Isolating two specific use cases, in the context of embedded development

As a development tool the debugger is essential for testing code and execution states in a sterile and controlled environment

As a diagnostic tool the debugger is essential for diagnosing and understanding the failure modes of an embedded firmware.

So No, it cannot be eliminated, at least not completely

Embedded devices interact with real world conditions, so the final testing of an embedded firmware is done under real world and not debugger induced stresses (Environmental and application stress testing)  . There are "software bugs" which are purely the development realm of the SE, and "system bugs" which are bugs which occur when the firmware interacts with the real world conditions of its embedded application.

During embedded development the SE in collaboration with the EE and ME and PM will define the nominal operating conditions and expected function of your firmware feature. In this development activity the debugger and the ICE/SWD device is invaluable as to enable

• System Monitoring
• Code Error Detection
• Controlled Test Condition

Compared to logging, which on an embedded system can have many side effects and complexities, this is a particularly unintrusive way to develop and test with confidence that the nominal conditions are close to real world and all the immediate, "software" bugs are eliminated.

After the firmware is nominally complete, a qualification and test cycle is required. Unlike pure software there is usually a physical real world component to an embedded device and the effectiveness of the associated firmware. The environment can affect thing like

• Rates of inputs and interrupts
• Quality of data from external sensors
• Operating conditions and base error rates of various protocols and IO interfaces
• Other environment dependent conditions.

All of this will serve to stress your embedded firmware to a point where all of you side logic and error condition checks will be stress tested, you are in rough seas, so to speak, compared to your development environment...

So an embedded device test cycle will combine

• Environmental stress (vibration, thermal, electrical)
• IO Stress (External protocols and interfaces)
• Application stress (Demanding performance)
• Any other applicable stress

In order to stress test the system, and in turn, the embedded firmware

In that context the Debugger, in combination with the ICE/SWD is an invaluable diagnostic tool to

• Understand the nature of a bug or glitch
• Place blame on the EE for screwing up the hardware
• Diagnose and monitor the system after a weakness has shown up

So, even here, No the debugger is an invaluable tool

Isolating two specific use cases, in the context of embedded development:

As a development tool the debugger is essential for testing code and execution states in a sterile and controlled environment.

As a diagnostic tool the debugger is essential for diagnosing and understanding the failure modes of an embedded firmware.

So no, it cannot be eliminated, at least not completely.

Embedded devices interact with real world conditions, so the final testing of an embedded firmware is done under real world and not debugger induced stresses (environmental and application stress testing). There are "software bugs" which are purely the development realm of the software engineer (SE), and "system bugs" which are bugs which occur when the firmware interacts with the real world conditions of its embedded application.

During embedded development the SE in collaboration with the electronic engineer (EE), and mechanical engineer (ME) and project manager (PM) will define the nominal operating conditions and expected function of your firmware feature. In this development activity the debugger and the ICE/SWD device is invaluable as to enable

• System Monitoring
• Code Error Detection
• Controlled Test Condition

Compared to logging, which on an embedded system can have many side effects and complexities, this is a particularly unintrusive way to develop and test with confidence that the nominal conditions are close to real world and all the immediate, "software" bugs are eliminated.

After the firmware is nominally complete, a qualification and test cycle is required. Unlike pure software there is usually a physical real world component to an embedded device and the effectiveness of the associated firmware. The environment can affect thing like

• Rates of inputs and interrupts
• Quality of data from external sensors
• Operating conditions and base error rates of various protocols and I/O interfaces
• Other environment dependent conditions.

All of this will serve to stress your embedded firmware to a point where all of you side logic and error condition checks will be stress tested. You are in rough seas, so to speak, compared to your development environment...

So an embedded device test cycle will combine

• Environmental stress (vibration, thermal, electrical)
• I/O Stress (external protocols and interfaces)
• Application stress (demanding performance)
• Any other applicable stress

In order to stress test the system, and in turn, the embedded firmware.

In that context the debugger, in combination with the ICE/SWD is an invaluable diagnostic tool to

• Understand the nature of a bug or glitch
• Place blame on the EE for screwing up the hardware
• Diagnose and monitor the system after a weakness has shown up

So, even here, no, the debugger is an invaluable tool.