How Do I Use Eclipse to Debug a C++ Program on Linux?

Question

I don't use Eclipse as an IDE, and have no interest in doing so. However, I do like its source-level debugging.

Is there any way I can use it to debug a C++ Linux app without going through the ritual of creating a project? (In effect, can I just use it like a frontend to gdb?)

If not, what are the steps I need to follow to create a project that I can use to just debug an existing C++ program that is built using Makefiles or other tools (SCons, CMake, etc.). I don't want to be able to "develop" in Eclipse; all I need to do is debug.

Solution 1

Take a look at this question. Create a C/C++-project, use your project's source directory as project directory, select to use the external builder, and change "make" to whatever tool you want.

The tricky part is to get the indexer to work correctly and find all your header files.

EDIT: CMake 2.6.x has support for generating CDT project files, which might be a more straightforward solution.

Solution 2

I don't know if this has changed in the 4+ years since the question was posted, but there's a much easier way to do this. I'm on Eclipse Luna (4.4.2).

> eclipse&

then

File > Import > C/C++ > C/C++ Executable > Next > browse to executable > Next > choose a project name > Finish

No other project setup required, no source paths (which should be in the object code). Just like running gdb/insight/etc. Almost makes it worth installing Java.

Comments

[kevinthompson]

What does "select to use the external builder" mean?