Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Percepio Detect is software and firmware-side instrumentation for monitoring embedded and RTOS-based systems during development, testing, and—in workflows that use it—field testing. It is designed to flag runtime anomalies such as timing violations, multithreading problems, freezes, overloads, and near misses, then preserve diagnostic evidence such as traces and core dumps for investigation. It extends CI and continuous testing; it does not replace them.
What Percepio Detect is—and what it is not
Percepio announced Detect on January 21, 2025, positioning it as “Continuous Observability” for RTOS-based embedded software. The idea is to observe how software behaves while it runs on its target, rather than relying only on a failure report or trying to reproduce an intermittent fault later under a debugger. Percepio describes Detect as a way to add runtime monitoring to in-house testing, continuous integration and continuous testing (CI/CT), system tests, and field testing. Percepio’s launch announcement explains the original positioning.
Detect is a software product and embedded-device instrumentation, not a physical monitoring appliance or a consumer device. Its focus is embedded and edge systems, where timing, resource constraints, concurrency, and intermittent behavior matter. Percepio’s comparison with general-purpose IT observability platforms is company positioning, not evidence that Detect is categorically better than those tools for other workloads.
How Detect works
Monitor behavior on the target
Detect monitors runtime behavior, software timing, and resource use. Teams can configure warning thresholds, so the system can raise an alert when a defined margin is breached—not only after a conventional failure such as a watchdog timeout. Percepio CTO and founder Johan Kraft described the goal as an “advanced early warning system” and said developers could be notified when safety margins are breached. Those statements describe Percepio’s product rationale, not an independent performance assessment.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Preserve evidence when a risk appears
When Detect identifies an issue or stability risk, it can preserve diagnostic context, including system traces and core dumps. Percepio’s product materials also describe call stacks and, in some circumstances, function arguments and variables. The value is practical: a trace or crash artifact from the execution where the problem occurred can give a team more to inspect than a symptom alone, especially when the fault is difficult to reproduce.
Review alerts as a team
Percepio describes a shared server and browser dashboard for reviewing alerts and diagnostic payloads. Its product page says monitoring occurs on the device without continuously streaming all trace data, and that a private on-premises server option is available for sensitive information. These deployment choices should be checked against the target system, data-handling needs, and current product documentation; the product description alone does not establish the performance impact for every device.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What observability-driven development means for embedded teams
Observability-Driven Development (ODD) is the workflow behind Detect’s pitch: instrument and observe software across development and testing so that timing and concurrency problems leave useful diagnostic evidence when they occur. Traditional tests still matter; observability adds runtime context to what those tests reveal. Instead of treating an intermittent failure as something to reproduce from scratch, a team can review an alert and the captured execution data from the affected run.
- During development: detect behaviors that may not be obvious in a code review or a test’s pass/fail result.
- In CI/CT and system testing: capture traces or crash information from runs that reveal timing, load, or concurrency risks.
- In field testing: collect evidence from device behavior outside a developer’s desk setup, subject to the chosen deployment and data controls.
What kinds of problems can Detect flag?
Percepio names timing violations, multithreading problems, freezes, overloads, and near misses among the behaviors Detect is intended to monitor. A near miss is a stability risk that approaches a threshold—such as a timeout margin—without crossing the ordinary failure boundary. That can make it useful to investigate degrading margins before a visible failure occurs. These are product capabilities as described by Percepio, not a guarantee that every fault in every application will be detected.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Detect’s documented development since launch
The November 25, 2025 announcement for Detect 2025.2 added more detail about the product’s implementation and integrations. Percepio said TaskMonitor runs in device firmware and tracks CPU activity per thread to detect freezes, overloads, and timing anomalies, automatically preserving a trace. The release note also listed more compact core dumps, support for Armv8-M microcontrollers such as Cortex-M33, and integration with IAR Embedded Workbench. Percepio’s Detect 2025.2 release announcement said that version was then available for FreeRTOS-based systems, with Zephyr and Embedded Linux support in active development. That is a dated statement from November 2025, not a complete compatibility statement for October 2026; consult current documentation for present support.
Percepio’s public demos repository identifies runnable examples for the ST B-L475E-IOT01A1 board using IAR Embedded Workbench or STM32CubeIDE, and for the Microchip PIC32CK-SG01 with MPLAB X IDE. These are examples of listed demo platforms, not required purchases or proof of compatibility with every board using the same MCU family. The repository also describes alerts, trace snapshots, core dumps, the shared dashboard, and private-network Docker deployment; setup details can change, so use its maintained documentation for configuration.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
How Detect relates to Tracealyzer and DevAlert
Detect sits within Percepio’s broader software portfolio. Tracealyzer is used to visualize and analyze trace data. DevAlert is positioned for observability in deployed devices; Percepio says it can use the same device integration after Detect has been used in internal testing. The distinction is mainly where the tools fit into a product lifecycle: Detect focuses on development and testing workflows, while DevAlert is the portfolio’s deployment-stage complement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to verify before adopting Detect
Whether Detect fits a project depends on the target, workflow, and data requirements. Before evaluating it, confirm the current supported RTOS, MCU, and development environment in Percepio’s documentation, then assess whether the monitoring and capture approach fits the device’s timing and resource constraints.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
- Check current compatibility for the exact RTOS, MCU, compiler, and IDE version in use.
- Confirm which artifacts are captured for the events that matter to the team, and under what conditions call stacks, arguments, or variables are available.
- Decide where the shared server will run and whether a private on-premises deployment meets data-control requirements.
- Evaluate monitoring overhead and trace or dump sizes on the actual target; the reviewed product descriptions do not establish a universal performance cost.
- Ask Percepio for current licensing and pricing details; the materials cited here do not establish current terms.
How to interpret Percepio’s debugging-time claim
Percepio’s product page says Detect can “Reduce debugging time by up to 90%”; STMicroelectronics’ partner listing repeats the figure. It is a vendor claim, not an independently verified average: the cited pages do not provide an independent study design, baseline, sample, or methodology. Treat it as a stated potential outcome rather than a forecast for a particular team. Percepio’s Detect product page and STMicroelectronics’ partner listing contain the claim.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
