GDB
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VisitGDB vs pyOCD
What both publish
| Fact | GDB | pyOCD |
|---|---|---|
| License | GDB is free software protected by the GNU General Public License, which permits copying, adapting, and redistributing copies with source access. | The project code is licensed under Apache 2.0. |
| Operating systems | GDB runs on popular UNIX and Microsoft Windows variants and on macOS. | The installation guide says pyOCD runs on macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, and Windows and requires Python 3.9 or later. |
| Purpose | GDB lets users inspect what another program is doing while it executes or after it crashes. | pyOCD is a Python based tool and API for debugging, programming, and exploring Arm Cortex microcontrollers. |
| Support | The project provides mailing lists for announcements, discussion, patches, bug reports, and testing. | The project directs users to GitHub issues and discussions, a public Slack workspace, and a Google Groups mailing list. |
GDB plans
- GDBFree
pyOCD plans
- pyOCDFree
Pick GDB if…
GDB suits developers and others who need to inspect program execution or diagnose crashes across supported languages and targets. Its remote, simulator, and record-and-replay options may be useful for workflows that need those debugging modes.
Pick pyOCD if…
pyOCD suits developers working with Arm Cortex-M microcontrollers who need command-line or IDE debugging, firmware programming, or a Python API for custom tools. It may also suit teams using CI or remote probe access, provided they account for the security and erase limitations.