Hi all,

I am currently using GDB within VScode with the -gc DMD2 compiler switch and my debugging is not amazing. Whenever I inspect a struct/object it just shows me the pointer rather than the object information and strings come up as a gross array of the characters. Does anybody happen to know whether LDB is better or how I can have a nicer debug environment?

Thanks in advance

On Sunday, 3 October 2021 at 22:21:45 UTC, Tim wrote:

You don't say which operating system you are using.
I usually use Visual D which works great imo.

If I use vscode I use the C++ debug extension (don't remember what it's called).

If I debug outside of the IDE I use WinDbg, also has source debug support if configured correctly.

If you are on Linux I'm not sure, but I would go for the C++ thing probably.

On Sunday, 3 October 2021 at 22:26:15 UTC, Imperatorn wrote:

Apologies. I use KDE linux

On Sunday, 3 October 2021 at 22:21:45 UTC, Tim wrote:

tried plain -g ?

-gc is a compatibility debug thing for things with zero D support. p oboslete now

On Sunday, 3 October 2021 at 22:27:20 UTC, Tim wrote:

Then I guess code-d extension + MS C++ extension in order to debug, and webfreak's NativeDebug extension (https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=webfreak.debug)

On Sunday, 3 October 2021 at 22:21:45 UTC, Tim wrote:

1. LDC2 generate better debug infos, especially for classes, although this might change from the next DMD version (it will include the inherited fields, just like LDC2).

2. to inspect objects you must evluate the dereference of an instance.

for example for a project, if i eval d, a class instance VS *d, the pointed chunk of memory.

I don't know how the debugger gui you use works, here this is just a paste of dexed-ide table for locals and custom expressions. More often I use a debug popup:

A similar feature seems possible in vscode, maybe post a feature request to the extension developpers, as the debug popup is often very handy (no need to type expressions, as they are already there in the code !)

On Sunday, 3 October 2021 at 22:21:45 UTC, Tim wrote:

Might be something for Iain to weigh in one when it comes to GDC specifically but the non-dmd compilers generate better debug info.

On Sunday, 3 October 2021 at 22:27:20 UTC, Tim wrote:

On Linux I would recommend compiling with LDC (dub defaults to debug mode, otherwise use -g) and using LLDB.

Additionally for string, array and AA support use https://github.com/Pure-D/dlang-debug/#lldb (code-d section in README is for upcoming release, you need to follow the manual install procedures)

For VSCode I recommend using the CodeLLDB extension, it works pretty well.

On Sunday, 3 October 2021 at 23:17:25 UTC, Basile B. wrote:

Btw, thanks for continuing to work on dexed :)