puremourning/vimspector
Vimspector
Vimspector is a visual debugger integration for Vim that enables developers to step through code and inspect program state without leaving the editor. It utilizes the Debug Adapter Protocol to provide a unified interface for debugging multiple programming languages through various debug adapters.
The project distinguishes itself by supporting low-level analysis and specialized environments, including bare metal hardware debugging for microcontrollers and the ability to perform disassembly analysis and process memory dumping. It also provides remote debugging capabilities by proxying requests to remote hosts via SSH or into Docker containers.
The toolkit covers a broad range of debugging operations, including execution flow control with breakpoints and hot code replacement, as well as state inspection through call stack navigation, real-time expression monitoring, and variable inspection. Session management is handled through structured configuration profiles that support variable injection, inheritance, and the ability to attach to running processes via PID selection.
The system includes automated and manual installation methods for debug adapters to streamline language support setup.
Features
- Vim Plugins - Provides a comprehensive visual debugger integration as a plugin for the Vim text editor.
- DAP Debug Sessions - Uses the Debug Adapter Protocol to exchange JSON messages between the Vim editor and various debugger backends.
- Call Stack Navigators - Enables browsing the sequence of function calls across threads and jumping to corresponding source code.
- Cross-Language Debugging - Provides a unified graphical interface to debug multiple programming languages through a standardized adapter layer.
- Debug Configurations - Defines how to launch or connect to debug adapters, including PID attachment and remote execution settings.
- Debug Session Management - Provides structured configuration files to manage debugging environments and launch parameters with support for inheritance.
- Debugger Adapter Abstractions - Implements an abstraction layer that allows a single interface to control multiple language-specific debuggers.
- Process Attachment - Enables connecting to a running process via its process ID to start a debugging session.
- Runtime Expression Evaluation - Executes arbitrary expressions during a debug session and displays results in a watch window or interactive console.
- Editor-Integrated Debugging - Integrates debugging capabilities directly into Vim by connecting to compliant debug adapters.
- Interactive Debug Consoles - Provides a dedicated prompt buffer to send commands and evaluate expressions directly within the debug adapter.
- Multi-Language Debugging Workflows - Manages debugging sessions for different programming languages through a unified interface using various debug adapters.
- Variable Inspection Tools - Allows users to view local and global variables and modify values during a paused session.
- Debugger Launch Configurations - Defines launch and attach settings, including program paths and arguments, through structured configuration files.
- Embedded Systems Debugging - Uses hardware probes to program and debug microcontrollers and bare metal hardware directly from the editor.
- Execution Flow Control - Implements capabilities to step into, over, or out of functions to precisely control program run-time.
- Hardware Debugging Environments - Interfaces with hardware debug probes to program and debug microcontrollers and bare metal systems directly.
- Program State Inspection - Monitors internal state via dedicated windows for current variables, scopes, and call stacks.
- Remote Debugging - Sends debugging requests to remote hosts via SSH or into running Docker containers.
- Breakpoint Managers - Provides an interface for toggling, disabling, and removing execution breakpoints to pause program flow.
- Concurrent Debugging Sessions - Supports multiple independent debugging sessions, each isolated within its own interface tab.
- Debug Profiles - The product creates named configurations that specify the adapter and session type for different development use cases.
- Debugging Session Persistence - Persists breakpoints and session configurations to files to be reloaded in future sessions.
- Buffer-Based UI Renderers - Renders debugger state, such as call stacks and variables, directly into editor text buffers.
- Hot Reload Triggers - Automatically sends a reload request to the debugger after saving a file to update the application.
- Hot Code Replacement - Reloads changed class files at runtime without restarting the debugging session to accelerate development.
- Third-Party Debugger Integration - Supports third-party debuggers for non-bundled languages via custom launch commands and port specifications.
- Docker or SSH Command Executions - Proxies debug adapter requests to remote hosts via SSH or into Docker containers.
- Low-Level Binary Analysis - Allows users to view disassembled machine code and step through programs at the instruction level.
- Process Memory Dumping - Reads and displays hex and ASCII dumps of process memory for specific variables or memory addresses.
- Asynchronous Messaging - Utilizes asynchronous messaging to handle communication between the editor and debug adapters without blocking the UI.
- Runtime Expression Monitoring - Evaluates arbitrary expressions in real-time and updates results automatically as program execution progresses.
