How To Use Dev C++ Debugger

Posted on 10.01.2021by admin

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C/C for Visual Studio Code (Preview) C/C support for Visual Studio Code is provided by a Microsoft C/C extension to enable cross-platform C and C development on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Getting started C/C compiler and debugger. The C/C extension does not include a C compiler or debugger.

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This article introduces the features of the Visual Studio debugger in a step-by-step walkthrough. If you want a higher-level view of the debugger features, see First look at the debugger. When you debug your app, it usually means that you are running your application with the debugger attached. When you do this, the debugger provides many ways to see what your code is doing while it runs. You can step through your code and look at the values stored in variables, you can set watches on variables to see when values change, you can examine the execution path of your code, see whether a branch of code is running, and so on. If this is the first time that you've tried to debug code, you may want to read Debugging for absolute beginners before going through this article.

Jun 23, 2017 Visual Studio has an integrated debugger that works with all Visual Studio programming languages and their associated libraries. Common Features. Most debuggers share a common set of features. Here are the features you need to know (and how to use them with C and C code in Visual Studio). Start debugging.
Windows: the Visual Studio Windows Debugger or GDB (using Cygwin or MinGW) Windows debugging with GDB. You can debug Windows applications created using Cygwin or MinGW by using VS Code. To use Cygwin or MinGW debugging features, the debugger path must be set manually in the launch configuration (launch.json).

Although the demo app is C++, most of the features are applicable to C#, Visual Basic, F#, Python, JavaScript, and other languages supported by Visual Studio (F# does not support Edit-and-continue. F# and JavaScript do not support the Autos window). The screenshots are in C++.

In this tutorial, you will:

Start the debugger and hit breakpoints.
Learn commands to step through code in the debugger
Inspect variables in data tips and debugger windows
Examine the call stack

Prerequisites

You must have Visual Studio 2019 installed and the Desktop development with C++ workload.

/install-vst-plugin-free-download.html. You must have Visual Studio 2017 installed and the Desktop development with C++ workload.

If you haven't already installed Visual Studio, go to the Visual Studio downloads page to install it for free.

If you need to install the workload but already have Visual Studio, go to Tools > Get Tools and Features.., which opens the Visual Studio Installer. The Visual Studio Installer launches. Choose the Desktop development with C++ workload, then choose Modify.

Create a project

First, you'll create a C++ console application project. The project type comes with all the template files you'll need, before you've even added anything!

Open Visual Studio 2017.
From the top menu bar, choose File > New > Project.
In the New Project dialog box in the left pane, expand Visual C++ and then choose Windows Desktop. In the middle pane, choose Windows Console Application. Then name the project get-started-debugging.
If you don't see the Console App project template, choose the Open Visual Studio Installer link in the left pane of the New Project dialog box. The Visual Studio Installer launches. Choose the .NET Core cross-platform development workload, and then choose Modify.
Click OK.
Visual Studio opens your new project.

Open Visual Studio 2019.
If the start window is not open, choose File > Start Window.
On the start window, choose Create a new project.
On the Create a new project window, enter or type console in the search box. Next, choose C++ from the Language list, and then choose Windows from the Platform list.
After you apply the language and platform filters, choose the Console App template, and then choose Next.
Note
If you do not see the Console App template, you can install it from the Create a new project window. In the Not finding what you're looking for? message, choose the Install more tools and features link. Then, in the Visual Studio Installer, choose the Desktop development with C++ workload.
In the Configure your new project window, type or enter get-started-debugging in the Project name box. Then, choose Create.
Visual Studio opens your new project.

Create the application

In get-started-debugging.cpp, replace all of the default code with the following code instead:

Start the debugger!

Press F5 (Debug > Start Debugging) or the Start Debugging button in the Debug Toolbar.
F5 starts the app with the debugger attached to the app process, but right now we haven't done anything special to examine the code. So the app just loads and you see the console output.
In this tutorial, we'll take a closer look at this app using the debugger and get a look at the debugger features.
Stop the debugger by pressing the red stop button (Shift + F5).
In the console window, press a key and Enter to close the console window.

