Debugger

A debugger is a type of software that allows a programmer to view every step a program takes in real-time. While a debugger will cause a program to run extremely slowly, it will allow a programmer to start and stop a program at any given time and modify the variables or actions that it takes while performing those actions. Debuggers allow programmers to prevent programs from performing undesired actions and are, as the name suggests, ideal for “debugging” a program.

How Debuggers Work

When a programmer runs a debugger, he/she will most likely open a program within the software and will have access to several different tools that aid the programmer in removing undesired variables from the program’s script. In most debuggers, a programmer will be able to view a live execution of the program in one panel and have access to the program’s script in the other panel. As the programmer allows the program to take actions one at a time, the appropriate piece of the script will become highlighted, allowing the user to easily make changes to parts of the script in order to change the outcome.

Applications

Debuggers are most commonly used for “debugging” programs, or removing undesirable effects. Because programs often have glitches or slight errors when they are first released, which is usually due to a programmer not running a debugger in advance, programmers may need to go back into a program with a debugger in order to make modifications to the program’s script. However, debuggers can also be used to simply learn how a specific program works by analyzing it action-by-action.

Advantages

Debuggers are advantageous because they allow programmers to quickly fix errors that were found in previous versions of a software. Likewise, debuggers are advantageous because they allow programmers to make changes to previously created programs in order to add additional features or services.

Popular Debuggers

Debugger	License	Platform(s)
GDB – The GNU DeBugger	GPL	Unix, Windows
Soft-Ice	Commercial	Windows
D86: Eric Isaacson’s Shareware Debugger	Shareware	DOS, Windows
OllyDbg	Shareware	Windows
Debuggy	Freeware	Windows
MacsBug	Freeware	Mac OS