User manual

MPLAB
®
X PICkit™ 3 User’s Guide
DS52116A-page 86  2013 Microchip Technology Inc.
Simulator
A software program that models the operation of devices.
Single Step
This command steps though code, one instruction at a time. After each instruction,
MPLAB IDE/MPLAB X IDE updates register windows, watch variables, and status
displays so you can analyze and debug instruction execution. You can also single step
C compiler source code, but instead of executing single instructions, MPLAB
IDE/MPLAB X IDE will execute all assembly level instructions generated by the line of
the high level C statement.
Skew
The information associated with the execution of an instruction appears on the
processor bus at different times. For example, the executed opcodes appears on the
bus as a fetch during the execution of the previous instruction, the source data address
and value and the destination data address appear when the opcodes is actually
executed, and the destination data value appears when the next instruction is
executed. The trace buffer captures the information that is on the bus at one instance.
Therefore, one trace buffer entry will contain execution information for three
instructions. The number of captured cycles from one piece of information to another
for a single instruction execution is referred to as the skew.
Skid
When a hardware breakpoint is used to halt the processor, one or more additional
instructions may be executed before the processor halts. The number of extra
instructions executed after the intended breakpoint is referred to as the skid.
Source Code
The form in which a computer program is written by the programmer. Source code is
written in a formal programming language which can be translated into machine code
or executed by an interpreter.
Source File
An ASCII text file containing source code.
Special Function Registers (SFRs)
The portion of data memory (RAM) dedicated to registers that control I/O processor
functions, I/O status, timers or other modes or peripherals.
SQTP
See Serialized Quick Turn Programming.
Stack, Hardware
Locations in PIC microcontroller where the return address is stored when a function call
is made.
Stack, Software
Memory used by an application for storing return addresses, function parameters, and
local variables. This memory is dynamically allocated at runtime by instructions in the
program. It allows for reentrant function calls.
Stack, Compiled
A region of memory managed and allocated by the compiler in which variables are
statically assigned space. It replaces a software stack when such mechanisms cannot
be efficiently implemented on the target device. It precludes reentrancy.
MPLAB Starter Kit for Device
Microchip’s starter kits contains everything needed to begin exploring the specified
device. View a working application and then debug and program you own changes.