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+*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: