FLEX vs pyOCD

FLEX is a free, open-source debugging and exploration library for iOS applications. It runs inside the app and places a toolbar in a window above it, allowing developers to inspect and change application state without an LLDB or Xcode connection or a remote debugging server. The tool can inspect view hierarchies, find live heap objects, show and modify properties and ivars, and call methods. Its network history covers NSURLConnection and NSURLSession requests with timing, headers, and responses. Developers can browse app bundles and sandboxes, inspect SQLite and Realm databases, and view or edit NSUserDefaults values, including strings, numbers, arrays, and dictionaries. FLEX works in the iOS Simulator and on physical devices, supports Objective-C and Swift, and requires an iOS 9-or-later target. Installation options include CocoaPods, Carthage, Buck, manual Xcode integration, and Swift Package Manager.

pyOCD is a Python tool and API for debugging, programming, and exploring Arm Cortex microcontrollers. Its GDB server supports command-line debugging and IDE workflows, including Arm CMSIS Debugger, Cortex-Debug, and Eclipse Embedded CDT. It can program firmware and data images into internal or external flash, or load images into RAM. The Python API controls target devices and can support CI setups and custom test or debug tools. More than 70 common Arm Cortex-M devices have built-in support, with CMSIS Device Family Packs available for additional devices. Features include semihosting, SWV, and CMSIS-Pack support. Built-in probe plug-ins include CMSIS-DAP, Raspberry Pi Picoprobe, SEGGER J-Link, STLink, and pyOCD remote; PE Micro Cyclone and Multilink require a separate plug-in. A server and client can share probes over TCP/IP. pyOCD requires Python 3.9 or later and runs on macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, and Windows. It is free, with code licensed under Apache 2.0. Unlocking a supported locked device can require a mass erase, which erases its data.