A "switchable" debugger:

The problem with debugging is that first it takes a while to write it, then it takes a while to remove it...and you allways forget one stupid ShowMessage or whatever method is used.
It fell into my mind one day: "Couldn't you just wrap the debug output calls in Assert(), and have them all removed just by disabling Assertions ({$C-} compiler option) ?"
Then, at the moment you removed assertions, *all* extra code related to debugging was gone !
This pointed towards a solution with an external debugger application that would at the same time be able to control debugging behaviour in your project - such as "Show all SQL statements", "Don't show procedure Enter & Leave", etc.

Yes, I know there is another guy that has written such a debugger, I found out shortly after writing mine...;-)

The solution:

  • 'Assertions' compiler option controls whether working routines or empty ones are comiled into project

  • Debug messages are passed from the application to the external application via GlobalAtoms (one of more possible ways)

  • Either PostMessage(Asynchronous - returns immediately) or SendMessage(Synchronous - waits for handling in external debugger) option

  • Extensive use of Overloads, Open Arrays & Default parameters for ease of remembering ('Dbg', apart from 'DbgEnter' & 'DbgLeave')

  • The debugger application minimizes to tray

  • The application passes registered topics to the debugger, so that corresponding menu items are created

  • The debugger communicates with the debugged application, and may disable debugging for specific (or all, of course) topics at runtime


    • ...and notice the cool, crawling animated icon... ;-)


    How to use the debugger:
    1. Put VDebugger.exe in application exe's directory
    2. Include VDebug.pas and VDebugConst.pas in project and the units where you want debugging
    3. Write your debug lines (and optionally - register debug topics)
    4. Check 'Assertions' option in Project | Options | Compiler
    5. Run application 6. To remove all handling & overhead, uncheck 'Assertions', to make it optional - remove or rename Vdebugger.exe, or control the global gDebugging: boolean; variable from a command line parameter /debug

    Download source code

    Download executable

    The "look & feel":



    ...and this is how it debugs exceptions: