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armv8m: make the debugger handle better faults through ICSR#2187

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mean00 wants to merge 2 commits intoblackmagic-debug:mainfrom
mean00:better_handle_armv8_faults_v2
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armv8m: make the debugger handle better faults through ICSR#2187
mean00 wants to merge 2 commits intoblackmagic-debug:mainfrom
mean00:better_handle_armv8_faults_v2

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@mean00
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@mean00 mean00 commented Feb 1, 2026

Detailed description

The ArmV8m does not handle faults the same way. The two main differences are :

  • The fault will trigger BEFORE executing the fault rather than after
  • The info is split between between DFSR and the new ICSR

As a result the current code does not handle fault very well.
Put a breakpoint on a fault (for example asm("udf #0") and try to "si" on it.

Gdb will appear to get stuck there because the debugger will see the state BEFORE the fault is actually executed and as a result not detect the fault.

The MR adds a separate path that , for ArmV8M, it checks if a fault is pending on ICSR
The "si" command on a fault now works and you proceed on to the handler.

I tested it on a RP2350 and on another CortexM33 successfully.
I'm not convinced all cases are covered as some parts are configurable, but at least it's working better.

Not sure either if the new two new registers should be renamed with V8M in the name or something.

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Got a few notes on going through this PR - with them fixed though we'll be happy to merge this.

if ((target->target_options & CORTEXM_TOPT_FLAVOUR_V8M)) {
const uint32_t icsr = target_mem32_read32(target, CORTEXM_ICSR);
const uint32_t pending = CORTEXM_ICSR_VEC_PENDING(icsr);
if (pending != 0 && pending < 8) // catch all faults
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Given pending is unsigned, perhaps (pending > 0U && pending < 8U)? - also please let clang-format run here, the { should be on this line (or, well.. more the point.. aren't necessary with this if block at all).

Perhaps re-express this as fault_state = pending > 0U && pending < 8U;?

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done

{
fault_state = true;
}
} else {
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Please drop the else block braces, they're not necessary and not part of the code base code style.

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done

@mean00
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mean00 commented Feb 4, 2026

I'll update the MR this weekend
Thank you

@dragonmux dragonmux added this to the v2.1 release milestone Feb 4, 2026
@dragonmux dragonmux added Bug Confirmed bug Enhancement General project improvement labels Feb 4, 2026
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mean00 commented Feb 7, 2026

I think i got all the remarks as a separate commit for easy review
If that's ok, i'll squash them, it takes 10 sec to do so
Thank you

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