Why isn't the 'Connect to running target' feature implemented in OpenOCD debugging?

[laomaolaile]

I've noticed that the 'Connect to running target' feature is implemented in J-Link debugging and works very well. Why isn't this feature available in OpenOCD? What considerations led to not implementing this feature in OpenOCD?

If we were to implement this feature in OpenOCD, what key points or challenges should be taken into account?

Looking forward to your response. Thank you very much for your help.

[ilg-ul]

The 'Connect to running target' feature was implemented in J-Link debugging because by that time I was using J-Link intensively and I knew that this feature was available with J-Link.

I'm not actively using OpenOCD and my experience with it is limited, thus I don't know if this feature is available in OpenOCD.

[ilg-ul]

For general question please use Discussions, not Issues.

[fanghuaqi]

For openocd, it can be archived by not send any monitor reset command, and no elf loaded, maybe we can add same feature in openocd debug configuration

[ilg-ul]

Can't you achieve a similar result by not entering the elf and by not sending the reset command?

[TommyMurphyTM1234]

It's a while since I've used it but it definitely used to be possible to achieve "connect to running target" functionality using Embedded CDT and OpenOCD by tweaking the GDB/OpenOCD commands and plugin configuration settings used at debug launch time so that they don't perform any reset, program load, setting the program counter etc. I don't think that any change needs to be made to the plugins themselves - just to the debug launch configuration and possibly the OpenOCD script used. There is no limitation in OpenOCD that precludes/prevents such an approach to debugging.

[laomaolaile]

I did some testing. As shown in the image, by disabling the corresponding checkbox in the configuration, it is possible to "Connect to running target." I plan to proceed with this modification.

[ilg-ul]

Great! Good luck with your projects!

[laomaolaile]

Hi, @ilg-ul

I’ve implemented support for the "Connect to running target" feature in OpenOCD and opened a corresponding Pull Request. I would greatly appreciate it if you could review it when you have time. 🌹

#638

[fanghuaqi]

Hi @ilg-ul, maybe we can reopen this issue, since @laomaolaile is contributing to it and want to add the connect ot running target feature to OpenOCD debug configuration in this PR #638