Overview
LogScope is a VS Code extension from Novel Bits for viewing real-time firmware logs from embedded devices. It connects to your device over J-Link RTT (Real-Time Transfer) or Serial UART, parses structured log output, and displays it in a filterable, searchable log viewer.
Key Features
Section titled “Key Features”- Real-time log viewing with severity coloring (ERR, WRN, INF, DBG)
- Three parser modes: Zephyr RTOS, nRF5 SDK, and Raw (any firmware)
- Watch patterns that match incoming log lines and highlight them with colored markers
- Bluetooth LE HCI packet decoding with expandable detail views
- Module filtering to focus on specific firmware subsystems
- Multi-format export: Text (.log), JSON Lines (.jsonl), Wireshark btsnoop
- Multi-probe support for working with multiple devices
Supported Firmware
Section titled “Supported Firmware”LogScope works with any firmware that outputs text logs over RTT or UART:
| Parser Mode | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Zephyr | [HH:MM:SS.mmm,uuu] <level> module: message | [00:00:01.234,567] <inf> app: Hello |
| nRF5 SDK | <level> module: message | <info> app: Hello |
| Raw | Any text, displayed as-is | Hello World |
Requirements
Section titled “Requirements”- VS Code 1.107 or later (also works with Windsurf, Cursor, and Kiro)
- A J-Link debug probe (built into most Nordic DKs) for RTT, or a USB serial connection for UART
- For HCI packet decoding: Zephyr firmware with
CONFIG_BT_DEBUG_MONITOR_RTT=y
Who It’s For
Section titled “Who It’s For”LogScope is designed for embedded developers working with:
- Zephyr RTOS (Nordic nRF, STMicro STM32, NXP, Silicon Labs, and more)
- nRF5 SDK legacy projects
- Any firmware with text-based logging over RTT or UART
- Bluetooth LE firmware that needs HCI-level debugging