PEmicro Blog

Configuring PEmicro Tools for Texas Instruments' Code Composer Studio 12

May 21, 2025

PEmicro's popular Multilink and Cyclone tools are supported in Texas Instruments' Code Composer Studio 12 via the GDB Eclipse Plugin. The plugin allows the user to debug several Texas Instruments ARM devices. For the complete list of supported devices, please visit the following page: https://www.pemicro.com/partners/index.cfm?manufacturer_id=11.

There is a setup guide included below to get users up and running with PEmicro tools in Code Composer Studio 12.8.1.00005 running on Windows 10 Pro x64.

Setup and Installation Procedure:

  1. Install Texas Code Composer Studio
  2. Install CDT Main Feature -> C/C++ Development Tools plugin
  3. Install CDT Optional Features -> C/C++ GDB Hardware Debugging plugin
  4. Install PEmicro Eclipse plugin
  5. Create Run/Debug Configuration


  1. Install Texas Instruments' Code Composer Studio
    1. Currently, this procedure has been validated on CCSv12 Version 12.8.1.00005. Later versions of CCS are VS Code-based and are currently not supported. 
    2. https://www.ti.com/tool/download/CCSTUDIO/12.8.1
  2. Install CDT Main Feature -> C/C++ Development Tools plugin
    1. In "TI CCS" click on "Help->Install New Software..."
    2. In the "Install" dialog, click on "Manage..."
    3. In the "Preferences" dialog, select the CDT update site and click "Edit"
    4. Change the Name and Location to the following:
      Name: CDT 10.7.1 update site
      Location: https://archive.eclipse.org/tools/cdt/releases/10.7/cdt-10.7.1
    5. Select the site we just added and it will show you the available CDT 10.7.1 software
    6. Select the CDT Main Feature -> C/C++ Development Tools
    7. Click Next and proceed with the installation. When the installation is complete, exit and restart Code Composer.
  3. Install CDT Optional Features -> C/C++ GDB Hardware Debugging plugin
    1. In "TI CCS" click on "Help->Install New Software..."
    2. Select "CDT 10.7.1 update site" again
    3. Select the CDT Optional Features -> C/C++ GDB Hardware Debugging
    4. Click Next and proceed with the installation. When the installation is complete, exit and restart Code Composer.
  4. Install PEmicro Eclipse plugin
    1. In "TI CCS" click on "Help->Install New Software..."
    2. In the "Install" dialog, click on "Add..."
    3. Change the Name and Location to the following:
      Name: PEMicro
      Location: https://www.pemicro.com/eclipse/updates
    4. Select the PEmicro site we just added and it will show you our ARM plugins
    5. Select PEMicro Software  -> GNU ARM PEMicro Interface Debugging Support
    6. Select PEMicro Software  -> PEMicro ARM Device Expansion Plugin
    7. Click Next and proceed with the installation. When the installation is complete, exit and restart Code Composer.
  5. Create Run/Debug Configuration
    1. Click on Debug icon -> Debug Configurations
    2. Create a new GDB PEMicro Interface Debugging configuration
    3. Select the PEmicro tab and modify all the required settings such as device and interface selection
    4. Click on Apply and Debug.

Tags related to this Blog Post

Cyclone     Cyclone FX     Multilink     Multilink FX     Texas Instruments     Debug