Debug, CDBA, WDW and debxxf
A. Debug
Debug is an extended MS Debug clone. There are
two binaries available: the small and simple DEBUG.COM, which can debug DOS
16-bit real-mode applications only and DEBUGX.COM, which additionally can debug
protected-mode DPMI applications, both 16-bit and 32-bit.
Read Debug's Readme.txt for more details.
Also included is a DEBUG tutorial (PDF version).
Some screenshots of a DEBUG session
List of all versions available for download
Note that there are newer versions of this program available at https://sites.google.com/site/pcdosretro/enhdebug,
with additions written by Vernon Brooks.
B. CDBA (Win32 and Win64)
CDBA is a CDB-like debugger - with a commandline UI - written in assembly (Masm-style).
This debugger uses the MS Debug Engine. There is a Win64 version, CDBA64, and a Win32 version, CDBA ( CDBA can debug
Win32 applications and DOS applications running in NTVDM). All debuggers allow debugging on both assembly and source code level. CDBA is Public Domain.
C. WDW
This is a modified Open Watcom Windows GUI debugger. Unlike the original, this version allows to debug
not only Win32, but also DOS and Win16 applications locally, without the need for a remote connection or
using the VDM trap file.
The source is also available, but requires some manual work until it will compile without errors.
D. debxxf
debxxf is the name of a DPMI debugger for DOS and Win16 applications.
It has more features than the simple DEBUG, but OTOH it won't run with simple
DPMI hosts like cwsdpmi and it needs more memory.
There are 3 incarnations of debxxf:
- deb32f - debugger for 32-bit DPMI clients (DOS).
- deb16f - debugger for 16-bit DPMI clients (DOS).
- deb16fw - debugger for 16-bit DPMI clients (Windows).
The DOS versions of the debugger have the following features:
- may debug real mode and protected mode apps
- may debug apps with mixed 16/32 bit code segments
- may debug mode switches in both directions
- may debug apps using VGA/VESA graphics locally
- may debug DOS kernel and ROM code
- is not restricted to a specific file format. Any DOS/DPMI application can be debugged.
- supports remote debugging and a second video adapter
- is able to display various DOS/DPMI/CPU status information
There are also some things which you might not regard as a feature::
- the debugger has a simple, line-oriented user interface (DOS DEBUG alike)
- there is no support for debugging on source code level
- the debugger runs as a DPMI client, it is not suitable to debug system-level code or applications running as a VCPI client.
- the debugger requires a DPMI host with integrated DOS extender. It won't
run on native DPMI hosts like CWSDPMI.
Read debxxf's changelog.
Some screenshots of a debxxf session
