finally its working with JLinkGDBServer

.vscode/launch.json

@@ -9,9 +9,8 @@
             "request": "launch",
             "name": "Debug LED Blinky",
             // The user should start the J-Link server themselves for now. This is because the
-            // ROM protection and the watchdog should be disabled after a reset, which requires
+            // Cortex-Debug will issue a reset command, which is problematic even with
-            // the execution of a dedicated script. I have not found a way to make this work
+            // a valid JLinkScript file
-            // with the jlinkscriptfile in the jlink folder
             "servertype": "external",
             "gdbTarget": "localhost:2331",
             "gdbPath": "/usr/bin/gdb-multiarch",

jlink-gdb.sh

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
+# Start the JLinkGDBServer while also specifying the JLinkScript file. The JLinkScript is necessary
+# to disable ROM protection to allow flashing
 JLinkGDBServer -select USB -device Cortex-M4 -endian little -if SWD -speed 2000 \
-  -LocalhostOnly -vd
+  -LocalhostOnly -vd -jlinkscriptfile ./jlink/JLinkSettings.JLinkScript

jlink/JLinkSettings.JLinkScript

@@ -14,6 +14,21 @@ Purpose : J-Link target setup file for VORAGO VA416xx
 ---------------------------END-OF-HEADER------------------------------
 */
 
+int DisableRomProt(void) {
+  JLINK_SYS_Report("VA416XX: Disabling ROM protection");
+  return JLINK_MEM_WriteU32(0x40010010, 0x1); // ROM_PROT = 0x1
+}
+
+int DisableWatchdog(void) {
+  JLINK_MEM_WriteU32(0x400210C0, 0x1ACCE551); // WDOGLOCK = 0x1ACCE551
+  JLINK_MEM_WriteU32(0x40021008, 0x0);        // WDOGCONTROL = 0x0 (diable)
+}
+
+int SetupTarget (void) {
+  JLINK_SYS_Report("SetupTarget()");
+  return DisableRomProt(); // ROM_PROT = 0x1
+}
+
 /*********************************************************************
 *
 *       AfterResetTarget
@@ -21,9 +36,8 @@ Purpose : J-Link target setup file for VORAGO VA416xx
 int AfterResetTarget (void) {
   JLINK_SYS_Report("AfterResetTarget()");
   // disable watchdog and unlock code RAM for write
-  JLINK_MEM_WriteU32(0x400210C0, 0x1ACCE551); // WDOGLOCK = 0x1ACCE551
+  DisableWatchdog();
-  JLINK_MEM_WriteU32(0x40021008, 0x0);        // WDOGCONTROL = 0x0 (diable)
+  return DisableRomProt(); // ROM_PROT = 0x1
-  return JLINK_MEM_WriteU32(0x40010010, 0x1); // ROM_PROT = 0x1
 }
 
 /*********************************************************************
@@ -32,7 +46,7 @@ int AfterResetTarget (void) {
 */
 int BeforeTargetDownload (void) {
   JLINK_SYS_Report("BeforeTargetDownload()");
-  return JLINK_MEM_WriteU32(0x40010010, 0x1); // ROM_PROT = 0x1
+  return DisableRomProt(); // ROM_PROT = 0x1
 }
 
 /*********************************************************************
@@ -41,7 +55,7 @@ int BeforeTargetDownload (void) {
 */
 int AfterTargetDownload (void) {
   JLINK_SYS_Report("AfterTargetDownload()");
-  return JLINK_MEM_WriteU32(0x40010010, 0x0); // ROM_PROT = 0x0
+  return DisableRomProt(); // ROM_PROT = 0x0
 }
 
 /*********************************************************************
@@ -50,7 +64,7 @@ int AfterTargetDownload (void) {
 */
 int HandleBeforeFlashProg(void) {
   JLINK_SYS_Report("HandleBeforeFlashProg()");
-  return JLINK_MEM_WriteU32(0x40010010, 0x1); // ROM_PROT = 0x1
+  return DisableRomProt(); // ROM_PROT = 0x1
 }
 
 /*********************************************************************
@@ -59,5 +73,5 @@ int HandleBeforeFlashProg(void) {
 */
 int HandleAfterFlashProg(void) {
   JLINK_SYS_Report("HandleAfterFlashProg()");
-  return JLINK_MEM_WriteU32(0x40010010, 0x0); // ROM_PROT = 0x0
+  return DisableRomProt(); // ROM_PROT = 0x0
 }

prep-flash.sh

@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-gdb-multiarch -q --batch -ex 'source prep-flash.gdb'

scripts/prep-flash.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Alternative way to unlock the ROM protection of the VA416XX to allow flashing
+gdb-multiarch -q --batch -ex 'source prep-flash.gdb'