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https://github.com/epasveer/seer

Seer - a gui frontend to gdb
https://github.com/epasveer/seer

cpp debug debugger debugger-gdb debugger-visualizer debugger-visualizers debuggers debugging debugging-tool debugging-tools gdb gdb-frontend gdb-mi gdb-ui gdbserver gnu-debugger qt qt5 qt6

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Seer - a gui frontend to gdb

Host: GitHub
URL: https://github.com/epasveer/seer
Owner: epasveer
License: gpl-3.0
Created: 2021-09-01T14:55:02.000Z (over 3 years ago)
Default Branch: main
Last Pushed: 2024-11-30T19:35:11.000Z (12 days ago)
Last Synced: 2024-12-04T22:01:47.812Z (7 days ago)
Topics: cpp, debug, debugger, debugger-gdb, debugger-visualizer, debugger-visualizers, debuggers, debugging, debugging-tool, debugging-tools, gdb, gdb-frontend, gdb-mi, gdb-ui, gdbserver, gnu-debugger, qt, qt5, qt6
Language: C++
Homepage:
Size: 17.3 MB
Stars: 2,956
Watchers: 19
Forks: 87
Open Issues: 30
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Changelog: CHANGELOG.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSE

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README

        Introduction

============

Seer - a gui frontend to gdb for Linux.   (Ernie Pasveer  [email protected])

This project is actively worked on. The aim is a simple, yet pleasing gui to gdb.

Please report any bugs or desired features to my email or create a [task](https://github.com/epasveer/seer/issues) in my

GitHub project page.

Installation

============

 

Seer can be installed either from a package manager or from source.

> [!NOTE]

>  Make sure the requirements are met before installing.

Requirements

---------

* Linux

* C++17

* gdb with "mi" interpreter (check by running: `gdb --interpreter=mi`)

* CMake (3.1.0 or newer)

* QT6

   * When building Seer from source, you will need the QT6 "devel" packages installed on your system for your distribution.

      * Core

      * Gui

      * Widgets

      * PrintSupport

      * Charts

      * Svg

   * Qt6 build instructions are here: https://github.com/epasveer/seer/wiki/Building-Seer---Qt6

* QT5

   * **Seer no longer compiles with Qt5.** The 2.3 source tree is the last one that does.

   * Qt5 build instructions are here: https://github.com/epasveer/seer/wiki/Building-Seer---Qt5

Install from package

---------

Available through the following package managers:

### Pamac (Manjaro)

    pamac install seer

### zypper (openSUSE Tumbleweed)

    zypper install seergdb

Install from source

---------

(Recommended) Seer can be built with Qt6 by following the instructions below.

https://github.com/epasveer/seer/wiki/Building-Seer---Qt6

It can still be built with Qt5, for the time being by following the instructions below.

https://github.com/epasveer/seer/wiki/Building-Seer---Qt5

NEWS

====

Check out [Seer's Wiki page](https://github.com/epasveer/seer/wiki) on github.

* Version v1.17 will be the last Qt5 release.

* The next release will be v2.0 and will be Qt6 based. However, for the time being, it's still able to be compiled with Qt5.

* If you want the latest stable Qt5 source, grab v1.17 from here: https://github.com/epasveer/seer/releases/tag/v1.17

GUI overview

============

Examples of the various Seer views and dialogs.

Main View

---------

The main view for Seer looks like this:

![](images/mainview.png)

* Source/Function/Types/Variables/Libraries

    * The list of source/header files that were used in the program.

    * Search for Functions, Types, and Static Variables.

      Dobule clicking will open the source file.

    * The list of shared libraries referenced by the program.

    * The list of source/header files can be searched. This will "shrink" the list of files shown.

    * Double clicking on a file will open it in the Code Manager.

* Variable/Register Info

    * Show variable and register values.

    * "Logger" - log the value of a variable. Manually enter it or double click on the variable in the file

      that is opened in the code manager.

    * "Tracker" - create a list of variables to show the value for whenever gdb reaches a stopping point

      (step, next, finish, etc.). When the stopping point is reached, all variables in the list will show

      their potentially new value.

    * "Registers" - show the values of all cpu registers.

* Code Manager.

    * The large area of the middle part of the Seer gui.

    * Source files are opened in this view.

    * Text in a file can be seached for with ^F.

    * Variables can be added to the "Logger" by double clicking the variable name.

      Double click with CTLR key pressed will prepend variable with "*".

      Double click with SHIFT key pressed will prepend variable with "&".

      Double click with CTRL+SHIFT key pressed will prepend variable with "*&".

    * Variables can be added to the "Tracker" by selecting the variable name and RMB and select

      "Add variable to Tracker".

