A system for communicating with a microprocessor includes an interface agent that facilitates a communications link between customized windows applications and a suite of development tools. The system allows for interactive hardware and software verification testing of a microcontroller or microprocessor contained within any type of platform, such as mass produced electronic subassembly, consumer product, or a demonstration board. The system also allows for interactive tutorials about the suite of development tools and capabilities of a selected microcontroller or microprocessor. The interface agent affords a high level of interactivity during the tutorials, which involves requesting the user to perform tasks and monitoring for execution of the tasks.