update 2004-DEC-13

Users of the SUN compilers should note that a graphics user interface exists to various programming tools. The debuggers for the SUN compilers when used via this graphical user interface are far superior to the character based debuggers like gdb. Another tool that is far superior to character based tool is File Merge (a version of diff). All these tools are bundled into "workshop".

Using workshop

Enter the following command from the directory containing your source code and executable:

workshop &

Or more directly:

debugger program &

where program is the name (without extension) of the executable to debug.

Note that in order to make effective use of the debugger, the symbol table for the executable must contain additional information. This means that you MUST use the flag "-g" when compiling, as in these examples:

C

cc -g -o program program.c
make CFLAGS=-g program

Pascal

pc -g -C -s -o program program.p
make PFLAGS="-g -C -s" program

When using workshop, you would load "program" as your first step.

If you have a file called ".dbxinit" in your home directory move or remove it. To get the convenient extra button "step up", and buttons "go to" and "hexdump", as well as, some other features do the following:

cp /usr/local/info/.dbxrc $HOME