: I am programming a switch using a SingleStep and I have to disable the watchdog timer on the board when I am debugging. And when my code is running, I have to pet the dog frequently.
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: What does exactly a watch dog timer do? What kind of issues I have to pay attention when I am dealing with it?
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The purpose of a watchdog timer is to get the software's attention if it is not functioning properly. By "petting" it at regular intervals, you are telling the system that everything is running smoothly. If it doesn't get "petted", it's because the main control software has gone out to lunch. The watchdog timer code then takes corrective action, although in many cases, the only possible corrective action is to restart the system.