The NetBeans IDE 6.7 with C/C++ uses the gdb debugger and provides
numerous features for debugging your projects. To explore these features, we'll use
the Quote project. If you have not already created this
project, do the following:
Choose File > New Project.
In the project wizard, expand the Samples category and the C/C++ subcategory.
Select the Applications subcategory, then select the Quote
project. Click Next, then click Finish.
You can create and manipulate breakpoints in your code at any time
without starting a debugging session.
Creating and Removing a Line Breakpoint
In the Quote_1 project, open the quote.cc file.
Set a line breakpoint by clicking in the left margin of the Source Editor
window next to line 161 (response = readChar("Enter disk module type: (S for single disks, R for RAID; Q - exit)",
'S');). The line
is highlighted in red to indicate that
the breakpoint is set.
You could remove the breakpoint by clicking on the icon in the left margin.
Choose Window > Debugging > Breakpoints to open the Breakpoints
window. Your line breakpoint is listed in the window.
Creating a Function Breakpoint
Choose Debug > New Breakpoint (Ctrl+Shift+f8) to open the New Breakpoint
dialog box.
In the Breakpoint Type drop-down list, set the type to Function.
Type the function name Customer::GetDiscount in the Function
Name text field. Click OK.
Your function breakpoint is set and is added to the list in the
Breakpoints window.
Starting a Debugging Session
When you start a debugging session, the IDE starts the gdb
debugger, then runs the application inside the debugger. The IDE automatically
opens the debugger
windows and prints debugger output to the Output window.
Start a debugging session for the Quote_1 project by
right-clicking the project node and choosing Debug. The debugger
starts and the application
runs,
and the Variables, Watches, and Call Stack windows open.
Open the Sessions window by choosing Window > Debugging > Sessions.
The debugging session is shown in this window.
Inspecting the State of the Application
The Quote_1 application prompts you for input in the External I/O
window.
Enter a customer name after the "Enter customer name:" prompt.
The application stops at the function breakpoint you set earlier.
Open the Breakpoints window by choosing Window > Debugging >
Breakpoints. The window lists the two breakpoints you set earlier.
The function
breakpoint is displayed in bold.
Click the Call Stack tab. The call stack shows three frames.
Click the Variables tab and note that one variable is displayed. Click the
top button in the left column in the Variables tab to show Autos instead of local
variables.
Click the expand icons
(small boxes with plus signs) to
expand the structure.
Click the Continue button in the toolbar. The GetDiscount
function is executed, printing the customer discount to the External I/O
window. Then you are prompted for input.
Enter the input in response to the prompts. The program stops at the next
breakpoint, the line breakpoint you set earlier. In the
quote.cc file, the green program counter arrow appears on top
of the breakpoint icon indicating the line on which the program is
stopped.
Click the
Variables tab and note the long list of variables.
Click the Call
Stack tab and note that there is now one frame in the stack.
Choose Window > Debugging > Threads. The Threads window opens
showing two threads. The current thread is displayed in bold.
Choose Window > Debugging > Registers. The Registers window
opens, displaying the current contents of the registers.
Choose Window > Debugging > Disassembly. The Disassembly window
opens, displaying the assembly instructions for the current source file.
Click the Continue button in the toolbar and continue entering input in response to the
prompts in the External I/O window until the program is completed. When you
press Enter to exit the program, the External I/O window closes and your
debug session ends. To end the debug session before the
execution of the program was complete, you could right-click the session in
the Sessions tab, and choose Finish, or choose Debug > Finish Debugger Session.
