Lab on the Use of the Debugger

Due: by the end of the class. No Gradecope submission. Lab instructor will check your programs before you leave class.

Introduction

In this lab we will learn how to use debugger GDB and its GUI front-end DDD. It has some convenient features, for example, it can show graphical diagrams with pointers and generally works pretty snappy, so don’t judge it by its old interface. If you use your own laptop, be aware that you will need DDD today, and should switch to using your Linux accounts for this class.

Basic debugging

To debug a program, it must be compiled using the -g flag, which tells the compiler to include appropriate debugging information in the produced executable file:

g++ -g program.cpp

Then, you can run DDD:

ddd a.out 

Here is an general DDD tutorial for more information.

Breakpoints.

• To set a breakpoint, Right-Click on the left edge of the line where you want to put a breakpoint. In the shown menu, choose Set Breakpoint.

  The debugger will be always stopping there, right before that line gets executed.

• To remove or disable a breakpoint, Right-Click on it and choose the corresponding menu option.

Basic commands (Run, Continue, Next, Step, Finish).

• Run (or press [F3]) to start program execution (but it will be stopping at breakpoints).

When stopped at a breakpoint:

• Continue [F9] continues execution after being stopped.
• Next [F6] executes current line
• Step [F5] executes current line, allowing to step into function calls.
• Finish [F8] steps out of the function call.

Inspecting variables and expressions.

• Holding mouse cursor over a variable name, shows its value in an overlay frame.
• Right-Click on a variable name shows a menu to Print or Display its value (all displayed expressions are shown in the top panel).
• Similarly, you can select any complex expression with the mouse cursor and Print or Display it.

More documentation is available in DDD manual.

Lab Assignment

1) There are two programs attached, ‘prog.cpp’ and ‘buggy.cpp’. Using ‘prog.cpp’ example we will use DDD to set breakpoints, use commands Run, Continue, Next, Step, Finish, and how to inspect expressions.

Make sure that all of you follow the instructor, and no one falls behind. The instructor will demonstrate all the features mentioned in the section above. You will follow along with the instructor, debugging a simple program. You must be able to repeat their steps. DDD uses old Motif UI, and it takes time to learn how to adjust to it. the instructor will explain you how to use the debugger program DDD. When you feel that your are falling behind, ask for help right away.

  Bug in the program prog.cpp
  ---------------------------
  Observations:
    - incorrectly computed number of digits for 1057 and 10155.
    - inside the function call, when 'number' reduces to 10, the function stops counting,
    ends the loop and returns the answer, while it still could divide by 10 one more time.

  Cause:
    if condition should be (number > 9) instead of (number>10).

2) After you fix ‘prog.cpp’, proceed to debugging another more complex program ‘buggy.cpp’. You must now start debugging on your own. Collaborate with your neighbors and ask the instructor and UTAs for help. The instructor will check your work at the end of the class, no Gradescope submission required.