KDE/FAQs/Debugging FAQ: Difference between revisions

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==General==
==How do I avoid Dr Konqi?==
===How do I avoid Dr Konqi?===
 
You must set the environment variable KDE_DEBUG (to 1 or whatever you want in fact).
You must set the environment variable KDE_DEBUG (to 1 or whatever you want in fact).


Line 6: Line 6:


Example:<br />
Example:<br />
*To avoid Dr Konqi:<br />
*To avoid Dr Konqi:
::<tt>export KDE_DEBUG=1</tt>
::<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">export KDE_DEBUG=1</syntaxhighlight>
*To see Dr Konqi:<br />
*To see Dr Konqi:
::<tt>unset KDE_DEBUG</tt>
::<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">unset KDE_DEBUG</syntaxhighlight>
 
===What is a core file? How do I get a core file?===


A core file is an image of the memory when your application crashed. Using the core file, you can now which variables were set and where your application crashed.
==How do I switch Dr Konqi to developer mode?==
Edit file $KDEHOME/share/config/drkonqirc and add the following:
<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">
[drkonqi]
ConfigName=developer
</syntaxhighlight>


Some distributions disable the generation of core files. To re-enable them, use "ulimit -c unlimited".
==What is a core file? How do I get a core file?==


Once you have a core file for a crash, you can examine it with gdb appname core . This will open gdb on the core file for the given application. Once at the gdb prompt, the most useful command is "bt" which generates a backtrace of the crash.
A core file is an image of the memory when your application crashed. Using the core file, you can know which variables were set and where your application crashed.  
For more information about how to use gdb, see this page.


===What tools are available to debug my application?===
Some distributions disable the generation of core files. To re-enable them, use <code>ulimit -c unlimited</code>.
kdDebug() calls are a simple but efficient way to debug an application.
gdb, the GNU debugger, is the quickest way to execute step-by-step and investigate variables (prefer the 5.0 version, it is really better than the 4.1.x).
Valgrind
kdbg is a nice graphical frontend to gdb with a KDE GUI. It has support for many Qt types (including QString).
Memory leak tracer : See kdesdk/kmtrace. The README explains it all.
kdcop and dcop allow to browse the dcop interface and to easily make dcop calls.
Check this page and kdesdk, there are a bunch of useful scripts there.


===How do I print a QString in gdb?===
Once you have a core file for a crash, you can examine it with gdb appname core . This will open gdb on the core file for the given application. Once at the gdb prompt, the most useful command is <code>bt</code> which generates a backtrace of the crash.
Check out kdesdk, and add this line to your ~/.gdbinit :
For more information about how to use gdb, see [[Special:myLanguage/Development/Tutorials/Debugging/Debugging_with_GDB|this page]]
source /path/to/kde/sources/kdesdk/scripts/kde-devel-gdb
Then in gdb you can do printqstring myqstring to see its contents.
For instance, QString myqstring = QString::fromLatin1("contents"); can be examined using


(gdb) printqstring myqstring
==What tools are available to debug my application?==
$1 = "content" 


See the kde-devel-gdb file for the other macros it defines.  
* KDE5 uses <code>qCDebug()</code> calls to control debugging output. See [[Guidelines and HOWTOs/Debugging/Using Error Messages#Controlling Messages]] to learn how to enable output from these calls.
*<code>qDebug()</code> calls are a simple yet efficient way to debug an application; simply add a <code>qDebug()</code> call in the code to print e.g. the value of some variable, compile the application, then run it from a terminal emulator. The application needs to be built with debugging symbols (CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=debug or CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo); if the build type is "release", <code>qDebug()</code> calls won't output anything
*gdb, the GNU debugger, is the quickest way to execute step-by-step and investigate variables.
*Valgrind
*kdbg is a nice graphical frontend to gdb with a KDE GUI. It has support for many Qt types (including QString).
*qdbus and dbusviewer from Qt allow to browse DBus interfaces and to easily make DBus calls.


===I have no symbol when I debug an app that uses kpart, what should I do?===
Check [[Guidelines_and_HOWTOs/Debugging|this page]] and kdesdk, there are a bunch of useful scripts there.
You must stop just after the main to load the debugging symbols of the shared library. After that, you can debug normally.
One can go as far as creating a gdb macro, to stop right after the part was loaded. For kword, by example, I use :


define startkword
==How do I print a QString in gdb?==
break main
run
break 'KoDocument::KoDocument(int, QWidget *, char const *,
                        QObject *, char const *, bool)' cont


===How do I debug an ioslave?===
Check out <tt>sdk/kde-dev-scripts</tt>, and add this line to your ~/.gdbinit :
{{Input|1=source /path/to/kde/sources/kde/sdk/kde-dev-scripts/kde-devel-gdb}}
Then in gdb you can enter <code>qs myqstring</code> to see its contents.
For instance, <code>QString myqstring = QString::fromLatin1("contents");</code> can be examined using


See kdebase/kioslave/DEBUG.howto
{{Input|1=
(gdb) qs myqstring
$1 = "contents"}}


==KDE 3 specific==
Look in the <tt>[https://invent.kde.org/sdk/kde-dev-scripts/-/blob/master/kde-devel-gdb kde-devel-gdb]</tt> file for other useful macros it defines.
===Is there a preferred way to print debug output on stderr?===
Yes, you must use kdDebug():


<code cppqt>
==I have no symbol when I debug an app that uses kpart, what should I do?==
#include <kdebug.h>
kdDebug() << "KMyApp just started" << endl;
</code>


The syntax is much like cout, you can use many native types between the "<<". This will print out a debugging message, which will automatically be turned off at release time (by --disable-debug). In case you want the message to still be there during releases, because it's a warning or an error, use kdWarning() or kdError().
You must stop just after the main to load the debugging symbols of the shared library. After that, you can debug normally.  
One can go as far as creating a gdb macro, to stop right after the part was loaded. For kword, by example, I use:
{{Input|1=
define startkword
break main
run
break 'KoDocument::KoDocument(int, QWidget *, char const *,
                      QObject *, char const *, bool)' cont}}


Components and libraries are advised to use a debug area number, as in kdDebug(1234). For this, the number must be registered in kdelibs/kdecore/kdebug.areas. Debug areas make it possible to turn off or on the debug output for specific area numbers, using the "kdebugdialog" program, which is part of kdebase. "kdebugdialog --fullmode" also permits to control where to log debug output. It is usually not necessary to register area numbers for standalone applications, unless it's so complex that you want to divide the output into several areas.
== Why isn't my signal and slot connection working? ==


To make it clear: do NOT use qDebug(), this one doesn't get disabled at releases. Also avoid using assert() or kdFatal() which lead to a crash when something goes wrong, never nice for the user. Better detect the error, output a kdWarning or kdError, and recover if possible.
Here are some steps that you can use to troubleshoot why your signal/slot connection is not working (your slot does not get called for some reason).


==KDE 4 specific==
1) Verify that the connect() doesn't print a warning to the console at runtime.
===Is there a preferred way to print debug output on stderr?===
Yes, you must use kDebug():


<code cppqt>
If it does, check that you wrote Q_OBJECT, that the parameter names are not in the connect, that the parameter types are compatible, and that the slot is defined, and that the moc was compiled.
#include <kdebug.h>
kDebug() << "KMyApp just started" << endl;
</code>


The syntax is much like cout, you can use many native types between the "<<". This will print out a debugging message, which will automatically be turned off at release time (by --disable-debug). In case you want the message to still be there during releases, because it's a warning or an error, use kWarning() or kError().
1b) Or you can just check to see what connect() returns as a bool. Although this won't give you the error message.
2) Verify that the signal is indeed emitted
3) Verify that the receiver isn't already deleted at that time
4) Verify that emitter->signalsBlocked() returns false


Components and libraries are advised to use a debug area number, as in kDebug(1234). For this, the number must be registered in kdelibs/kdecore/kdebug.areas. Debug areas make it possible to turn off or on the debug output for specific area numbers, using the "kdebugdialog" program, which is part of kdebase. "kdebugdialog --fullmode" also permits to control where to log debug output. It is usually not necessary to register area numbers for standalone applications, unless it's so complex that you want to divide the output into several areas.
==Is there a preferred way to print debug output on stderr?==


To make it clear: do NOT use qDebug(), this one doesn't get disabled at releases. Also avoid using assert() or kFatal() which lead to a crash when something goes wrong and that is not a nice experience for the user. Better detect the error, output a kWarning or kError, and recover if possible.
Yes; see [[Guidelines_and_HOWTOs/Debugging/Using_Error_Messages|this tutorial]].

Latest revision as of 13:31, 2 February 2023

How do I avoid Dr Konqi?

You must set the environment variable KDE_DEBUG (to 1 or whatever you want in fact).

To get Dr Konqi back, unset the KDE_DEBUG environment variable.

Example:

  • To avoid Dr Konqi:
export KDE_DEBUG=1
  • To see Dr Konqi:
unset KDE_DEBUG

How do I switch Dr Konqi to developer mode?

Edit file $KDEHOME/share/config/drkonqirc and add the following:

[drkonqi]
ConfigName=developer

What is a core file? How do I get a core file?

A core file is an image of the memory when your application crashed. Using the core file, you can know which variables were set and where your application crashed.

Some distributions disable the generation of core files. To re-enable them, use ulimit -c unlimited.

Once you have a core file for a crash, you can examine it with gdb appname core . This will open gdb on the core file for the given application. Once at the gdb prompt, the most useful command is bt which generates a backtrace of the crash. For more information about how to use gdb, see this page

What tools are available to debug my application?

  • KDE5 uses qCDebug() calls to control debugging output. See Guidelines and HOWTOs/Debugging/Using Error Messages#Controlling Messages to learn how to enable output from these calls.
  • qDebug() calls are a simple yet efficient way to debug an application; simply add a qDebug() call in the code to print e.g. the value of some variable, compile the application, then run it from a terminal emulator. The application needs to be built with debugging symbols (CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=debug or CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo); if the build type is "release", qDebug() calls won't output anything
  • gdb, the GNU debugger, is the quickest way to execute step-by-step and investigate variables.
  • Valgrind
  • kdbg is a nice graphical frontend to gdb with a KDE GUI. It has support for many Qt types (including QString).
  • qdbus and dbusviewer from Qt allow to browse DBus interfaces and to easily make DBus calls.

Check this page and kdesdk, there are a bunch of useful scripts there.

How do I print a QString in gdb?

Check out sdk/kde-dev-scripts, and add this line to your ~/.gdbinit :

source /path/to/kde/sources/kde/sdk/kde-dev-scripts/kde-devel-gdb

Then in gdb you can enter qs myqstring to see its contents. For instance, QString myqstring = QString::fromLatin1("contents"); can be examined using

(gdb) qs myqstring
$1 = "contents"

Look in the kde-devel-gdb file for other useful macros it defines.

I have no symbol when I debug an app that uses kpart, what should I do?

You must stop just after the main to load the debugging symbols of the shared library. After that, you can debug normally. One can go as far as creating a gdb macro, to stop right after the part was loaded. For kword, by example, I use:

define startkword
break main
run
break 'KoDocument::KoDocument(int, QWidget *, char const *, 
                       QObject *, char const *, bool)' cont

Why isn't my signal and slot connection working?

Here are some steps that you can use to troubleshoot why your signal/slot connection is not working (your slot does not get called for some reason).

1) Verify that the connect() doesn't print a warning to the console at runtime.

If it does, check that you wrote Q_OBJECT, that the parameter names are not in the connect, that the parameter types are compatible, and that the slot is defined, and that the moc was compiled.

1b) Or you can just check to see what connect() returns as a bool. Although this won't give you the error message. 2) Verify that the signal is indeed emitted 3) Verify that the receiver isn't already deleted at that time 4) Verify that emitter->signalsBlocked() returns false

Is there a preferred way to print debug output on stderr?

Yes; see this tutorial.