Debug faster with gdb layouts (TUI)

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Debug faster with gdb layouts (TUI) // If you ever get tired of typing list after every command in gdb, this is the video for you. Here, I describe the GDB Terminal User Interface (or TUI) which, many students don't realize is there. It allows you to see the C-source and assembly source while you step through your code, and the views are configurable through the layout command.
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Welcome! I post videos that help you learn to program and become a more confident software developer. I cover beginner-to-advanced systems topics ranging from network programming, threads, processes, operating systems, embedded systems and others. My goal is to help you get under-the-hood and better understand how computers work and how you can use them to become stronger students and more capable professional developers.
About me: I'm a computer scientist, electrical engineer, researcher, and teacher. I specialize in embedded systems, mobile computing, sensor networks, and the Internet of Things. I teach systems and networking courses at Clemson University, where I also lead the PERSIST research lab.
More about me and what I do:
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[@subhashisghose]

Thank You for demonstrating the TUI in GDB. This is going to be Helpful.

[@JacobSorber]

You're welcome. Glad I could help.

[@drvanon]

Not having known about this before, you have just revolutionized my debugging experience!

[@diceandbricks]

Cool. I didn't know about that. Been coding for 30 years and still learning. That's why I like your channel.

[@JacobSorber]

Me too. Glad I could help.

[@bzboii]

I used this trick when doing my bomblab assignment. Helps so freaking much. A big tip here is also that control+L refreshes the TUI, as it often gets weirdly "corrupted" and needs often refreshing.

[@sayori3939]

The command "ref" does the same

[@smartkorean1]

This is amazing! Had no idea this was a feature and I've been painfully using GDB this entire semester....

[@JannisAdmek]

Nice video and happy new year to all fellow C programmers!

[@JacobSorber]

Happy new year!

[@virajcz7143]

This is so good! Thank you so much!

[@sakuyarules]

This is a godsend, thank you!

[@zirkoni42]

Instead of "b main" & "r" you could just do "start". Also, instead of "layout next" use "layout src" (or whatever layout name you want).

[@cernejr]

Short AND helpful. :)

[@anonymousvevo8697]

You are a hero !

[@asadkhasanov1056]

Fantastic!

[@huyibao]

thank you for gdb demo.

[@mohammadhosseinzolfagharna8106]

I always respected my professors at university and learned many things from them, but I think I have learned even more from you. Thank you professor and please keep on your valuable online courses.

[@arsrivaszaredan8217]

thanks a lot!!!!

[@grahamjoss4643]

wow. where have you been all my life ...

[@johnybaker9878]

Hi Jacob, can you do tutorial, maybe share some tweaks on how to better understand other people's code, especially when it's a big project with a lot of .c and .h files? Thanks.

[@rodolfodirack1246]

I would like that to!

[@ladyViviaen]

its gdb time

[@chrisfahed8361]

Would you please make a video about Math in embedded systems and btw very helpful videos keep going

[@benjaminshinar9509]

i was aware of tui, but not of changing layouts. and the nexti,stepi could be huge!

[@JacobSorber]

Yeah, I don't use them ever day, but when they're useful...they're REALLY useful.

[@vanowik7518]

There are extensions to gdb like pwndbg or peda that make it much more friendly.

[@synfuel]

I think it would be great if you made a discord server. Just for people to share and learn from others and it would be easier to help people.

[@halavich9672]

Seems to be awesome

[@maiconfaria]

Would be nice to have some tool to visualize and compare big arrays on GDB

[@vladimir_k_bestplayerna1217]

I see that you can also see the values stored in the registers live. Is it possible to have all 3 shown at once? C code, Assembly, and register values?

[@marusdod3685]

I usually just press ctrl-x-a

[@NxNx-gb3hp]

Hi, tnx 4 ur awesome tutorials. Can u make a tutorial on how to build an ISO imagine of a Linux kernel from Linux source code that can actually be used in virtualbox

[@giacomog1128]

do you know if there's a layout gdb for java programs?

[@testshar2117]

Does this command works in putty session? What to do if it doesn't?

[@rafalmichalski4893]

Hi Jacob. How did you split these two views: C and Assembler ?

[@pumpkin3586]

At 2:19 you see that with "layout next" you can find the layout you are looking for.

[@JannisAdmek]

depending on the terminal, you might not have curses support, specially Windows Comand line doesn't have curses support as far as I know.

[@JacobSorber]

Thanks, Jannis. Yes, you need curses support for this to work. Also, if you don't want to cycle through the layouts, and you know which one you want, just type "layout split" to get the split layout, or "layout src" for just the source and command views.

[@fmontserrattube]

I have this "m68k-elf-gdb.exe" gdb client wich i use to debug 68k assembly, but it does not support tui....i've been trying to recompile it whit added support with no luck, any idea on how to enable tui in this version???

[@stelluspereira]

BTW, GDB in MacOS Venura Gives error , some odd libraries permissions error for setting break points

[@dusankolak4359]

is there a way for me to display stack at every step? or have a window dedicated to stack? instead of typing bt full every step. thanks for the video!

[@JacobSorber]

Of course. 😀type "define hook-stop". Then type in "bt", then "end". Now, every time your program stops, gdb will run "bt" for you.

[@dusankolak4359]

@@JacobSorber thank you very much!!!

[@dusankolak4359]

@@JacobSorber thanks for this again. just passed my exam with highest marks and i used gdb to debug. define hook-stop helped me speed things up so much!

[@realdragon]

Cannot enable the TUI: error opening terminal [TERM=xterm-256color]

[@paullemmermann5993]

Can you do a tutorial about Radare2?

[@JacobSorber]

Yeah, probably. I'll add it to my topic list and see what I can do down the road. Thanks.

[@MarquisDeSang]

It is better to use GDB inside EMACS with the full 6 viewports.

[@dontaskme1625]

don't apologize that it was a short video, everyone who clicks on the video sees it before they click ;)

[@yash1152]

1:36 TUI

[@freddieventura4382]

Really not much information in this video but just introducing a bit the feature

[@mikeyamaro9035]

bruuhh arm-aebi-none-gdb 2020 doesnt support tui.

[@AJ-fo3hp]

Linux has still in olden days debugging techniques, this is seem to be tedious debugging as well less devolper friendly

[@JacobSorber]

Today's terminal debuggers (gdb, lldb) definitely aren't perfect, but after using dozens of different debugging tools, it's amazing how a quick gdb session (with a reasonably good .gdbinit file) is still often the fastest option for me. There's definitely a learning curve.

[@Maranello988]

VIM, GCC, GDB The rest is unnecessary :)

[@angelcaru]

You forgot MAN