Debugging Clients | AutoHotkey

AutoHotkey

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Debugging Clients

Additional debugging features are supported via DBGp, a common debugger protocol for languages and debugger UI communication. See Interactive Debugging for more details. Some UIs or "clients" known to be compatible with AutoHotkey are listed on this page:

SciTE4AutoHotkey

SciTE4AutoHotkey is a free, SciTE-based AutoHotkey script editor. In addition to DBGp support, it provides syntax highlighting, calltips/parameter info and auto-complete for AutoHotkey, and other useful editing features and scripting tools.

Debugging features include:

  • Breakpoints.
  • Run, Step Over/Into/Out.
  • View the call stack.
  • List name and contents of variables in local/global scope.
  • Hover over variable to show contents.
  • Inspect or edit variable contents.
  • View structure of objects.

http://fincs.ahk4.net/scite4ahk/

XDebugClient

XDebugClient is a simple open-source front-end DBGp client based on the .NET Framework 2.0. XDebugClient was originally designed for PHP with Xdebug, but a custom build compatible with AutoHotkey is available below.

Changes:

  • Allow the debugger engine to report a language other than "php".
  • Added AutoHotkey syntax highlighting.
  • Automatically listen for a connection from the debugger engine, rather than waiting for the user to click Start Listening.
  • Truncate property values at the first null-character, since AutoHotkey currently returns the entire variable contents and XDebugClient has no suitable interface for displaying binary content.

Download: Binary; Source Code (also see SharpDevelop, Dockpanel Suite and Advanced TreeView.)

Usage:

  • Launch XDebugClient.
  • Launch AutoHotkey /Debug. XDebugClient should automatically open the script file.
  • Click the left margin to set at least one breakpoint.
  • Choose Run from the Debug menu, or press F5.
  • When execution hits a breakpoint, use the Debug menu or shortcut keys to step through or resume the script.

Features:

  • Syntax highlighted, read-only view of the source code.
  • Breakpoints.
  • Run, Step Over/Into/Out.
  • View the call stack.
  • Inspect variables - select a variable name, right-click, Inspect.

Issues:

  • The user interface does not respond to user input while the script is running.
  • No mechanisms are provided to list variables or set their values.

Notepad++ DBGp Plugin

A DBGp client is available as a plugin for Notepad++. It is designed for PHP, but also works well with AutoHotkey.

Download: See DBGp plugin for Notepad++.

Usage:

  • Launch Notepad++.
  • Configure the DBGp plugin via Plugins, DBGp, Config...

    Note: File Mapping must be configured. Most users will not be debugging remotely, and therefore may simply put a checkmark next to Bypass all mapping (local windows setup).

  • Show the debugger pane via the toolbar or Plugins, DBGp, Debugger.
  • Open the script file to be debugged.
  • Set at least one breakpoint.
  • Launch AutoHotkey /Debug.
  • Use the debugger toolbar or shortcut keys to control the debugger.

Features:

  • Syntax highlighting, if configured by the user.
  • Breakpoints.
  • Run, Step Over/Into/Out, Run to cursor, Stop.
  • View local/global variables.
  • Watch user-specified variables.
  • View the call stack.
  • Hover over a variable to view its contents.
  • User-configurable shortcut keys - Settings, Shortcut Mapper..., Plugin commands.

Issues:

  • Hovering over a single-letter variable name does not work - for instance, hovering over a will attempt to retrieve  a or a .
  • Hovering over text will attempt to retrieve a variable even if the text contains invalid characters.
  • Notepad++ becomes unstable if property_get fails, which is particularly problematic in light of the above. As a workaround, AutoHotkey sends an empty property instead of an error code when a non-existent or invalid variable is requested.

Script-based Clients

A script-based DBGp library and example clients are available from GitHub.

  • dbgp_console.ahk: Simple command-line client.
  • dbgp_test.ahk: Demonstrates asynchronous debugging.
  • dbgp_listvars.ahk: Example client which justs lists the variables of all running scripts.

GitHub: Lexikos / dbgp

The DebugVars script provides a graphical user interface for inspecting and changing the contents of variables and objects in any running script (except compiled scripts). It also serves as a demonstration of the dbgp.ahk library.

GitHub: Lexikos / DebugVars

Command-line Client

A command-line client is available from xdebug.org, however this is not suitable for most users as it requires a decent understanding of DBGp (the protocol).

Others

A number of other DBGp clients are available, but have not been tested with AutoHotkey. For a list, see Xdebug: Documentation.

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