Patent attributes
Devices and methods for debugging software or detecting malicious software on a compute node are described herein. A device can include an interface to a central processing unit (CPU) of a compute node. The device can include processing circuitry. During execution of a software application of the CPU, the processing circuitry can process CPU operational metrics received over the interface, wherein values of the CPU operational metrics vary with execution of the software application. Based on the values, the processing circuitry can determine an operational status of the software application and provide an indicator of an error condition of the software application responsive to detection of an error based on any criteria. Other embodiments are also described.