Overview
The RAD Debugger is a powerful, native, user-mode, multi-process graphical debugger designed for efficient local machine debugging. Currently supporting Windows x64 with PDBs, it's actively developed with plans to expand to Linux and DWARF debug information. This project also introduces two innovative companion technologies: the RAD Debug Info (RDI) format and the RAD Linker.
Key Features
- Native, Multi-Process Debugging: Offers robust debugging capabilities for complex, multi-process applications.
- Custom Debug Info Format (RDI): Introduces the RAD Debug Info (RDI) format, which the debugger parses directly, offering a more streamlined and potentially faster debug info pipeline. Existing PDB and DWARF formats are converted to RDI on-demand.
- High-Performance Linker (RAD Linker): A new, extremely fast linker optimized for generating massive x64 PE/COFF binaries. It boasts significantly reduced link times for huge projects and can natively generate RDI.
- Cross-Platform Development: Actively developed and buildable on both Windows x64 and Linux x64.
- Modular Architecture: Organized into well-defined layers, promoting code isolation and reusability.
Typical Use Cases
The RAD Debugger is ideal for developers working on large, complex native applications, particularly those building game engines, operating system components, or other performance-critical software. Its high-performance linker is a significant advantage for projects with massive codebases, drastically reducing build cycle times. The custom RDI format and ongoing development towards Linux support make it a forward-looking solution for advanced native debugging needs.
