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Mastering Debugging: Tools and Techniques for Effective Software Development

This lecture provides an in-depth exploration of debugging tools, focusing on the role, operation, and art of debugging within software development. Key topics include the use of GDB for inspecting program states, handling breakpoints, and understanding the nuances of debugging in C/C++ compared to Java. Attendees will learn practical strategies for optimizing the debugging process, including how to examine program variables, work through crashes, and implement conditional breakpoints. Strategies for effective use of IDE-integrated debuggers will also be discussed.

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Mastering Debugging: Tools and Techniques for Effective Software Development

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  1. CSE 303Concepts and Tools for Software Development Richard C. DavisUW CSE – 11/22/2006 Lecture 20 – Debuggers

  2. Administravia • HW6 Due 30 Minutes Ago! • Societal Implications 4 next Wednesday • We'll resume discussion of DRM • No new reading • Short Paper Instructions are posted • Due last day of class • This is 2 days after HW7 • HW7 Posted by Monday CSE 303 Lecture 20

  3. Where We Are • Tools for working on larger projects • Specification/Testing • Version Control Systems • Build Scripting CSE 303 Lecture 20

  4. Today • Debuggers • Role • How they work • The art of debugging • GDB CSE 303 Lecture 20

  5. Role of a Debugger • Helps you see what's going on in program • More accurate name: "Execution Monitor" • Debugger Capabilities • Start program with arguments • Suspend execution • At predefined "breakpoints" • Possible to break on some condition • Examine suspended state of program • Change the values of variables (sometimes) CSE 303 Lecture 20

  6. How Debuggers Work • Program has special links to source code • These make programs much larger • Most projects have "Debug" and "Release" builds • External libraries may also have debug versions • gcc & g++ add debug info with -g flag • OS hooks for examining program state CSE 303 Lecture 20

  7. The Art of Debugging • A debugger won't solve all your problems • Stopping program too late to find problem • Trying to "debug" the wrong algorithm • "Debugging" vs. "Understanding the program" • Debugging C/C++ vs. Java • No crashes != Correct program • Java easier to debug: No crashes or memory errors • But programming Java is "easier" for same reason CSE 303 Lecture 20

  8. Debugging with GDB • Running gdb • Command Line: gdb programname • Source files should be in same directory • Emacs: M-x gdb • Current file must be in directory of program/source • Note: There are many other debuggers • dbx, jdb (for Java) • Debuggers integrated into IDEs • But concepts are the same CSE 303 Lecture 20

  9. Example: Locating a Crash • Approach 1: Execute program in gdb -bash-3.1$ gdb bug4 … (gdb) run … Program received signal SIGABRT, Aborted. 0xffffe410 in __kernel_vsyscall () (gdb) where CSE 303 Lecture 20

  10. Example: Locating a Crash (gdb) where #0 0xffffe410 in __kernel_vsyscall () #1 0x4320bee9 in raise () from /lib/libc.so.6 #2 0x4320d4f1 in abort () from /lib/libc.so.6 #3 0x4324053b in __libc_message () from /lib/libc.so.6 #4 0x43247a68 in _int_free () from /lib/libc.so.6 #5 0x4324af6f in free () from /lib/libc.so.6 #6 0x43dc96c1 in operator delete () from /usr/lib/libstdc++.so.6 #7 0x080485d7 in ~A (this=0xbfbdb744) at bug4.cpp:5 #8 0x08048567 in main () at bug4.cpp:19 (gdb) up (gdb) <pressing return repeats previous command> CSE 303 Lecture 20

  11. Example: Locating a Crash • Approach 2: Examine a core file • Need to set max size allowed for core files ulimit -c 16000 • Run program as usual Aborted (core dumped) • Examine core file with gdb dgb bug4 core.10050 (gdb) where • Same output as Approach 1 CSE 303 Lecture 20

  12. Example: Suspending a Program • Approach 1: Send interrupt gdb heaptest run 10 Note here that you can supply arguments (user presses Ctrl-c, or Ctrl-c Ctrl-c if in Emacs) Program received signal SIGINT, Interrupt. 0xffffe410 in __kernel_vsyscall () (gdb) CSE 303 Lecture 20

  13. Example: Suspending a Program • Approach 2: Place a breakpoint gdb heaptest break heaptest.c:26 run 10 Program received signal SIGINT, Interrupt. 0xffffe410 in __kernel_vsyscall () (gdb) CSE 303 Lecture 20

  14. Working with Breakpoints • Function Names break main • Within files break heap.c:HeapInit • Within methods break Point::GetX • Delete all breakpoints delete • Clear one breakpoint clear heap.c:HeapInit • Conditional breakpoint break Point::SetX if newX==1 CSE 303 Lecture 20

  15. Inspecting the Program • Inspecting arguments and local variables (gdb) info args Show arguments (gdb) info locals Show local variables (gdb) info variables Show locals and globals (gdb) p variable_name Print a variable CSE 303 Lecture 20

  16. Inspecting the Program • Where are we? (gdb) where Show call stack (gdb) frame Show current activation record (gdb) up Move "up" the call stack (gdb) down  Move "down" the call stack (gdb) l Print 10 lines of context • Names of variables depend on current stack frame CSE 303 Lecture 20

  17. Other Commands • Executing Step-by-step (gdb) n Execute one statement and stop at next (gdb) s Step inside function (gdb) c Continue until next breakpoint • Quitting (gdb) quit CSE 303 Lecture 20

  18. Summary • Debuggers important for fast development • Understand what the tool provides you • Use it to accomplish specific tasks • "I want to know the call stack when I get the NULL-Pointer dereference" • Avoid command line • Use Emacs • Use an IDE CSE 303 Lecture 20

  19. Reading • Programming in C • Chapter 18: Debugging Programs CSE 303 Lecture 20

  20. Next Time • Profilers CSE 303 Lecture 20

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