embedded-debugger

Embedded Debugger MCP is a Rust server for embedded debugging through probe-rs. It exposes MCP tools for AI assistants and also includes a small CLI and bundled skill for users who want a command-driven workflow without setting up an MCP client first.

Language versions: English | 中文

What It Provides

• MCP tools for probe discovery, target connection, core control, memory access, breakpoints, flash programming, and RTT communication.
• 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
        |
        v
embedded-debugger-mcp
        |
        v
probe-rs -> debug probe -> 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.
• 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.

Example MCP client configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "embedded-debugger": {
      "command": "/path/to/embedded-debugger-mcp/target/release/embedded-debugger-mcp",
      "args": ["serve"],
      "env": {
        "RUST_LOG": "info"
      }
    }
  }
}

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.

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.

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.

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.

Generate a starting configuration:

embedded-debugger-mcp config generate > embedded-debugger.toml
embedded-debugger-mcp --config embedded-debugger.toml config validate

STM32 Demo

The STM32 RTT demo is in examples/STM32_demo.

cd examples/STM32_demo
CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/embedded-debugger-mcp-stm32-target cargo +nightly check --locked

The demo firmware shows multi-channel RTT communication and is intended as a hardware validation aid. See examples/STM32_demo/README.md.

Release Checks

Run these before cutting a release:

cargo fmt --all -- --check
cargo clippy --locked --all-targets --all-features -- -D warnings
cargo test --locked --all-targets --all-features
RUSTDOCFLAGS="-D warnings" cargo doc --locked --all-features --no-deps
cargo package --locked
python3 .github/scripts/validate_skill.py skills/embedded-debugger
claude plugin validate .
embedded-debugger-mcp skill install --target both --home /tmp/embedded-debugger-skill-home --force --json
(cd examples/STM32_demo && CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/embedded-debugger-mcp-stm32-target cargo +nightly check --locked)

Acknowledgments

• probe-rs for embedded debug probe support.
• rmcp for the Rust MCP SDK.
• tokio for the async runtime.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE.