A method and apparatus for debugging programs in a distributed environment, such as a set of heterogeneous hardware processors (integrated circuits or In-Circuit Emulators), and/or software-based simulators. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying a plurality of processes; initializing each of the processes; executing with a single thread of control among the processes; and continuously cycling among the processes to obtain status information. A computer program and apparatus for implementing the aforementioned methodology are also disclosed.