How do I use GDB in Eclipse for C/C++ Debugging?

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I'm a Visual Studio user and am used to breakpoints for debugging. I'm now working in a linux environment and am using Eclipse as an IDE. I'm a newbie in linux and eclipse. I don't have any idea how to use gdb in eclipse. I tried using gdb in command line, but is not as easy as having a UI.

How do I use gdb in eclipse?

gdb eclipse linux debugging
2 Answers

First download Eclipse CDT ensure that you can import a project into Eclipse as shown at: How to create a project from existing source in Eclipse and then find it?

You could try to test things out with this simple test directory: https://github.com/cirosantilli/ide-test-projects/tree/e93924d4e2ce8cd64b00a7ce67d10d62b497fda1/cpp

git clone https://github.com/cirosantilli/ide-test-projects
cd ide-test-projects/cpp
make
./main.out

Now you will also want to tell Eclipse how to find standard library symbols as explained at: "Unresolved inclusion" error with Eclipse CDT for C standard library headers Their defaults are terrible and just don't work.

Once Eclipse imported the project, and e.g. you seem to be able to jump to definitions, etc., let's setup a GDB step debug.

First you have to go under:

  • Run
  • Run Configurations
  • C/C++ Application
  • cpp Default ("cpp" is the project name)
  • C/C++ Application

and set it to:

main.out

enter image description here

Now eclipse knows how to run your program. We can confirm that by doing a test run:

  • Run
  • Run (Ctrl + F11)

and the terminal on the bottom show the output of the program:

enter image description here

Finally, we can put a breakpoint on any point, e.g. main by double clicking on the sidebar to the left of the code, which creates a blue circle (shown on image above).

Now we can debug via:

  • Run
  • Debug (F11)

and as expected we are left at main:

enter image description here

The light blue line over (void)argv; indicates that this is the current line being executed under the debugger.

From there on it is just a matter of learning the debugging interface, e.g.:

  • shortcuts such as F6 to step over, as now visible from under "Run" (only visible once you start debugging)
  • viewing variable values under "Variables" to the right
  • stopping runs with Run > Terminate (Ctrl + F2)
  • pass arguments to the program: Eclipse command line arguments

You can then switch back to the normal code view (non-debug) with Ctrl + F8 once you are done debugging: How to change back the perspective after terminating the debugged process in Eclipse?

Tested on Eclipse 2020-03 (4.15.0).

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