How to debug Delphi IDE?

Question

What are the detailed steps on how to debug the Delphi IDE?

I understand, from other posts, that one needs to create a project and, in the project's debugger settings, set the project's "host application" to Delphi (C:\Program Files\Borland\BDS\3.0\Bin\bds.exe). Then, when the project is run in the debugger (by pressing the F9 key), a second instance of the Delphi IDE should appear.

I have managed to do the above step. However, when I run the project in debugger mode, I don't see any second instance of the Delphi IDE opening.

Motivation

There is a VCL component, for which I do have the source code, that builds, compiles and installs fine. But, when it is placed on a form in a project, Delphi hangs when you close the form. So, I want to find out why Delphi is freezing on exit with this component on a form. (It hangs at design-time, when closing the project).

Answer 1

Your project is most likely an EXE-type. EXE type projects don't need host applications so the setting is ignored, no other IDE is started. At a minimum, you should make your project a DLL-type: that will start the second IDE, but it will not be very helpful.

The technique you mentioned is usually used to debug your design time package projects. Create a design-time package project, install it into the IDE, set the project's host application to be the IDE, set some breakpoints, hit F9 and a second copy of Delphi will start.

You can also "debug" the Delphi IDE by manually starting a second copy yourself and then using the "Attach to process" command from the "Run" menu, but that's not going to be very useful since you can't easily find your code to set a breakpoint.