Keil Logo

Why You Need A Simulator

We agree that you can probably create, test, and debug your embedded applications without a simulator. However, there are several reasons why a simulator (like the µVision Debugger) can make your engineering tasks easier and save you lots of development time.

  • Customers with the simulator spend less time debugging simple program errors. The simulator lets them learn about things like on-chip peripherals and addressing modes without designing real hardware.
  • It is our experience that customers who have a simulator require LESS technical support and are able to get up-to-speed with the tools faster. The simulator makes it easy to write and test code and learn about programming your microcontroller.
  • The µVision Debugger provides complete simulation support for on-chip peripherals like PWM, Power saving modes, A/D, Serial I/O, and so on.
  • It is easier for our support engineers to explain complex problems if you have a simulator.
  • It is easier to discover if a problem is in the hardware or software when you use a simulator. For example, if the application works in the simulator and if it works in the emulator, there's most likely a problem with the target hardware.
  • The simulator requires no setup time. An emulator may require configuration and a target board before you can debug.

The simulator is not a replacement for an emulator.  A simulator is a different tool entirely.  While an emulator allows you to debug software running on your target hardware, a simulator allows you to debug your software as well as your understanding of the microcontroller and the programming language.  There are no real-time debugging effects of a simulator.

For debugging embedded applications, we have a general list of favorite tools that we use in-house.

  • Logic Probe
  • Digital Multi-Meter
  • High-speed Analog Oscilloscope
  • High-speed Digital Storage Oscilloscope
  • Logic Analyzer (with a disassembly pod)
  • Emulator
  • Software Simulator

It is always a difficult trade-off when deciding what you need. However, a simulator is relatively inexpensive and has a great utility value for the price.

  Arm logo
Important information

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. By continuing to use our site, you consent to our cookies.

Change Settings

Privacy Policy Update

Arm’s Privacy Policy has been updated. By continuing to use our site, you consent to Arm’s Privacy Policy. Please review our Privacy Policy to learn more about our collection, use and transfers
of your data.