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Show HN: BugStalker - a modern Rust debugger

115 points by godzie 1y ago

godzie 1y ago
BS is a modern debugger for Linux x86-64. Written in Rust for Rust programs. Async Rust support – debug async code with new commands: - async backtrace – inspect async task backtraces - async task – view task details - async stepover / async stepout – better control over async execution Enhanced variable inspection: - argd / vard – print variables and arguments using Debug trait Other: - new `call` Command – execute functions directly in the debugged program - `trigger` Command – fine-grained control over breakpoints - new project Website – better docs and resources …and much more! Full Changelog: https://github.com/godzie44/BugStalker/releases/tag/v0.3.0 https://github.com/godzie44/BugStalker/releases/tag/v0.3.0 Documentation & Demos: https://godzie44.github.io/BugStalker/ https://godzie44.github.io/BugStalker/
bfrog 1y ago
Been hoping someone would make this, looks great! I guess I’m next hoping someone gets it working using jtag/swd debug probes for embedded targets :)
- goku12 1y ago
  Would something like this work for you? https://probe.rs/ https://probe.rs/
otherayden 1y ago
Best of luck with this project. I'm not even a rust dev but I came to say that I love this name
sixthDot 1y ago
any Machine Interface planned (à la GDB/MI)?
- godzie 1y ago
  First priority is a DAP support. But after this - why not.
  - harpiaharpyja 1y ago
    Would DAP support allow this to be used with OpenOCD?
    - godzie 1y ago
      [dead]
giancarlostoro 1y ago
BugStomper would have also been a great name choice. ;)
- rob74 1y ago
  Better than the current one - first, stalking is not really a verb that comes to mind when I think about bugs, and second, it has pretty negative connotations...
meisel 1y ago
I’m surprised this isn’t getting more love. My experience with other debuggers with Rust was quite poor, I hope this one can fare much better. For example, I couldn’t call functions with previous debuggers
bobajeff 1y ago
Does this have a machine interface mode like gdb/lldb? Asking because I like my debuggers to be integrated with my code editor of choice which is usually done via such an interface.
- godzie 1y ago
  Unfortunately no, but it's a good idea. I'll definitely look into this feature.
gitroom 1y ago
Honestly this wouldve helped me a ton when I got stuck with async errors before, Rust debugging always felt tougher than it should be.
- dathinab 1y ago
  yeah I mean you are basically stuck with a few options - use C/C++ focused debugers with a rust plugin or similar (okay, not not compared to idk. debugging python in PyStorm) - rely on tracing/logging and errors reported (which might sound dump as it's basically "not" debugging, but with how the rust type system plays out and enforcement of reasonable decent code style/structure etc. this is quite often good enough) - write/extend tests (again a form of "not" debugging, but where while a "must have" even if you pinned down the bug using a debugger) - sprinkle in dbg! statements (basically print line debugging) The fact that it took like 10? yearts for anyone to write more then just tweeks to C/C++ debuggers even through rust has a lot of enthusiasts is I think telling ;) Still it looks like a real nice tool to have in your toolbox.
thurn 1y ago
is this necessarily linux for dependency reasons, or could it be on OSX in the future?
- godzie 1y ago
  Yes, I think it's possible to support macOS. However, the main challenge isn't the operating system itself but rather the architecture.
lostmsu 1y ago
What's the state of expression evaluation?

115 points by godzie 1y ago

BS is a modern debugger for Linux x86-64. Written in Rust for Rust programs. Async Rust support – debug async code with new commands: - async backtrace – inspect async task backtraces - async task – view task details - async stepover / async stepout – better control over async execution Enhanced variable inspection: - argd / vard – print variables and arguments using Debug trait Other: - new `call` Command – execute functions directly in the debugged program - `trigger` Command – fine-grained control over breakpoints - new project Website – better docs and resources …and much more! Full Changelog: https://github.com/godzie44/BugStalker/releases/tag/v0.3.0 https://github.com/godzie44/BugStalker/releases/tag/v0.3.0 Documentation & Demos: https://godzie44.github.io/BugStalker/ https://godzie44.github.io/BugStalker/

bfrog 1y ago

Been hoping someone would make this, looks great! I guess I’m next hoping someone gets it working using jtag/swd debug probes for embedded targets :)

goku12 1y ago
Would something like this work for you? https://probe.rs/ https://probe.rs/

otherayden 1y ago

Best of luck with this project. I'm not even a rust dev but I came to say that I love this name

sixthDot 1y ago

any Machine Interface planned (à la GDB/MI)?

godzie 1y ago
First priority is a DAP support. But after this - why not.
- harpiaharpyja 1y ago
  Would DAP support allow this to be used with OpenOCD?
  - godzie 1y ago
    [dead]

giancarlostoro 1y ago

BugStomper would have also been a great name choice. ;)

rob74 1y ago
Better than the current one - first, stalking is not really a verb that comes to mind when I think about bugs, and second, it has pretty negative connotations...

meisel 1y ago

I’m surprised this isn’t getting more love. My experience with other debuggers with Rust was quite poor, I hope this one can fare much better. For example, I couldn’t call functions with previous debuggers

bobajeff 1y ago

Does this have a machine interface mode like gdb/lldb? Asking because I like my debuggers to be integrated with my code editor of choice which is usually done via such an interface.

godzie 1y ago
Unfortunately no, but it's a good idea. I'll definitely look into this feature.

gitroom 1y ago

Honestly this wouldve helped me a ton when I got stuck with async errors before, Rust debugging always felt tougher than it should be.

dathinab 1y ago
yeah I mean you are basically stuck with a few options - use C/C++ focused debugers with a rust plugin or similar (okay, not not compared to idk. debugging python in PyStorm) - rely on tracing/logging and errors reported (which might sound dump as it's basically "not" debugging, but with how the rust type system plays out and enforcement of reasonable decent code style/structure etc. this is quite often good enough) - write/extend tests (again a form of "not" debugging, but where while a "must have" even if you pinned down the bug using a debugger) - sprinkle in dbg! statements (basically print line debugging) The fact that it took like 10? yearts for anyone to write more then just tweeks to C/C++ debuggers even through rust has a lot of enthusiasts is I think telling ;) Still it looks like a real nice tool to have in your toolbox.

thurn 1y ago

is this necessarily linux for dependency reasons, or could it be on OSX in the future?

godzie 1y ago
Yes, I think it's possible to support macOS. However, the main challenge isn't the operating system itself but rather the architecture.

lostmsu 1y ago

What's the state of expression evaluation?