GDB (GNU Debugger) is a powerful tool for debugging C++ programs. It allows you to step through your code line by line, inspect the values of variables, and set breakpoints to stop execution at specific points in your program.

To debug a C++ program using GDB, you will need to compile your code with the -g flag. This tells the compiler to include debugging information in the executable file.

Once you have compiled your code, you can start GDB and load the executable file:

gdb ./my_program

This will start GDB and load the executable file into memory. You can then use the following commands to debug your program:

• run: Starts the program from the beginning.
• break: Sets a breakpoint at the specified line of code.
• step: Executes the next line of code.
• next: Executes the next line of code, but steps over any function calls.
• continue: Continues executing the program until it hits a breakpoint or finishes.
• print: Prints the value of the specified expression.
• where: Shows the current stack frame.
• bt (backtrace): Shows the entire stack trace.

You can also use GDB to inspect the values of variables and objects. To do this, simply type the name of the variable or object at the GDB prompt.

For example, to print the value of the variable my_variable, you would type:

(gdb) print my_variable

GDB will then print the value of the variable to the console.

You can also use GDB to step through functions. To do this, simply use the step command until you reach the function that you want to step through. Once you are inside the function, you can use the step and next commands to step through the code line by line.

If you are debugging a program that is crashing, you can use GDB to examine the stack trace to see where the program is crashing. To do this, simply type the bt command.

GDB is a powerful tool for debugging C++ programs. By learning how to use GDB, you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration when debugging your code.

Some additional tips for debugging C++ programs using GDB:

• Use breakpoints to stop execution at specific points in your program. This can be helpful for isolating the cause of a bug.
• Use the print command to inspect the values of variables and objects. This can help you to track down the source of a bug.
• Use the step and next commands to step through your code line by line. This can be helpful for understanding how your code works and where a bug is occurring.
• Use the bt command to examine the stack trace if your program is crashing. This can help you to identify the function where the program is crashing.

If you are new to GDB, there are many resources available online and in libraries that can teach you how to use it.