Set a breakpoint and start the debugger

In the for loop of the main function, set a breakpoint by clicking the left margin of the following line of code:
name += letters[i];
A red circle appears where you set the breakpoint.
Breakpoints are one of the most basic and essential features of reliable debugging. A breakpoint indicates where Visual Studio should suspend your running code so you can take a look at the values of variables, or the behavior of memory, or whether or not a branch of code is getting run.
Press F5 or the Start Debugging button , the app starts, and the debugger runs to the line of code where you set the breakpoint.
The yellow arrow represents the statement on which the debugger paused, which also suspends app execution at the same point (this statement has not yet executed).
If the app is not yet running, F5 starts the debugger and stops at the first breakpoint. Otherwise, F5 continues running the app to the next breakpoint.
Breakpoints are a useful feature when you know the line of code or the section of code that you want to examine in detail. For information on the different types of breakpoints you can set, such as conditional breakpoints, see Using breakpoints.

Navigate code in the debugger using step commands

Mostly, we use the keyboard shortcuts here, because it's a good way to get fast at executing your app in the debugger (equivalent commands such as menu commands are shown in parentheses).

While paused in the for loop in the main method, press F11 (or choose Debug > Step Into) twice to to advance to the SendMessage method call.
After pressing F11 twice, you should be at this line of code:
SendMessage(name, a[i]);
Press F11 one more time to step into the SendMessage method.
The yellow pointer advances into the SendMessage method.
F11 is the Step Into command and advances the app execution one statement at a time. F11 is a good way to examine the execution flow in the most detail. (To move faster through code, we show you some other options also.) By default, the debugger skips over non-user code (if you want more details, see Just My Code).
Let's say that you are done examining the SendMessage method, and you want to get out of the method but stay in the debugger. You can do this using the Step Out command.
Press Shift + F11 (or Debug > Step Out).
This command resumes app execution (and advances the debugger) until the current method or function returns.
You should be back in the for loop in the main method, paused at the SendMessage method call.
Press F11 several times until you get back to the SendMessage method call again.
While paused at the method call, press F10 (or choose Debug > Step OverVst plugin fruity love philter download. ) once.
Notice this time that the debugger does not step into the SendMessage method. F10 advances the debugger without stepping into functions or methods in your app code (the code still executes). By pressing F10 on the SendMessage method call (instead of F11), we skipped over the implementation code for SendMessage (which maybe we're not interested in right now). For more information on different ways to move through your code, see Navigate code in the debugger.

Navigate code using Run to Click

Press F5 to advance to the breakpoint.
In the code editor, scroll down and hover over the std::wcout function in the SendMessage method until the green Run to Click button appears on the left. The tooltip for the button shows 'Run execution to here'.
Note
The Run to Click button is new in Visual Studio 2017. (If you don't see the green arrow button, use F11 in this example instead to advance the debugger to the right place.)
Click the Run to Click button .
The debugger advances to the std::wcout function.
Using this button is similar to setting a temporary breakpoint. Run to Click is handy for getting around quickly within a visible region of app code (you can click in any open file).

Restart your app quickly

Click the Restart button in the Debug Toolbar (Ctrl + Shift + F5).

When you press Restart, it saves time versus stopping the app and restarting the debugger. The debugger pauses at the first breakpoint that is hit by executing code.

The debugger stops again at the breakpoint you previously set inside the for loop.

Inspect variables with data tips

Features that allow you to inspect variables are one of the most useful features of the debugger, and there are different ways to do it. Often, when you try to debug an issue, you are attempting to find out whether variables are storing the values that you expect them to have at a particular time.

While paused on the name += letters[i] statement, hover over the letters variable and you see it's default value, size={10}.
Expand the letters variable to see its properties, which include all the elements that the variable contains.
Next, hover over the name variable, and you see its current value, an empty string.
Press F5 (or Debug > Continue) a few times to iterate several times through the for loop, pausing again at the breakpoint, and hovering over the name variable each time to check its value.
The value of the variable changes with each iteration of the for loop, showing values of f, then fr, then fre, and so on.
Often, when debugging, you want a quick way to check property values on variables, to see whether they are storing the values that you expect them to store, and the data tips are a good way to do it.

Inspect variables with the Autos and Locals windows

Look at the Autos window at the bottom of the code editor.
If it is closed, open it while paused in the debugger by choosing Debug > Windows > Autos.
In the Autos window, you see variables and their current value. The Autos window shows all variables used on the current line or the preceding line (Check documentation for language-specific behavior).
Next, look at the Locals window, in a tab next to the Autos window.
Expand the letters variable to show the elements that it contains.
The Locals window shows you the variables that are in the current scope, that is, the current execution context.