    * Variables can be added to the "Memory Visualizer" by selecting the variable name and RMB and select

      "Add variable to Memory Visualizer".

    * A breakpoint/printpoint can be created by RMB on a specific line.

    * Can execute to a specific line by RMB on a specific line.

    * Tabs in this view can be detached by double-clicking a tab.

* Breakpoints, Watchpoints, Catchpoints, Printpoints, manual gdb commands, and logs.

    * The area below the Code Manager.

    * Manual commands.  Manually enter a gdb or gdbmi command.

      The commands are remembered for the next Seer use.

    * Breakpoint manager. Create and manage breakpoints.

    * Watchpoint manager. Create and manage watchpoints.

      A watchpoint monitors when a variable is accessed (read, write, read/write).

    * Catchpoint manager. Create and manage catchpoints.

      A catchpoint stops execution on a C++ throw/rethrow/catch call.

    * Printpoint manager. Create and manage printpoints.

      A printpoint is like a breakpoint but it allows you to print variables at

      that printpoint. See gdb's 'dprintf' call.

    * GDB output. A log of any output from the gdb program itself.

    * Seer output. A log of any output from the Seer program itself. As diagnostics.

    * Tabs in this view can be detached by double-clicking a tab.

* Stack frame information.

    * Stack frame list. A frame can be double clicked to change the scope (the current function).

    * Stack frame arguments. For each frame, print the arguments passed to each function.

    * Stack locals. For the current function, print the values of the local variables.

* Thread information.

    * Thread ids. A list of all threads. Double click on a thread id to change the scope (the current thread).

    * Thread frames. For each thread, list its stack frames.

* Supports Gdb's Reverse Debugging mode.

    * Turn instruction recording on or off.

    * Set playback direction to forward or reverse.

Open Dialog

-----------

When the open executable dialog is invoked, it looks like this:

![](images/opendialog.png)

Seer Console

------------

All text output from the executable will go to the Seer console. Text input for the executable can be entered via the console too.

![](images/console.png)

Assembly View

-------------

Normally Seer will just show the source code as tabs in the Code Manager. The program's assembly can also be show as a tab.

Select "View->Assembly View" and an extra tab will be shown alongside the source code tabs that shows the current assembly being executed. Here is an example.

![](images/mainview_assemby.png )

Like the source code tabs, breakpoints can be set in the assembly tab. The current instruction is highlighted.

Double-clicking on entries in the "Breakpoints" tab and the "Stack frames" tab will show the assembly for those addresses.

There are "Nexti" and "Stepi" hot-keys, as defined by your config settings. Normally "Ctrl+F5" and "CTRL+F6".

Using "^F" in the assembly tab will show a powerful search bar.

**The assembly feature in Seer is new. Feel free to suggest changes/features.**

Memory Visualizer

-----------------

When looking at the contents of raw memory in the Memory Visualizer, it looks like this :

Memory | Disassembly

--- | ---

![](images/memoryvisualizer.png) | ![](images/memoryvisualizer_asm.png)

Array Visualizer

-----------------

When looking at the contents of arrays in the Array Visualizer, it looks like this :

Normal | Spline | Scatter

--- | --- | ---

![](images/arrayvisualizer.png) | ![](images/arrayvisualizer_spline.png) | ![](images/arrayvisualizer_scatter.png)

Two arrays can be used as an X-Y plot. For example, this simple 'points' array forms the X-Y outline of a shape.

```

    int main() {

        int points[] = {50,1,20,91,97,35,2,35,79,91,50,1};

        return 0;

    }

```

X values | Y values | XY Values

--- | --- | ---

![](images/arrayvisualizer_x.png) | ![](images/arrayvisualizer_y.png) | ![](images/arrayvisualizer_xy.png)

Struct Visualizer

-----------------

When looking at the contents of a C/C++ struct or a C++ class in the Struct Visualizer, it looks like this.

This example shows the contents of "*this" for the current C++ class that Seer is in. All structure members

that are basic types can be edited.

![](images/structvisualizer.png)

There is also a **Basic Struct Visualizer** that is more light weight, but can not follow pointers and can not

be edited.

Image Visualizer

-----------------

When looking at the contents of raw memory that is an image, the Image Visualizer can be used.

![](images/imagevisualizer.png)

Starting Seer

=============

Seer is meant to easily start the program to debug from the command line. gdb has multiple

methods for debugging a program. So Seer naturally does too.

Go to the Wiki to see all the ways to run Seer.

https://github.com/epasveer/seer/wiki/Starting-Seer

Support/Contact

===============

Send an email to [email protected] for any bugs or features. Or create a [task](https://github.com/epasveer/seer/issues)

in my GitHub project page.