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How to debug a C program

Tags:

c

linux

gcc

debugging

People also ask

What is debugging techniques in C?

Definition: The important technique to find and remove the number of errors or bugs or defects in a program is called Debugging. It is a multistep process in software development. It involves identifying the bug, finding the source of the bug and correcting the problem to make the program error-free.

Is debug hard C?

Compared to other programming languages, C can be a more difficult language to debug and figure out errors within code, no matter if it is logic or syntax-based.

What is GDB in C?

Gdb is a debugger for C (and C++). It allows you to do things like run the program up to a certain point then stop and print out the values of certain variables at that point, or step through the program one line at a time and print out the values of each variable after executing each line.

Compile your code with the -g flag, and then use the gdb debugger. Documentation for gdb is here, but in essence:

gcc -g -o prog myfile.c another.c

and then:

gdb prog

If you want a user-friendly GUI for gdb, take a look at DDD or Insight.


I guess that you are building from the command line.

You might want to consider an IDE (Integrated Development Environment), such as KDevelop or Eclipse, etc (hint - Eclipse ... ECLPISE ... E C L I PS E).

Use an IDE to edit your code, refactor your code, examine your code - class tree, click a variable, class or function to jump to declaration, etc, etc

And - of course - to debug:

  • run your code in the IDE
  • set breakpoints to stop at particular lines
  • or just step through, a line at a time
  • examine the call stack to see how you go there
  • examine the current values of variables, to understand your problem
  • change the values of those variables and run to see what happens
  • and more, more, more

p.s as wasatz mentioned- DDD is great - for visualizing the contents of arrays/matrices, and - imo - especially if you have linked lists


You can use gdb-based simple and useful GUI "Nemiver". It can debug your whole module comprising many source files.

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