# Debugging Behaviour of Embedded-Software Developers: An Exploratory Study

## TL;DR

This study explores the debugging behaviors of intermediate embedded-software developers, focusing on semantic low-level errors, and compares successful and unsuccessful debugging strategies among students with real-time systems experience.

## Contribution

It provides new insights into debugging behaviors specific to embedded software and identifies characteristics associated with successful debugging attempts.

## Key findings

- Successful debugging involves specific behavioral patterns.
- Characteristics of smooth debugging are identified.
- Differences between successful and unsuccessful debugging are highlighted.

## Abstract

Many researchers have studied the behaviour of successful developers while debugging desktop software. In this paper, we investigate the embedded-software debugging by intermediate programmers through an exploratory study. The bugs are semantic low-level errors, and the participants are students who completed a real-time operating systems course in addition to five other programming courses. We compare between the behaviour involved in successful debugging attempts versus unsuccessful ones. We describe some characteristics of smooth and successful debugging behaviour.