11.6 Using the Source Editor when Debugging

When debugging, the left area of each source editor provides the following information:

Lines with code

In this area, blue dots are present next to lines for which the debugger has debug information, in other words, lines that have been compiled with debug information and for which the compiler has generated some code. Currently, there is no check when you try to set a breakpoint on a non dotted line: this will simply send the breakpoint command to the underlying debugger, and usually (e.g in the case of gdb) result in setting a breakpoint at the closest location that matches the file and line that you specified.

Current line executed

This is a green arrow showing the line about to be executed.

Lines with breakpoints

For lines where breakpoints have been set, a red mark is displayed on top of the blue dot for the line. You can add and delete breakpoints by clicking on this area (the first click will set a breakpoint, the second click will remove it).

The second area in the source window is a text window on the right that displays the source files, with syntax highlighting. If you leave the cursor over a variable, a tooltip will appear showing the value of this variable. Automatic tooltips can be disabled in the preferences menu. See preferences dialog.

When the debugger is active, the contextual menu of the source window contains a sub menu called Debug providing the following entries.

Note that these entries are dynamic: they will apply to the entity found under the cursor when the menu is displayed (depending on the current language). In addition, if a selection has been made in the source window the text of the selection will be used instead. This allows you to display more complex expressions easily (for example by adding some comments to your code with the complex expressions you want to be able to display in the debugger).

Print selection

Prints the selection (or by default the name under the cursor) in the debugger console.

Display selection

Displays the selection (or by default the name under the cursor) in the data window. The value will be automatically refreshed each time the process state changes (e.g after a step or a next command). To freeze the display in the canvas, you can either click on the corresponding icon in the data window, or use the contextual menu for the specific item (see The Data Window for more information).

Print selection.all

Dereferences the selection (or by default the name under the cursor) and prints the value in the debugger console.

Display selection.all

Dereferences the selection (or by default the name under the cursor) and displays the value in the data window.

View memory at address of selection

Brings up the memory view dialog and explores memory at the address of the selection.

Set Breakpoint on Line xx

Sets a breakpoint on the line under the cursor, in the current file.

Set Breakpoint on selection

Sets a breakpoint at the beginning of the subprogram named selection

Continue Until Line xx

Continues execution (the program must have been started previously) until it reaches the specified line.

Show Current Location

Jumps to the current line of execution. This is particularly useful after navigating through your source code.