dd-symdb

name	dd-symdb
description	Symbol Database - search service symbols, find probe-able methods.
metadata	{"version":"1.0.0","author":"datadog-labs","repository":"https://github.com/datadog-labs/agent-skills","tags":"datadog,symdb,symbol-database,live-debugger","globs":"","alwaysApply":"false"}

Datadog Symbol Database

Search for classes and methods in instrumented services. Find probe-able method locations for use with the Live Debugger.

Prerequisites

pup must be installed:

brew tap datadog-labs/pack && brew install pup

Authentication

Authenticate via OAuth2 (recommended) or API keys:

# OAuth2 (recommended)
pup auth login

# Or use API keys
export DD_API_KEY="key" DD_APP_KEY="key" DD_SITE="datadoghq.com"

Usage

Names View

One scope name per line.

pup symdb search --service my-service --query "Controller" --view names

Probe Locations View

TYPE:METHOD(arg1, arg2, ...) signatures suitable for --probe-location in pup debugger probes create. Falls back to TYPE:METHOD when no argument info is available.

pup symdb search --service my-service --query "VetController" --view probe-locations

Full View

Raw JSON response from the API.

pup symdb search --service my-service --query "VetController" --view full

Filter by Version

pup symdb search --service my-service --query "handler" --version "v1.2.3" --view names

Combining with Debugger

Find methods then place probes:

# 1. Find probe-able methods
pup symdb search --service my-service --query "MyController" --view probe-locations

# 2. Place a probe on a discovered method (language auto-detected from symdb)
pup debugger probes create \
  --service my-service \
  --env production \
  --probe-location "com.example.MyController:handleRequest" \
  --template "handleRequest called with id={id}"

# Or use the full signature when multiple overloads exist
pup debugger probes create \
  --service my-service \
  --env production \
  --probe-location "com.example.MyController:handleRequest(int, java.lang.String)" \
  --template "handleRequest called with id={id}"

# 3. Stream events
pup debugger probes watch <PROBE_ID> --timeout 60 --limit 10

Options

Flag	Description	Default
--service	Service name (required)	—
--query	Search query, matches scope names	None (lists all)
--version	Service version filter	None
--view	Output view: full, names, probe-locations	full

Failure Handling

Problem	Fix
No results	Verify the service is instrumented and reporting to Datadog
Auth error	Run pup auth login or set DD_API_KEY + DD_APP_KEY + DD_SITE
Wrong service name	Check exact service name in Datadog APM service catalog
Stale symbols	Filter with --version to target the currently deployed version

References

• Live Debugger Docs
• Symbol Database