debugging

name	debugging
version	3.0.0
description	Production-grade skill for C++ debugging. Covers GDB, LLDB, sanitizers, memory debugging, crash analysis, and systematic bug investigation techniques.
sasmp_version	1.3.0
skill_version	3.0.0
bonded_agent	cpp-debugger-agent
bond_type	PRIMARY_BOND
category	development
parameters	{"debugger":{"type":"string","required":false,"enum":["gdb","lldb","visual_studio","windbg"],"default":"gdb","description":"Debugger to use"},"issue_type":{"type":"string","required":false,"enum":["crash","memory","logic","performance","concurrency"],"description":"Type of issue being debugged"},"sanitizer":{"type":"string","required":false,"enum":["asan","ubsan","tsan","msan"],"description":"Sanitizer to enable"},"verbosity":{"type":"string","required":false,"enum":["minimal","standard","verbose"],"default":"standard","description":"Level of debug output"}}
error_handling	{"retry_logic":{"max_attempts":3,"backoff":"exponential","initial_delay_ms":500,"max_delay_ms":8000,"jitter":true},"fallback":{"on_crash_not_reproducible":"enable_core_dumps","on_debugger_fail":"use_logging","on_sanitizer_overhead":"use_sampling","on_heisenbug":"add_instrumentation"},"validation":{"verify_debug_symbols":true,"check_optimization_level":true,"confirm_reproducibility":true}}

Debugging Skill

Production-Grade Development Skill | C++ Debugging & Error Analysis

Master C++ debugging tools and systematic investigation techniques.

---

Debugging Workflow

┌─────────────┐    ┌──────────────┐    ┌───────────────┐
│  REPRODUCE  │───▶│   ISOLATE    │───▶│  INSTRUMENT   │
│  (confirm)  │    │  (minimize)  │    │  (observe)    │
└─────────────┘    └──────────────┘    └───────────────┘
       │                                      │
       ▼                                      ▼
┌─────────────┐    ┌──────────────┐    ┌───────────────┐
│   VERIFY    │◀───│     FIX      │◀───│   ANALYZE     │
│   (test)    │    │  (correct)   │    │ (root cause)  │
└─────────────┘    └──────────────┘    └───────────────┘

---

GDB (GNU Debugger)

Essential Commands

# Compile with debug symbols
g++ -g -O0 program.cpp -o program

# Start GDB
gdb ./program

# Core dump analysis
gdb ./program core.dump

# Execution Control
run [args]              # Start program
continue (c)            # Continue execution
next (n)                # Step over
step (s)                # Step into
finish                  # Run until current function returns
until <line>            # Run until line

# Breakpoints
break main              # Break at function
break file.cpp:42       # Break at line
break *0x400520         # Break at address
break func if x > 5     # Conditional breakpoint
delete <num>            # Remove breakpoint
disable/enable <num>    # Toggle breakpoint

# Inspection
print variable          # Print value
print/x variable        # Print in hex
display variable        # Print at each stop
info locals             # Show local variables
info args               # Show function arguments
ptype variable          # Show type

# Stack Navigation
backtrace (bt)          # Show call stack
frame <n>               # Select frame
up/down                 # Move in stack

# Memory
x/10xw 0x400520         # Examine 10 words in hex
watch variable          # Break when variable changes
rwatch variable         # Break when variable is read

# Advanced
catch throw             # Break on exception
set variable x = 5      # Modify variable
call func(args)         # Call function

GDB Scripts

# .gdbinit - Auto-loaded configuration
set history save on
set print pretty on
set print array on
set pagination off

# Custom command
define pv
    print *$arg0@$arg1
end
# Usage: pv array 10

---

LLDB (macOS/Clang)

# Start LLDB
lldb ./program

# Attach to process
lldb -p <pid>