gdb

GDB

GDB, or GNU Debugger, is a powerful tool used to debug programs written in various programming languages, including C, C++, Fortran, and others. It allows developers to step through their code line by line, set breakpoints, examine variables, and even modify the execution of the program on-the-fly.

What’s GDB for?

GDB is primarily used for:

• Debugging: Identifying errors or bugs in your code.
• Understanding program flow: Visualizing how your code executes and where it goes wrong.
• Stepping through code: Line by line execution to see what’s happening at each step.

Special Hacks

Here are a few advanced GDB tricks:

• Printing variables with complex structures:

  gdb
p my_struct->my_substruct->var_name


• Listing all local variables:

  gdb
info locals


• Setting multiple breakpoints:

  gdb
break filename:linenumber1
break filename:linenumber2


• Disabling a breakpoint temporarily:

  gdb
disable lineno


Who needs GDB?

GDB is a must-have tool for any serious developer, regardless of their level of experience. It’s especially useful during the following stages:

• Beginners: Learning how to use GDB helps you understand program flow and identify common errors.
• Intermediate developers: Using GDB to debug complex issues becomes crucial as projects grow in size.
• Advanced developers: Mastering GDB allows for efficient debugging, optimization, and performance analysis.

By integrating GDB into your development workflow, you’ll be able to tackle even the toughest coding challenges with confidence.