Debugging
Techniques and best practices for debugging plugins and handling errors in your language module development process.
Debugging is an essential part of developing C++ plugins for Plugify. This guide provides an overview of how to debug C++ plugins effectively and directs you to external resources for detailed instructions.
Prerequisites
Before debugging your C++ plugins, ensure you have the following:
- Visual Studio (2022 or later) or another C++ IDE with debugging capabilities.
- Plugify Core Library (built and available).
- C++ Language Module (`plugify-module-cpp`) installed and configured.
- A compiled C++ plugin to debug.
Debugging C++ Plugins
Debugging C++ plugins involves attaching a debugger to the running Plugify process and setting breakpoints in your plugin code. Below are the general steps to debug C++ plugins:
Set Up Your Development Environment
- Ensure your C++ plugin project is configured for debugging (e.g., built in Debug mode).
- Open your plugin project in Visual Studio or your preferred IDE.
Attach the Debugger to Plugify
- Launch Plugify with your C++ plugin loaded.
- In Visual Studio, go to Debug > Attach to Process.
- Find the Plugify process in the list and click Attach.
Set Breakpoints
- Open the source files for your C++ plugin in Visual Studio.
- Set breakpoints in your code by clicking in the left margin next to the line numbers.
Debug Your Plugin
- Trigger the functionality in your plugin that you want to debug.
- The debugger will pause execution at your breakpoints, allowing you to inspect variables, step through code, and analyze the call stack.
Detailed Debugging Guide
For a comprehensive step-by-step guide on debugging C++ applications, refer to Microsoft's official documentation:
Common Debugging Scenarios
1. Plugin Crashes
- Check the Plugify logs for error messages.
- Use the debugger to identify the exact line of code causing the crash.
- Inspect variables and memory to diagnose the issue.
2. Plugin Not Loading
- Verify that the plugin is compiled correctly and placed in the correct directory.
- Check for missing dependencies or incompatible versions.
- Use the debugger to step through the plugin initialization code.
3. Unexpected Behavior
- Set breakpoints in the relevant functions to trace the flow of execution.
- Inspect variable values to identify discrepancies.
- Use conditional breakpoints to debug specific scenarios.
Advanced Debugging Tips
1. Use Logging
- Add logging statements to your plugin code to track execution flow and variable values.
- Use Plugify's built-in logging system to output messages to the console or log files.
2. Memory Debugging
- Use tools like Valgrind (Linux) or AddressSanitizer to detect memory leaks and invalid memory access.
- In Visual Studio, use the Memory Window to inspect memory usage.
3. Debugging Multithreaded Code
- Use the Threads Window in Visual Studio to monitor and debug multiple threads.
- Be cautious of race conditions and deadlocks.
Troubleshooting
1. Debugger Not Attaching
- Ensure Plugify is running and the plugin is loaded.
- Verify that the plugin is built in Debug mode.
2. Breakpoints Not Hit
- Ensure the plugin code matches the compiled binary.
- Rebuild the plugin and restart Plugify.
3. Debugger Crashes
- Update Visual Studio to the latest version.
- Ensure all dependencies are compatible with your development environment.
For more advanced debugging techniques and tools, refer to the Visual Studio Debugger Documentation.