Chapter 5 -- Power Debugging with the Visual C Debugger

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Chapter 5

No matter what language you're developing in—C++, Microsoft Visual Basic, or even Java—a crash is a crash. The debugger that works across all these languages is the Microsoft Visual C++ debugger. Over the years, the Visual C++ debugger has continuously improved, and it provides an excellent platform for debugging. This is the first of two chapters about the Visual C++ debugger. In this chapter, I'll cover the advanced features of the Visual C++ debugger (except for the Disassembly window, which I'll save for Chapter 6). These features, including advanced breakpoints and remote debugging, will assist you in solving your coding problems. I'll also provide you with a slew of tips that will help you make the most out of the time you spend in the debugger. In Chapter 6, besides explaining the Disassembly window, I'll tie both these chapters together with some examples that illustrate the power of the Visual C++ debugger.

If you have little or no experience with the Visual C++ debugger, I suggest that you read the Microsoft Visual Studio documentation on MSDN before continuing. I won't be covering the basics of the debugger in this chapter; I'll assume that you'll study the documentation if you need to. Just search for the "Home Page: Debugger" topic on MSDN and you'll find the most pertinent sections.