What is JTAG

JTAG is used by Code Composer Studio to load and debug the software in a DSP system. It was originally designed as a boundary scan standard to debug hardware, but has since been used as a mechanism to access processors at the low level needed for software debugging. JTAG connects processors in a chain.  The host processor communicates with the DSPs by shifting a bitstream through all the processors in the chain - a complex and very slow process.  The host needs to know the number, order, and exact type of the processors in the JTAG chain to make this communication work. This information is given when you configure Code Composer for a particular hardware arrangement.

In some cases you may have a device in the JTAG chain that is to be ignored. To do this you mark the device as a BYPASS during the setup stage.

For more information about JTAG, click here.