How to debug a windows service with Delphi?

Question

Is there a way to debug completely a windows service with Delphi?

Answer 1

It's actually quite easy. Just use the standard DEBUG compiler directive to start the service as a console application instead of a service.

program MyServiceApp;  {$ifdef DEBUG}   {$APPTYPE CONSOLE} {$endif}  uses   System.SysUtils, 

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begin   {$ifdef DEBUG}   try     // In debug mode the server acts as a console application.     WriteLn('MyServiceApp DEBUG mode. Press enter to exit.');      // Create the TService descendant manually.     ServerContainer1 := TServerContainer.Create(nil);      // Simulate service start.     ServerContainer1.ServiceStart(ServerContainer1, MyDummyBoolean);      // Keep the console box running (ServerContainer1 code runs in the background)     ReadLn;      // On exit, destroy the service object.     FreeAndNil(ServerContainer1);   except     on E: Exception do     begin       Writeln(E.ClassName, ': ', E.Message);       WriteLn('Press enter to exit.');       ReadLn;     end;   end;   {$else}   // Run as a true windows service (release).   if not Application.DelayInitialize or Application.Installing then     Application.Initialize;   Application.CreateForm(TServerContainer, ServerContainer1);   Application.Run;   {$endif} end.