MCUxpresso: FreeRTOS task and queue list windows empty

[davenadler]

Problem:

The IDE FreeRTOS-aware windows do not display anything.
At one time this worked fine, and now going back to it a year later nothing shows up.

Context:

• large FreeRTOS application running on imxRT1024.
• debug build
• paused debugger after scheduler is running
• debugger is working fine, showing all threads (tasks)
• MCUXpresso IDE v24.9 [Build 25] [2024-09-26] on Windows 10
• segger J-Link software version V8.12
• freertos_tasks_c_additions.h added from SDK_2_15_000_MIMXRT1024xxxxx
  also added  __attribute__((used)) to FreeRTOSDebugConfig[] to ensure loading
• debugger reads FreeRTOSDebugConfig[24] just fine (note size 24)
• FreeRTOSConfig.h includes:
  #define configINCLUDE_FREERTOS_TASK_C_ADDITIONS_H 1 // DRN: may be required for FreeRTOS-aware debugger windows??
  #define configGENERATE_RUN_TIME_STATS 0
  #define configUSE_TRACE_FACILITY 1 // legacy trace, prerequisite for configUSE_TRACE_FACILITY
  #define configUSE_STATS_FORMATTING_FUNCTIONS 1 // DRN: may be required for FreeRTOS-aware debugger windows??
• Arm GNU Toolchain 13.2.rel1 (Build arm-13.7)) 13.2.1 20231009
• JLink debugger configuration enables FreeRTOS:
  
  

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Best Regards, Dave

[davenadler · Accepted solution]

I got this working by upgrading to SEGGER J-Link V9.22 software.
As always it takes a couple of tries to get something into the FreeRTOS-aware windows (long-standing MCUxpresso bug).

Contrary to some documentation on this site, at least for Segger the freertos_tasks_c_additions.h file is not required.
The relevant FreeRTOSCOnfig settings I'm now using are:

/* Run time and task stats gathering related definitions. */
#define configINCLUDE_FREERTOS_TASK_C_ADDITIONS_H  0 // DRN: NOT required for FreeRTOS-aware debugger windows??
#define configGENERATE_RUN_TIME_STATS          0
#define configUSE_TRACE_FACILITY               0 // DRN: NOT required for FreeRTOS-aware debugger windows, prerequisite for vTaskList(), vTaskGetRunTimeStats(), etc.
#define configUSE_STATS_FORMATTING_FUNCTIONS   0 // DRN: NOT required for FreeRTOS-aware debugger windows
#define configENABLE_BACKWARD_COMPATIBILITY     1

[mayliu1]

Hi @davenadler ,

Thank you so much for your interest in our products and for using our community.

First, I recommend referring to the MCUXpresso IDE FreeRTOS Debug Guide for detailed requirements and configuration steps:

https://www.nxp.com/webapp/Download?colCode=UG10059&appType=license&location=null

Second, regarding your issue, please try the following actions to address the likely root cause:

1: Set configENABLE_BACKWARD_COMPATIBILITY to 0 in FreeRTOSConfig.h

A similar case was reported in the NXP Community, where setting this macro to 0 resolved the problem of an empty FreeRTOS Task List.
Please apply the same fix to test whether it resolves your issue.

Solved: Freertos debug issue - NXP Community

2: Follow the configuration described in Section 4.2 (SEGGER J‑Link probes) of the MCUXpresso IDE 25.06 FreeRTOS Debug Guide

FreeRTOS thread-aware debugging for SEGGER J‑Link is disabled by default, and you must explicitly enable the RTOS plug‑in (GDBServer/RTOSPlugin_FreeRTOS) in your J‑Link Launch Configuration.

Wish it helps you

Best Regards

MayLiu