Hardware or Software Breakpoint Selection

To select hardware or software breakpoints:

1.Select your project in the Projects window. Then select File > Project Properties or right click and select Properties.
2.In the Project Properties dialog under “Categories,” select PICkit 4.
3.Under “Option Categories,” select Debug Options.
4.Select Use software breakpoints to use software breakpoints. Clear the selection to use hardware breakpoints.

Tip: Using software breakpoints for debugging impacts device endurance. Therefore, it is recommended that devices used in this manner are not be used as production parts.

To help you decide which type of breakpoints to use (hardware or software), the following table compares the features of each.

Table 1. Hardware vs. Software Breakpoints
Feature	Hardware Breakpoints	Software Breakpoints
Number of breakpoints	Limited	Unlimited
Breakpoints written to*	Internal Debug Registers	Flash Program Memory
Breakpoints applied to**	Program Memory/Data Memory	Program Memory only
Time to set breakpoints	Minimal	Dependent on oscillator speed, time to program Flash Memory, and page size
Breakpoint skidding	Most devices. See the online Help, Limitations section, for details.	No
* Where information about the breakpoint is written in the device. ** What kind of device feature applies to the breakpoint. This is where the breakpoint is set.