Changing the preferences

WingGDB has several configuration options which can be set globally, for all projects and sessions. To customize these options, choose Preferences command available in WinGDB menu. The options are divided into categorties, described in subsequent sections. All changes take effect at next debugging session.

General preferences

Default debugger path points to the gdb executable. If it is available on search PATH on the host you run your application on, then it is unnecessary to provide the full path. Default value for this setting is just 'gdb'. This option can also be set on the project or solution level. This global value becomes a default value in those places.

Default toolchain path points to directory where the tools needed for the build are lcoated (compiler, linker, etc.). This option can also be set on the project or solution level. This global value becomes a default value in those places.

Options concerning Cygwin are described in separate section Debugging Cygwin programs.

Debugger preferences

Assembler syntax: some architectures allow choice of assembler syntax presented in the Disassembly view. You can speciy the name of the syntax here (e.g. "att"). Available syntaxes are typically descibed in gdb manual for particular architecture. Leave this field blank for default syntax.

Maximum displayed stack depth: maximal number of frames showed in call stack. This setting prevents gdb from hanging on large call stacks, e.g. when debugging infinite recursing programs.

Memory page size: On some GDB versions disassembly operation is very slow. If you experience that problem, you can change this setting to small power of 2, e.g. 128 or 256 to alter the page size. This might improve the performance.

Suppress init files: if enabled, the debugger will not execute commands found in any standard initialization files like .gdbinit (it doesn't affect WinGDB custom initialization script).

Show leading zeros in formatted values: controls the formatted numeric values display, as in the option name.

Diagnostic preferences

Log session to file: when enabled, the whole gdb communication and other diagnostic data will be dumped to a log file. Enable this option if you have found a bug or experience any problems with WinGDB. This option influences performance, so it should be enabled only if it is really necessary.

Enable disassembly diagnostic mode: extended diagnostic mode concerning Disassembly View. It may be very slow, so enable it only if you experience any problems with that kind of view. It doesn't diagnose any other features.

Enable remote protocol diagnostic mode: extended diagnostic mode concerning remote protocol (for Indirect and Embedded modes). It may be very slow, so enable it only if you experience problems specific to these modes.

Network preferences

Always use SSH agent to authenticate: suppresses the password dialog and always tries to perform authentication through SSH agent. See this section for more details.

TCP keep-alive period: if non-zero, enables sending special keep-alive packets periodically. These packets can prevent the connection from being dropped due to inactivity by some firewalls. Try setting this option to e.g. 60000 when you regularly experience dropped connections.

Always use manual shell configuration: in case of trouble with shell communication (e.g. if remote account needs some user interaction after login) WinGDB displays a console. By default WinGDB displays it only once and stores all user's input. If this option is enabled, then console will be displayed every time it is needed.

Appearance preferences

Cosole font: allows to change the font used by the Process Console window. Only monospace (fixed character width) fonts are supported, like Courier family or default Fixedsys Excelsior. Click Browse for the font selection dialog to appear. This dialog allows you to select any font (as some monospace fonts are not marked being monospace), however you will obtain good visual results only with a monospace font.

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