REMOTELY ACCESSIBLE INTEGRATED DEBUG ENVIRONMENT

The remotely accessible Integrated Debug Environment of this invention permits a user having only a computer and an Internet connection to remotely access an IDE configured for operating and debugging a selected target microprocessor or microcontroller. An IDE is set up, including a host computer which operates as a web server and as a target/debug controller. One or more target processors may be connected to the host computer, along with debug equipment, such as logic analyzers, ICE equipment, overlay memory, etc. The host computer includes toolsets that correspond to the available target processor(s). In order to execute or debug code on a selected target processor, a user connects to the host computer using a web browser, with which the user can determine the availability of target processors and other pertinent information. The user can then download user interface software that will enable the user to implement an appropriate user interface on his computer, using the Internet to communicate with the host computer. Once the user interface is set up, the remote user can use the IDE system as though he were a local user, using control techniques familiar to those skilled in the art, to execute or debug software on the target processor. In preferred embodiments, the user interface is transmitted to the user as a Java bytecode, which is executable on most general purpose personal computers and workstations using widely available Java interpreters.