GDB-tutorial/debugging-techniques.txt

DEBUGGING TECHNIQUES:
---------------------


->  Delta Debugging:
    ++++++++++++++++ 


    It is a technique like binary search, where we can decrease the section
    under analysis to find bugs.

    Like, we can use multiple breakpoints to the program and see 
    where the program faces issue and when it faces. It could
    face the issue before some breakpoint could be reached or
    after some breakpoints are encountered.
    This way we can reduce our search space and section of analysis.


-> Assertion:
   ++++++++++ 


   assert():    It check if the assumption which is passed
                as an argument is true. If it isn't, the 
                program will Abort and core dumped.

                This is for runtime check and the program
                is part of C library.

                To use it we need #include <cassert> statement
                in C++ program.

   static_assert(): It check the assumption at compile time
                    and throw compilation error if the 
                    assertion fails.


                    This is helpful where we can evaluate
                    variable as constant expression using
                    constexpr keywords, which could help
                    in static assertion failure.


-> Investigating Code by Calling functions within GDB:
   +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  


   * We can call a function from GDB when haven't reached
     the point where we execute the function.

     We can do function call from GDB itself.

     We can use...

     Command:
     (gdb)call <function-name>( <arguments>.... )


-> Attaching the Debugger to a Running Process:
   ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

   To attach a running to process to a gdb.

   Command:
   $gdb -p <process-id>

    We can get the process id using below command:
        
        $ps aux | grep <process-name>

    To Detach a process and let it run, we can use
    command:
    (gdb)detach


->  Core Dumped -- and how to look at those files.
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++