is missing from the config or maybe on docker side.

Thank you

[haneefdm]

so, no debug console logs?

[PhilippHaefele]

Hi @totti001,

Have you considered using the J-Link Remote Server on the Host and running the GDB Server inside the container?
I think this will also make things like getting RTT working inside VSCode much easier.

Also a solution with WSL is using usbipd.

Both of them work fine for me inside WSL with Ubuntu + the needed tools + their dependencies (e.g. for GDB python, libncurses, ...).

Maybe providing your "DEBUG CONSOLE" logs can help to find the issue.

[totti001]

so, no debug console logs?

`Cortex-Debug: VSCode debugger extension version 1.12.1 git(652d042). Usage info: https://github.com/Marus/cortex-debug#usage
"configuration": {
"name": "Cortex Debug",
"cwd": "",
"executable": *****.elf",
"request": "launch",
"device": "STM32U5G9NJ",
"type": "cortex-debug",
"runToEntryPoint": "main",
"servertype": "external",
"gdbTarget": "host.docker.internal:2331",
"svdFile": "********STM32U5Gx.svd",
"showDevDebugOutput": "raw",
"__configurationTarget": 6,
"gdbServerConsolePort": 55878,
"pvtAvoidPorts": [],
"chainedConfigurations": {
"enabled": false
},
"debuggerArgs": [],
"swoConfig": {
"enabled": false,
"decoders": [],
"cpuFrequency": 0,
"swoFrequency": 0,
"source": "probe"
},
"rttConfig": {
"enabled": false,
"decoders": []
},
"graphConfig": [],
"preLaunchCommands": [],
"postLaunchCommands": [],
"preAttachCommands": [],
"postAttachCommands": [],
"preRestartCommands": [],
"postRestartCommands": [],
"preResetCommands": [],
"postResetCommands": [],
"toolchainPrefix": "arm-none-eabi",
"extensionPath": "/home/backbone/.vscode-server/extensions/marus25.cortex-debug-1.12.1",
"registerUseNaturalFormat": true,
"variableUseNaturalFormat": true,
"pvtVersion": "1.12.1",
"__sessionId": "f5381d10-3f4d-4d1e-bc3e-4889c2d80407",
"pvtShowDevDebugOutput": "raw"
}
Reading symbols from arm-none-eabi-objdump --syms -C -h -w **************.elf
Reading symbols from arm-none-eabi-nm --defined-only -S -l -C -p ***************.elf
Launching GDB: arm-none-eabi-gdb -q --interpreter=mi2
1-gdb-version
Finished reading symbols from objdump: Time: 30 ms
-> =thread-group-added,id="i1"
-> ~"GNU gdb (GNU Tools for STM32 13.3.rel1.20250523-0900) 14.2.90.20240526-git\n"
-> ~"Copyright (C) 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.\n"
-> ~"License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\nThis is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.\nThere is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law."
-> ~"\nType "show copying" and "show warranty" for details.\n"
-> ~"This GDB was configured as "--host=x86_64-linux-gnu --target=arm-none-eabi".\n"
-> ~"Type "show configuration" for configuration details.\n"
-> ~"For bug reporting instructions, please see:\n"
-> ~"https://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/.\n"
-> ~"Find the GDB manual and other documentation resources online at:\n <"
-> ~"http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/documentation/>.\n\n"
-> ~"For help, type "help".\n"
-> ~"Type "apropos word" to search for commands related to "word".\n"
-> 1^done
2-gdb-set mi-async on
-> 2^done
3-interpreter-exec console "set print demangle on"
-> 3^done
4-interpreter-exec console "set print asm-demangle on"
-> =cmd-param-changed,param="print asm-demangle",value="on"
-> 4^done
5-enable-pretty-printing
-> 5^done
6-interpreter-exec console "source /home//.vscode-server/extensions/marus25.cortex-debug-1.12.1/support/gdbsupport.init"
-> 6^done
7-interpreter-exec console "source /home//.vscode-server/extensions/marus25.cortex-debug-1.12.1/support/gdb-swo.init"
-> =cmd-param-changed,param="language",value="c"
-> =cmd-param-changed,param="language",value="auto"
-> 7^done
8-interpreter-exec console "set output-radix 0xa"
-> ~"Output radix now set to decimal 10, hex a, octal 12.\n"
Output radix now set to decimal 10, hex a, octal 12.
-> 8^done
9-interpreter-exec console "set input-radix 0xa"
-> ~"Input radix now set to decimal 10, hex a, octal 12.\n"
Input radix now set to decimal 10, hex a, octal 12.
-> 9^done
10-file-exec-and-symbols ".elf"
Finished reading symbols from nm: Time: 59 ms
-> 10^done
11-target-select extended-remote host.docker.internal:2331
-> =thread-group-started,id="i1",pid="42000"
-> =thread-created,id="1",group-id="i1"
-> ~"main () at /Core/Src/main.c:89\n"
main () at *******/Core/Src/main.c:89
-> ~"89\t HAL_Init();\n"
89 HAL_Init();
-> *stopped,frame={addr="0x080118da",func="main",args=[],file="/Core/Src/main.c",fullname="*************/Core/Src/main.c",line="89",arch="armv8-m.main"},thread-id="1",stopped-threads="all"
mi2.status = stopped
Program stopped, probably due to a reset and/or halt issued by debugger
-> 11^connected
12-interpreter-exec console "monitor reset halt"
-> @"Expected an decimal digit (0-9)\r\n"
Expected an decimal digit (0-9)
-> 12^done
13-target-download
-> 13+download,{section=".isr_vector",section-size="628",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".isr_vector",section-sent="628",section-size="628",total-sent="628",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".text",section-size="158800",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".rodata",section-size="11696",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".ARM",section-size="8",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".init_array",section-size="4",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".fini_array",section-size="4",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".data",section-size="496",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13^done,address="0x080269f0",load-size="171636",transfer-rate="114424000",write-rate="19070"
14-interpreter-exec console "monitor reset halt"
-> @"Expected an decimal digit (0-9)\r\n"
Expected an decimal digit (0-9)
-> 14^done
15-break-insert "/Src/board.c:92"
-> 15^done,bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",addr="0x0800c7c8",func="Board_Init_Devices",file="/Src/board.c",fullname="/Src/board.c",line="92",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",original-location="e/Src/board.c:92"}
Returning dummy thread-id to workaround VSCode issue with pause button not working
Returning dummy stack frame to workaround VSCode issue with pause button not working: {"threadId":1,"startFrame":0,"levels":20}
16-break-insert -t --function main
-> 16^done,bkpt={number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",addr="0x080118da",func="main",file="/Core/Src/main.c",fullname="/Core/Src/main.c",line="89",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",original-location="-function main"}
17-exec-continue --all
-> 17^running
-> running,thread-id="all"
mi2.status = running
-> =breakpoint-modified,bkpt={number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",addr="0x080118da",func="main",file="//Src/main.c",fullname="******/Core/Src/main.c",line="89",thread-groups=["i1"],times="1",original-location="-function main"}
-> ~"\n"

