debugging in mixed mode with native C++, managed c++ cli, and c# solution

Question

I have a multithreaded project im working on and the startup project is set to a c# project that runs my UI. Then there is a whole series of underlying c++ native projects which are connected to the C# by managed C++/CLI projects. I've enabled in the c# start up project 'Enable Unmanaged debug' and when I attempt to debug the native code, I am able to hit break points I set. However, it hangs after I try to run it again and try to hit a break point again. For example, if I have a loop I try to hit inside it in each iteration, after the second iteration the program hangs and I have to force quit. Im working in Visual Studio 2010. Debugging beginning to prove not too useful at this rate, is there any way to preclude this problem?

Answer 1

When I want to debug native code as well as C++/CLI, I do following:

1. In C# application, check Allow unsafe code in Build tab and Enable unmanaged code debugging in Debug tab of project properties.
2. For C++/CLI dll project, In Debugging tab of properties, set Debugger Type to Mixed

Answer 2

We also had problems debugging complex mixed code applications and found out that the Visual Studio is not that reliable in these situations. My suggestions would be to:

• If you're trying to debug a piece of native code try to use a native project as the debugger start-up application. Under the project settings, "Debugging" tab set the "Debugger Type" to "Mixed", for us this helped sometimes (the native project can be a DLL for example, simply set your main Exe as debugging target in the project settings);

• Use WinDbg, with it you can debug both managed/unmanaged mixed code applications much more reliably;