Set a watch

In the main code editor window, right-click the name variable and choose Add Watch.
The Watch window opens at the bottom of the code editor. You can use a Watch window to specify a variable (or an expression) that you want to keep an eye on.
Now, you have a watch set on the name variable, and you can see its value change as you move through the debugger. Unlike the other variable windows, the Watch window always shows the variables that you are watching (they're grayed out when out of scope).

Examine the call stack

While paused in the for loop, click the Call Stack window, which is by default open in the lower right pane.
If it is closed, open it while paused in the debugger by choosing Debug > Windows > Call Stack.
Click F11 a few times until you see the debugger pause in the SendMessage method. Look at the Call Stack window.
The Call Stack window shows the order in which methods and functions are getting called. The top line shows the current function (the SendMessage method in this app). The second line shows that SendMessage was called from the main method, and so on.
Note
The Call Stack window is similar to the Debug perspective in some IDEs like Eclipse.
The call stack is a good way to examine and understand the execution flow of an app.
You can double-click a line of code to go look at that source code and that also changes the current scope being inspected by the debugger. This action does not advance the debugger.
You can also use right-click menus from the Call Stack window to do other things. For example, you can insert breakpoints into specified functions, advance the debugger using Run to Cursor, and go examine source code. For more information, see How to: Examine the Call Stack.

Change the execution flow

Press F11 twice to run the std::wcout function.
With the debugger paused in the SendMessage method call, use the mouse to grab the yellow arrow (the execution pointer) on the left and move the yellow arrow up one line, back to std::wcout.
Press F11.
The debugger reruns the std::wcout function (you see this in the console window output).
By changing the execution flow, you can do things like test different code execution paths or rerun code without restarting the debugger.
Warning
Often you need to be careful with this feature, and you see a warning in the tooltip. You may see other warnings, too. Moving the pointer cannot revert your application to an earlier app state.
Press F5 to continue running the app.
Congratulations on completing this tutorial!

Next steps

In this tutorial, you've learned how to start the debugger, step through code, and inspect variables. You may want to get a high-level look at debugger features along with links to more information.

What is Dev-C++?
Dev-C++, developed by Bloodshed Software, is a fully featured graphical IDE (Integrated Development Environment), which is able to create Windows or console-based C/C++ programs using the MinGW compiler system. MinGW (Minimalist GNU* for Windows) uses GCC (the GNU g++ compiler collection), which is essentially the same compiler system that is in Cygwin (the unix environment program for Windows) and most versions of Linux. There are, however, differences between Cygwin and MinGW; link to Differences between Cygwin and MinGW for more information.

Click picture to enlarge.

Bloodshed!?
I'll be the first to say that the name Bloodshed won't give you warm and fuzzies, but I think it's best if the creator of Bloodshed explains:

First I would like to say that I am not a satanist, that I hate violence/war and that I don't like heavy metal / hard-rock music. I am french, but I do know the meaning of the 'Bloodshed' word, and I use this name because I think it sounds well. If you are offended by the name, I am very sorry but it would be a big mess to change the name now.

There's also a reason why I keep the Bloodshed name. I don't want people to think Bloodshed is a company, because it isn't. I'm just doing this to help people.

Here is a good remark on the Bloodshed name I received from JohnS:
I assumed that this was a reference to the time and effort it requires of you to make these nice software programs, a la 'Blood, Sweat and Tears'.

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Getting Dev-C++
The author has released Dev-C++ as free software (under GPL) but also offers a CD for purchase which can contain all Bloodshed software (it's customizable), including Dev-C++ with all updates/patches.

Link to Bloodshed Dev-C++ for a list of Dev-C++ download sites.

You should let the installer put Dev-C++ in the default directory of C:Dev-Cpp, as it will make it easier to later install add-ons or upgrades.

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Using Dev-C++
This section is probably why you are here.

All programming done for CSCI-2025 will require separate compilation projects (i.e. class header file(s), class implementation file(s) and a main/application/client/driver file). This process is relatively easy as long as you know what Dev-C++ requires to do this. In this page you will be given instructions using the Project menu choice. In another handout you will be given instructions on how to manually compile, link and execute C++ files at the command prompt of a command window. See here.

