How to use Conditional Breakpoints in DVT Eclipse IDE

Overview

In DVT IDE you can efficiently perform interactive debugging, for example during the UVM Runtime Elaboration. This video demonstrates how to suspend execution in a breakpoint only when specific conditions are met.

This video was shot using version 24.2.28 of the DVT Eclipse IDE.

Details

Introduction

In DVT you can quickly add a breakpoint by double-clicking on the editor vertical bar. Execution is suspended whenever it reaches the corresponding line of code, for example during the UVM Runtime Elaboration, allowing you to perform further interactive debugging.

Using Conditional Breakpoints

Sometimes it is helpful to suspend execution only when a specific condition is met.

  1. Right-click on the breakpoint and select Breakpoint Properties… from the context menu.
  2. Check the Conditional box.
  3. Fill the expression in the textbox.
    4. You can type any expression that evaluates to true or false according to the SystemVerilog LRM semantics. In the expression, you can use any variable or function visible at this point in code. Content assist is available, just press Ctrl-Space to see the proposals.
  4. Press Apply and Close when done.
  5. Click the Resume toolbar button to continue execution.
Notice that execution now suspends only when the breakpoint condition is true.

Changing the suspend policy via the Breakpoints View

Conditional breakpoints can also be configured from the Breakpoints View. Let's select the previously created breakpoint and change its condition and suspend policy.

  • By default execution is suspended every time the breakpoint is reached and the condition evaluates to true
  • Alternatively, you can choose to suspend when the breakpoint is reached and the value of the expression changes

Press Ctrl-S to save the changes and click on resume to continue execution.