davidm@uunet.UU.NET (David S. Masterson) (03/25/91)
I'm looking for reviews of the various C++ environments with respect to debugging C++ code. In particular, I'd like to know how easy/difficult it is to debug C++ code that is first translated to C. I'm considering a C++ compiler for my Amiga from Comeau Computing which is based on AT&T's C++ translator (as I understand it) and I'd like to understand how debuggable such an environment might be. While I'm at it (as I expect debugging translated code is not easy), I hope to stimulate better standards for such environments. -- ==================================================================== David Masterson Consilium, Inc. (415) 691-6311 640 Clyde Ct. uunet!cimshop!davidm Mtn. View, CA 94043 ==================================================================== "If someone thinks they know what I said, then I didn't say it!"
gwu@nujoizey.tcs.com (George Wu) (03/27/91)
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I'm not sure which about Comeau's environment, since I've never used it,
but in general, debugging C++ code as C++ code is usually provided with C++
to C translators (Cfront). Here're my comments on some of the debuggers
I've used so far, all but the last of which is a Cfront based translator:
o Sun dbx for C++ 2.0 (dbx++) - Overall, the debugger works. It
does get confused in some very annoying ways, ie. it sometimes
loses the ability to recognize a variable name;
o Saber C++ - I've only ported to Saber, and not developed under it,
so I can only volunteer what I know from Saber C: it's simply the
most efficient development system (debugger) of which I know;
the main drawback is that it eats *HUGE* amounts of memory, both
RAM and swap;
o HP xdb++ - Again, I'm only just beginning to use HP C++, and I've
got alot to learn first, including Softbench; so far it's been
easier to use than Sun's dbx++, but not nearly as nice as Saber
C++;
o GNU gdb - Doesn't fully understand any application using multiple
inheritance, but otherwise has set the standard for me concerning
non-windows (textual interface) based debuggers; better than dbx,
sdb, or any other, but not quite as good as xdb++.
That's all I'll say for now. In a month or so, I hope to know more
about both Softbench and Saber C++, enough so that I can post unqualified
opinions. Until then, I hope this helps.
George
----
George J Wu, Software Engineer | gwu@tcs.com or uunet!tcs!gwu
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