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diff --git a/runtime/doc/debug.txt b/runtime/doc/debug.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1d3090a --- /dev/null +++ b/runtime/doc/debug.txt @@ -0,0 +1,170 @@ +*debug.txt* For Vim version 9.1. Last change: 2019 May 07 + + + VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar + + +Debugging Vim *debug-vim* + +This is for debugging Vim itself, when it doesn't work properly. +For debugging Vim scripts, functions, etc. see |debug-scripts| + +1. Location of a crash, using gcc and gdb |debug-gcc| +2. Locating memory leaks |debug-leaks| +3. Windows Bug Reporting |debug-win32| + +============================================================================== + +1. Location of a crash, using gcc and gdb *debug-gcc* *gdb* + +When Vim crashes in one of the test files, and you are using gcc for +compilation, here is what you can do to find out exactly where Vim crashes. +This also applies when using the MingW tools. + +1. Compile Vim with the "-g" option (there is a line in the src/Makefile for + this, which you can uncomment). Also make sure "strip" is disabled (do not + install it, or use the line "STRIP = /bin/true"). + +2. Execute these commands (replace "11" with the test that fails): > + cd testdir + gdb ../vim + run -u unix.vim -U NONE -s dotest.in test11.in + +3. Check where Vim crashes, gdb should give a message for this. + +4. Get a stack trace from gdb with this command: > + where +< You can check out different places in the stack trace with: > + frame 3 +< Replace "3" with one of the numbers in the stack trace. + +============================================================================== + +2. Locating memory leaks *debug-leaks* *valgrind* + +If you suspect Vim is leaking memory and you are using Linux, the valgrind +tool is very useful to pinpoint memory leaks. + +First of all, build Vim with EXITFREE defined. Search for this in MAKEFILE +and uncomment the line. + +Use this command to start Vim: +> + valgrind --log-file=valgrind.log --leak-check=full ./vim + +Note: Vim will run much slower. If your .vimrc is big or you have several +plugins you need to be patient for startup, or run with the "--clean" +argument. + +There are often a few leaks from libraries, such as getpwuid() and +XtVaAppCreateShell(). Those are unavoidable. The number of bytes should be +very small a Kbyte or less. + +============================================================================== + +3. Windows Bug Reporting *debug-win32* + +If the Windows version of Vim crashes in a reproducible manner, you can take +some steps to provide a useful bug report. + + +3.1 GENERIC ~ + +You must obtain the debugger symbols (PDB) file for your executable: gvim.pdb +for gvim.exe, or vim.pdb for vim.exe. The PDB should be available from the +same place that you obtained the executable. Be sure to use the PDB that +matches the EXE (same date). + +If you built the executable yourself with the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler, +then the PDB was built with the EXE. + +If you have Visual Studio, use that instead of the VC Toolkit and WinDbg. + +For other compilers, you should always use the corresponding debugger: gdb +(see above |debug-gcc|) for the Cygwin and MinGW compilers. + + + *debug-vs2005* +3.2 Debugging Vim crashes with Visual Studio 2005/Visual C++ 2005 Express ~ + +First launch vim.exe or gvim.exe and then launch Visual Studio. (If you don't +have Visual Studio, follow the instructions at |get-ms-debuggers| to obtain a +free copy of Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition.) + +On the Tools menu, click Attach to Process. Choose the Vim process. + +In Vim, reproduce the crash. A dialog will appear in Visual Studio, telling +you about the unhandled exception in the Vim process. Click Break to break +into the process. + +Visual Studio will pop up another dialog, telling you that no symbols are +loaded and that the source code cannot be displayed. Click OK. + +Several windows will open. Right-click in the Call Stack window. Choose Load +Symbols. The Find Symbols dialog will open, looking for (g)vim.pdb. Navigate +to the directory where you have the PDB file and click Open. + +At this point, you should have a full call stack with vim function names and +line numbers. Double-click one of the lines and the Find Source dialog will +appear. Navigate to the directory where the Vim source is (if you have it.) + +If you don't know how to debug this any further, follow the instructions +at ":help bug-reports". Paste the call stack into the bug report. + +If you have a non-free version of Visual Studio, you can save a minidump via +the Debug menu and send it with the bug report. A minidump is a small file +(<100KB), which contains information about the state of your process. +Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition cannot save minidumps and it cannot be +installed as a just-in-time debugger. Use WinDbg, |debug-windbg|, if you +need to save minidumps or you want a just-in-time (postmortem) debugger. + + *debug-windbg* +3.3 Debugging Vim crashes with WinDbg ~ + +See |get-ms-debuggers| to obtain a copy of WinDbg. + +As with the Visual Studio IDE, you can attach WinDbg to a running Vim process. +You can also have your system automatically invoke WinDbg as a postmortem +debugger. To set WinDbg as your postmortem debugger, run "windbg -I". + +To attach WinDbg to a running Vim process, launch WinDbg. On the File menu, +choose Attach to a Process. Select the Vim process and click OK. + +At this point, choose Symbol File Path on the File menu, and add the folder +containing your Vim PDB to the sympath. If you have Vim source available, +use Source File Path on the File menu. You can now open source files in WinDbg +and set breakpoints, if you like. Reproduce your crash. WinDbg should open the +source file at the point of the crash. Using the View menu, you can examine +the call stack, local variables, watch windows, and so on. + +If WinDbg is your postmortem debugger, you do not need to attach WinDbg to +your Vim process. Simply reproduce the crash and WinDbg will launch +automatically. As above, set the Symbol File Path and the Source File Path. + +To save a minidump, type the following at the WinDbg command line: > + .dump vim.dmp +< + *debug-minidump* +3.4 Opening a Minidump ~ + +If you have a minidump file, you can open it in Visual Studio or in WinDbg. + +In Visual Studio 2005: on the File menu, choose Open, then Project/Solution. +Navigate to the .dmp file and open it. Now press F5 to invoke the debugger. +Follow the instructions in |debug-vs2005| to set the Symbol File Path. + +In WinDbg: choose Open Crash Dump on the File menu. Follow the instructions in +|debug-windbg| to set the Symbol File Path. + + *get-ms-debuggers* +3.5 Obtaining Microsoft Debugging Tools ~ + +The Debugging Tools for Windows (including WinDbg) can be downloaded from + http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx +This includes the WinDbg debugger. + +Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition can be downloaded for free from: + http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualC/default.aspx + +========================================================================= + vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl: |