Step 1: Configure Dev-C++.
We need to modify one of the default settings to allow you to use the debugger with your programs.

Go to the 'Tools' menu and select 'Compiler Options'.
In the 'Settings' tab, click on 'Linker' in the left panel, and change 'Generate debugging information' to 'Yes':
Click 'OK'.

Step 2: Create a new project.
A 'project' can be considered as a container that is used to store all the elements that are required to compile a program.

Go to the 'File' menu and select 'New', 'Project..'.
Choose 'Empty Project' and make sure 'C++ project' is selected.
Here you will also give your project a name. You can give your project any valid filename, but keep in mind that the name of your project will also be the name of your final executable.
Once you have entered a name for your project, click 'OK'.
Dev-C++ will now ask you where to save your project.

Step 3: Create/add source file(s).
You can add empty source files one of two ways:

Go to the 'File' menu and select 'New Source File' (or just press CTRL+N) OR
Go to the 'Project' menu and select 'New File'.
Note that Dev-C++ will not ask for a filename for any new source file until you attempt to:
1. Compile
2. Save the project
3. Save the source file
4. Exit Dev-C++

You can add pre-existing source files one of two ways:

Go to the 'Project' menu and select 'Add to Project' OR
Right-click on the project name in the left-hand panel and select 'Add to Project'.

EXAMPLE: Multiple source files
In this example, more than 3 files are required to compile the program; The 'driver.cpp' file references 'Deque.h' (which requires 'Deque.cpp') and 'Deque.cpp' references 'Queue.h' (which requires 'Queue.cpp').

Step 4: Compile.
Once you have entered all of your source code, you are ready to compile.

Go to the 'Execute' menu and select 'Compile' (or just press CTRL+F9).
It is likely that you will get some kind of compiler or linker error the first time you attempt to compile a project. Syntax errors will be displayed in the 'Compiler' tab at the bottom of the screen. You can double-click on any error to take you to the place in the source code where it occurred. The 'Linker' tab will flash if there are any linker errors. Linker errors are generally the result of syntax errors not allowing one of the files to compile.

Once your project successfully compiles, the 'Compile Progress' dialog box will have a status of 'Done'. At this point, you may click 'Close'.

Step 5: Execute.
You can now run your program.

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Go to the 'Execute' menu, choose 'Run'.

Note: to pass command-line parameters to your program, go to the 'Execute' menu, choose 'Parameters' and type in any paramaters you wish to pass.

Disappearing windows
If you execute your program (with or without parameters), you may notice something peculiar; a console window will pop up, flash some text and disappear. The problem is that, if directly executed, console program windows close after the program exits. You can solve this problem one of two ways:

Method 1 - Adding one library call:
On the line before the main's return enter:
system('Pause');
Method 2 - Scaffolding:
Add the following code before any return statement in main() or any exit() or abort() statement (in any function):
/* Scaffolding code for testing purposes */ cin.ignore(256, 'n'); cout << 'Press ENTER to continue..'<< endl; cin.get(); /* End Scaffolding */
This will give you a chance to view any output before the program terminates and the window closes.
Method 3 - Command-prompt:
Alternatively, instead of using Dev-C++ to invoke your program, you can just open an MS-DOS Prompt, go to the directory where your program was compiled (i.e. where you saved the project) and enter the program name (along with any parameters). The command-prompt window will not close when the program terminates.

For what it's worth, I use the command-line method.

Step 6: Debug.
When things aren't happening the way you planned, a source-level debugger can be a great tool in determining what really is going on. Dev-C++'s basic debugger functions are controlled via the 'Debug' tab at the bottom of the screen; more advanced functions are available in the 'Debug' menu.

Using the debugger:
The various features of the debugger are pretty obvious. Click the 'Run to cursor' icon to run your program and pause at the current source code cursor location; Click 'Next Step' to step through the code; Click 'Add Watch' to monitor variables.
Setting breakpoints is as easy as clicking in the black space next to the line in the source code.
See the Dev-C++ help topic 'Debugging Your Program' for more information.

Dev-C++ User F.A.Q.

Why do I keep getting errors about 'cout', 'cin', and 'endl' being undeclared?
It has to do with namespaces. You need to add the following line after the includes of your implementation (.cpp) files: