Embedded Debugger MCP is a Rust server for embedded debugging through either
probe-rs (native) or OpenOCD (via the GDB Remote Serial Protocol). It exposes a
single MCP tool set for AI assistants — probe discovery, target control, memory,
breakpoints, flash, RTT, and AI-facing crash diagnosis — plus a small CLI and
bundled skill for a command-driven workflow without setting up an MCP client
first.
MCP server + CLI + Codex/Claude skill for embedded debugging via probe-rs or OpenOCD — ARM Cortex-M, RISC-V, and Xtensa (ESP32), with AI crash diagnosis
CLI commands for environment checks, configuration inspection, probe listing,
MCP serving, and skill prompt handoff.
A Codex/Claude Code compatible skill at skills/embedded-debugger.
Release checks covering rustfmt, clippy, tests, docs, packaging, and the STM32
demo build.
Architecture
MCP client or CLI
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v
embedded-debugger-mcp (one MCP tool set)
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v
DebugBackend: probe-rs (native) | OpenOCD (GDB RSP)
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v
debug probe / openocd -> target MCU
Requirements
Rust stable toolchain.
A probe-rs compatible debug probe such as ST-Link, J-Link, DAPLink, Black
Magic Probe, or a supported FTDI-based probe. Alternatively, a running
openocd exposing its GDB port (e.g. openocd-esp32 for ESP32) to use the
openocd backend.
A supported target chip and working SWD/JTAG wiring for hardware operations.
Nightly Rust plus rust-src for the bundled STM32 demo firmware check.
Build
git clone https://github.com/adancurusul/embedded-debugger-mcp.git
cd embedded-debugger-mcp
cargo build --release
The binary is target/release/embedded-debugger-mcp.
MCP Mode
Run the server explicitly:
embedded-debugger-mcp serve
For compatibility, running embedded-debugger-mcp without a subcommand also
serves MCP over stdio.
On Windows, use the .exe path and Windows path separators.
CLI And Skill Mode
CLI mode is useful for setup checks, automation, and agent workflows before an
MCP client is configured.
embedded-debugger-mcp doctor
embedded-debugger-mcp doctor --json
embedded-debugger-mcp probes list
embedded-debugger-mcp probes list --json
embedded-debugger-mcp config generate
embedded-debugger-mcp config validate
embedded-debugger-mcp config show
embedded-debugger-mcp skill print-prompt
embedded-debugger-mcp skill install --target both
The bundled skill lives in:
skills/embedded-debugger/
It is written as a plain Codex skill and is also packaged for Claude Code with
.claude-plugin/plugin.json. The skill starts with CLI checks and uses MCP
tools only when an MCP client is available.
Install the skill for Codex and Claude Code:
embedded-debugger-mcp skill install --target both
Preview or automate the install with JSON:
embedded-debugger-mcp skill install --target both --dry-run --json
embedded-debugger-mcp skill install --target both --force --json
--target accepts codex, claude, or both. The command installs the Codex
skill under ~/.codex/skills/embedded-debugger, the Claude Code skill under
~/.claude/skills/embedded-debugger, and a local Claude plugin-dir package under
~/.claude/plugins/local/embedded-debugger-mcp. Existing directories are not
replaced unless --force is passed.
Trigger the Codex skill with a prompt such as:
Use $embedded-debugger to inspect my embedded target setup.
Load the installed Claude Code plugin package:
claude --plugin-dir ~/.claude/plugins/local/embedded-debugger-mcp --print '/embedded-debugger inspect my embedded target setup'
For skill-only environments, the same skills/embedded-debugger directory can
also be copied to a local skills directory.
Validate the skill package:
python3 .github/scripts/validate_skill.py skills/embedded-debugger
python3 ~/.codex/skills/.system/skill-creator/scripts/quick_validate.py skills/embedded-debugger
claude plugin validate .
embedded-debugger-mcp skill install --target both --home /tmp/embedded-debugger-skill-home --force --json
The first command validates the repository skill metadata, the second validates
the standard SKILL.md layout when the Codex skill creator validator is
installed, and the third validates the Claude Code plugin manifest.
Backends
The tools run over one of two interchangeable engines, selected at connect:
backend: "probe-rs" (default) — native probe-rs; full flash and RTT support.
backend: "openocd" (experimental) — connects to an already-running openocd
over its GDB port (openocd_address, default 127.0.0.1:3333) using the GDB
Remote Serial Protocol. Intended for targets probe-rs does not cover (e.g.
Xtensa ESP32 via openocd-esp32). Memory access and halt/run/step/reset are
validated on real ESP32-S3; flash and RTT are probe-rs only. Register reads
currently use ARM gdb register numbers, so PC/SP are wrong on Xtensa (known
limitation); diagnose_fault and unwind_exception are Cortex-M specific.
Start openocd with gdb_memory_map disable, otherwise it probes flash on the
GDB connect, fails, and rejects the connection — e.g.
openocd -f board/esp32s3-builtin.cfg -c "gdb_memory_map disable".
The AI sees the same tool set for both; only connect arguments change.
MCP Tool Set
Probe management:
Tool
Purpose
list_probes
Discover connected debug probes.
connect
Open a probe session for a target chip.
probe_info
Show active session information.
Target control:
Tool
Purpose
halt
Halt core execution.
run
Resume execution.
reset
Reset the core. Only the implemented hardware-style reset path is accepted.
step
Single-step one instruction.
get_status
Read core/session status.
disconnect
Drop the session and clean up resources.
Memory and breakpoints:
Tool
Purpose
read_memory
Read target memory with configured size/range limits.
write_memory
Write target memory when enabled by configuration.
set_breakpoint
Set a hardware breakpoint.
clear_breakpoint
Clear a hardware breakpoint.
Diagnostics:
Tool
Purpose
diagnose_fault
Read the Cortex-M SCB fault registers (CFSR/HFSR/MMFAR/BFAR/SHCSR/CPUID) plus PC/SP/LR in one call and return a compact structured evidence bundle with the set fault bits. Reports raw evidence; it does not assert a root cause. Halt the target first.
unwind_exception
Unwind the stack after a crash and map each frame to a source line. On the probe-rs backend, returns a full DWARF backtrace (function + file:line per frame) via probe-rs's own unwinder; on the OpenOCD backend, reads the Cortex-M exception stack frame and maps the faulting PC / caller LR to source lines. Needs elf_path to firmware built with debug info (.debug_line).
Flash:
Tool
Purpose
flash_erase
Erase flash when erase permissions are enabled.
flash_program
Program ELF, HEX, or BIN files through probe-rs flash algorithms.
flash_verify
Compare raw expected data with target flash contents.
run_firmware
Erase, program, reset/run, and optionally attach RTT.
RTT:
Tool
Purpose
rtt_attach
Attach to a SEGGER RTT control block.
rtt_detach
Detach RTT.
rtt_channels
List discovered RTT channels.
rtt_read
Read from an up channel with max byte and timeout limits.
rtt_write
Write to a down channel.
Crash Diagnosis
After a crash, halt the core and let the model reason over the evidence:
halt, then diagnose_fault — reads the Cortex-M SCB fault registers
(CFSR/HFSR/MMFAR/BFAR/SHCSR/CPUID) plus PC/SP/LR in one call and returns a
compact structured bundle with the set fault bits. It reports evidence; it
does not assert a root cause.
unwind_exception with elf_path — maps the crash to source lines. On the
probe-rs backend this is a full DWARF backtrace (function + file:line per
frame); on the OpenOCD backend it reads the exception stack frame and maps
the faulting PC / caller LR.
Both are Cortex-M specific (SCB registers, ARM exception frame) and do not apply
to Xtensa (ESP32) targets. The firmware must be built with debug info
(.debug_line) for source mapping.
Safety Notes
Flash erase is disabled unless security.allow_flash_erase or
flash.allow_erase is enabled.
Memory writes are controlled by security.allow_memory_write.
Optional memory range restriction uses target memory regions in the
configuration.
Firmware file paths are canonicalized, checked against
security.allowed_file_paths when configured, and checked against size
limits.
Sector erase by arbitrary address is rejected until target-specific sector
mapping is implemented.
flash_verify supports raw data comparison. Use raw BIN files or hex data for
file-based verification.
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE.
E
Embedded Debugger
Adancurusul·210 bintang·
MCP server + CLI + Codex/Claude skill for embedded debugging via probe-rs or OpenOCD — ARM Cortex-M, RISC-V, and Xtensa (ESP32), with AI crash diagnosis
Belum ada daftar tool. Server remote mendapatkannya setelah pemeriksaan kesehatan pertama.
FAQ
Pertanyaan
Bagaimana cara menginstal Embedded Debugger?
Salin konfigurasi stdio untuk Cursor, Claude Desktop, Claude Code, atau VS Code di halaman ini. Konfigurasi ini memakai instalasi dari penerbit, bukan proxy PlugMCP.
Apakah Embedded Debugger memerlukan kunci API?
Tidak ada variabel lingkungan wajib yang tercantum di catatan ini.
Transport apa yang digunakan Embedded Debugger?
Embedded Debugger berjalan secara lokal melalui stdio.
Kapan Embedded Debugger terakhir diperiksa?
Terakhir diperiksa 2026-10-26. MCP server + CLI + Codex/Claude skill for embedded debugging via probe-rs or OpenOCD — ARM Cortex-M, RISC-V, and Xtensa (ESP32), with AI crash diagnosis