[HN Gopher] Show HN: BugStalker - a modern Rust debugger
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       Show HN: BugStalker - a modern Rust debugger
        
       Author : godzie
       Score  : 102 points
       Date   : 2025-04-25 13:58 UTC (9 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (github.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (github.com)
        
       | godzie wrote:
       | BS is a modern debugger for Linux x86-64. Written in Rust for
       | Rust programs.
       | 
       | Async Rust support - debug async code with new commands: - async
       | backtrace - inspect async task backtraces - async task - view
       | task details - async stepover / async stepout - better control
       | over async execution
       | 
       | Enhanced variable inspection: - argd / vard - print variables and
       | arguments using Debug trait
       | 
       | Other: - new `call` Command - execute functions directly in the
       | debugged program - `trigger` Command - fine-grained control over
       | breakpoints - new project Website - better docs and resources
       | 
       | ...and much more!
       | 
       | Full Changelog:
       | https://github.com/godzie44/BugStalker/releases/tag/v0.3.0
       | 
       | Documentation & Demos: https://godzie44.github.io/BugStalker/
        
       | bfrog wrote:
       | Been hoping someone would make this, looks great!
       | 
       | I guess I'm next hoping someone gets it working using jtag/swd
       | debug probes for embedded targets :)
        
         | goku12 wrote:
         | Would something like this work for you? https://probe.rs/
        
       | otherayden wrote:
       | Best of luck with this project. I'm not even a rust dev but I
       | came to say that I love this name
        
       | sixthDot wrote:
       | any Machine Interface planned (a la GDB/MI)?
        
         | godzie wrote:
         | First priority is a DAP support. But after this - why not.
        
       | giancarlostoro wrote:
       | BugStomper would have also been a great name choice. ;)
        
         | rob74 wrote:
         | Better than the current one - first, stalking is not really a
         | verb that comes to mind when I think about bugs, and second, it
         | has pretty negative connotations...
        
       | meisel wrote:
       | I'm surprised this isn't getting more love. My experience with
       | other debuggers with Rust was quite poor, I hope this one can
       | fare much better. For example, I couldn't call functions with
       | previous debuggers
        
       | bobajeff wrote:
       | Does this have a machine interface mode like gdb/lldb? Asking
       | because I like my debuggers to be integrated with my code editor
       | of choice which is usually done via such an interface.
        
         | godzie wrote:
         | Unfortunately no, but it's a good idea. I'll definitely look
         | into this feature.
        
       | gitroom wrote:
       | Honestly this wouldve helped me a ton when I got stuck with async
       | errors before, Rust debugging always felt tougher than it should
       | be.
        
         | dathinab wrote:
         | yeah I mean you are basically stuck with a few options
         | 
         | - use C/C++ focused debugers with a rust plugin or similar
         | (okay, not not compared to idk. debugging python in PyStorm)
         | 
         | - rely on tracing/logging and errors reported (which might
         | sound dump as it's basically "not" debugging, but with how the
         | rust type system plays out and enforcement of reasonable decent
         | code style/structure etc. this is quite often good enough)
         | 
         | - write/extend tests (again a form of "not" debugging, but
         | where while a "must have" even if you pinned down the bug using
         | a debugger)
         | 
         | - sprinkle in dbg! statements (basically print line debugging)
         | 
         | The fact that it took like 10? yearts for anyone to write more
         | then just tweeks to C/C++ debuggers even through rust has a lot
         | of enthusiasts is I think telling ;)
         | 
         | Still it looks like a real nice tool to have in your toolbox.
        
       | thurn wrote:
       | is this necessarily linux for dependency reasons, or could it be
       | on OSX in the future?
        
         | godzie wrote:
         | Yes, I think it's possible to support macOS. However, the main
         | challenge isn't the operating system itself but rather the
         | architecture.
        
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       (page generated 2025-04-25 23:01 UTC)