[TriLUG] What Do People Use to Debug C++ on RHEL 7?

[John via TriLUG]

Sorry I'm late to the thread, but you could try to approach it from a
reverse engineering standpoint. Depending on the specific needs IDA pro
is likely more than adequate to knock down this problem.


On 04/12/2018 03:30 PM, Scott Chilcote via TriLUG wrote:
> Hi LUGgers,
>
> I'm attempting to use gdb to analyze how a large-ish open software
> project loads and processes a specific kind of data file. 
>
> I haven't worked with C++ in some years, and am using a fresh VM install
> of RHEL 7.  I have have added the EPEL repo, but am finding a dearth of
> graphical front ends or possibly IDEs to make operating gdb a little easier.
>
> I used to enjoy DDD, but it appears to have fallen down the pit of
> neglect.  I was able to install it from EPEL, but gdb continually hangs
> when I attempt to open a debugging session.  It displays an hourglass
> cursor until I give up and quit, at which point it displays a box to
> inform me that gdb is still busy (quit anyway?). 
>
> There's almost no useful advice regarding this problem that I've been
> able to find, other than to delete the ~/.ddd preferences directory.  I
> tried that, and it only prevents the initial session from hanging.  As
> soon as I attempt to debug an executable, it hangs.
>
> None of this happens when I use gdb on the command line.  I haven't
> completely ruled this out as an option, but it makes hunting through
> multiple source files, setting up watches and breakpoints slower and
> more error prone.  YMMV. 
>
> So far I have been able to install and try CGDB, "gdb -tui", and gdbgui
> (browser based), but these all seem to be a good step backwards from DDD
> in terms of features and ease of use.  Given how long it's been I'd
> hoped to find something more advanced, not less. 
>
> I switched to IDEs from there, with some trepidations considering how
> much cruft they bring along.  Anjuta is in the software "store", so I
> tried installing that.  It fails over dependency issues in three
> different libraries.  Neither netbeans nor eclipse are available, unless
> I build them from source. 
>
> I started having second thoughts at this point.  Am I overlooking
> something that should be obvious?
>
> Perhaps the main issue is that I'm using RHEL instead of Fedora.  That
> might be, but the work I'm doing may lead to a development project that
> will have to build on RHEL.
>
> Does anyone have some good advice here, other than to start learning
> EMACS...?
>
>   Scott C.
>