-> ~"Temporary breakpoint 2, main () at /Core/Src/main.c:89\n"
Temporary breakpoint 2, main () at /Core/Src/main.c:89
-> ~"89\t HAL_Init();\n"
89 HAL_Init();
-> stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="del",bkptno="2",frame={addr="0x080118da",func="main",args=[],file="/Core/Src/main.c",fullname="/Core/Src/main.c",line="89",arch="armv8-m.main"},thread-id="1",stopped-threads="all"
mi2.status = stopped
-> =breakpoint-deleted,id="2"
18-thread-list-ids
-> 18^done,thread-ids={thread-id="1"},current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="1"
19-thread-info 1
-> 19^done,threads=[{id="1",target-id="Thread 57005",frame={level="0",addr="0x080118da",func="main",args=[],file="/Core/Src/main.c",fullname="/Core/Src/main.c",line="89",arch="armv8-m.main"},state="stopped"}]
20-stack-list-frames --thread 1 0 19
-> 20^done,stack=[frame={level="0",addr="0x080118da",func="main",file=/Core/Src/main.c",fullname="********/Core/Src/main.c",line="89",arch="armv8-m.main"}]
21-stack-info-frame --thread 1 --frame 0
-> 21^done,frame={level="0",addr="0x080118da",func="main",file="/Core/Src/main.c",fullname="*********/Core/Src/main.c",line="89",arch="armv8-m.main"}
22-stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --simple-values
-> 22^done,variables=[]
`

[totti001]

Hi @totti001,

Have you considered using the J-Link Remote Server on the Host and running the GDB Server inside the container? I think this will also make things like getting RTT working inside VSCode much easier.

Also a solution with WSL is using usbipd.

Both of them work fine for me inside WSL with Ubuntu + the needed tools + their dependencies (e.g. for GDB python, libncurses, ...).

Maybe providing your "DEBUG CONSOLE" logs can help to find the issue.

For me it is also good if there is other solution. What I would like to avoid is the usbipd because of admin right issues on company pc. Can you show an example json for remote server operation?

[haneefdm]

i am seeing some program being downloaded into flas. why do you think otherwise?

13-target-download
-> 13+download,{section=".isr_vector",section-size="628",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".isr_vector",section-sent="628",section-size="628",total-sent="628",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".text",section-size="158800",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".rodata",section-size="11696",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".ARM",section-size="8",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".init_array",section-size="4",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".fini_array",section-size="4",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".data",section-size="496",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13^done,address="0x080269f0",load-size="171636",transfer-rate="114424000",write-rate="19070"

[totti001]

i am seeing some program being downloaded into flas. why do you think otherwise?

13-target-download
-> 13+download,{section=".isr_vector",section-size="628",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".isr_vector",section-sent="628",section-size="628",total-sent="628",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".text",section-size="158800",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".rodata",section-size="11696",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".ARM",section-size="8",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".init_array",section-size="4",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".fini_array",section-size="4",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13+download,{section=".data",section-size="496",total-size="71277663"}
-> 13^done,address="0x080269f0",load-size="171636",transfer-rate="114424000",write-rate="19070"

Because the Jflash just pops up and just compare and no download and verify process. Maybe I have Jlink issues and not cortex debug extension.