This one is a quickie for an easy reference to most commonly used debugging tools and links. I hope you find it useful, and kindly indicate your feedback on this page by using the comments section or by rating the post!
Debugging Toolbox
Tool |
Key Usage Scenarios |
Download location |
WinDbg |
Interactive production debugging Dump analysis Local kernel debugging
|
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx |
CDB |
Scriptable, low overhead capture of dumps
Low overhead interactive debugging |
|
ADPlus |
Scripted automation for capturing dumps |
|
DebugDiag |
Can setup rules for capturing dumps in an unattended, logged-off scenario
Automated analysis of basic crash, hang and leak scenarios |
|
SysInternals Process Monitor |
Interactive process and thread level details
Handle usage |
|
TLIST |
Listing services Listing process tree Listing which processes have loaded a module |
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx |
Performance Monitor |
Interactive display of performance data on the system (System Monitor)
Logged-off unattended capturing of performance logs |
Shipped with the OS |
Application Verifier |
Enable various checks to trap deep rooted issues earlier such as
Orphaned critical sections Heap corruption Unsafe API usage Simulate low memory conditions
|
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa480483.aspx
|
PREFast |
Static source code analysis to detect potential buffer / stack overruns etc. |
|
XPerf / XPerfInfo |
Profiler / tracing of user mode applications |
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc305187.aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/performance/cc825801.aspx http://blogs.msdn.com/seema/archive/2008/10/08/xperf-a-cpu-sampler-for-silverlight.aspx
|
UserDump |
Automated capture of dumps |
|
LeakDiag |
Leak diagnostics |
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/PSS/Tools/Developer%20Support%20Tools/LeakDiag |
Native code debugging sites and blogs
http://www.advancedwindowsdebugging.com
http://blogs.msdn.com/ntdebugging
http://blogs.thinktecture.com/ingo/archive/2006/08/05/414674.aspx
.NET articles:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms954594.aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/03/06/Bugslayer
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/05/03/Bugslayer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892277
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/05/07/Debugging/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/06/11/CLRInsideOut/default.aspx
.NET debugging blogs:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jmstall/
http://blogs.msdn.com/mvstanton/
http://blogs.msdn.com/cbrumme/