Dape - Debug Adapter Protocol for Emacs

Use dape-configs to set up your debug adapter configurations. To initiate debugging sessions, use the command dape.

For complete functionality, activate eldoc-mode in your source buffers and enable repeat-mode for ergonomics.

Features

Log breakpoints
Conditional breakpoints
Variable explorer
Variable watch
Variable hover with eldoc
REPL
gdb-mi like interface
Memory viewer with hexl
compile integration
Debug adapter configuration ergonomics
No dependencies

And with (setq dape-buffer-window-arrangment 'gud) + corfu as completion-in-region-function. Screenshots taken with modus-operandi-tinted.

Configuration

Currently Dape does not come with any debug adapter configuration.

(use-package dape
  ;; To use window configuration like gud (gdb-mi)
  ;; :init
  ;; (setq dape-buffer-window-arrangment 'gud)
  :config
  ;; Info buffers to the right
  ;; (setq dape-buffer-window-arrangment 'right)

  ;; To remove info buffers
  ;; (remove-hook 'dape-update-ui-hooks 'dape-info-update)

  ;; To remove repl buffer on startup
  ;; (remove-hook 'dape-on-start-hooks 'dape-repl)

  ;; By default dape uses gdb keybinding prefix
  ;; (setq dape-key-prefix "\C-x\C-a")

  ;; Kill compile buffer on build success
  ;; (add-hook 'dape-compile-compile-hooks 'kill-buffer)

  ;; Save buffers on startup, useful for interpreted languages
  ;; (add-hook 'dape-on-start-hooks
  ;;           (defun dape--save-on-start ()
  ;;             (save-some-buffers t t)))

  ;; Projectile users
  ;; (setq dape-cwd-fn 'projectile-project-root)
  )

Differences with dap-mode

dap-mode is the most popular alternative and is of course much more mature and probably more feature rich (have not used dap-mode extensively).

Dape has no dependencies outside of packages included in emacs, and tries to use get as much out of them possible.

Dape takes a slightly different approach to configuration.

Dape does not support launch.json files, if per project configuration is needed use dir-locals.
Tries to simplify configuration, by having just a plist.
Dape tries to improve config ergonomics in dape completing-read by using options to change/add plist entries in an already existing config, example: adapter-config :program ＂/home/user/b.out＂ compile ＂gcc -g -o b.out main.c＂.
No magic, no special variables. Instead, functions and variables are resolved before starting a new session.
Tries to be envision to how debug adapter configuration would be implemented in emacs if vscode never existed.

Supported debug adapters

In theory all debug adapters should be compatible with Dape.

Javascript - vscode-js-*

Install `node`
Visit https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-js-debug/releases/ and download the asset `js-debug-dap-<version>.tar.gz`
Unpack `mkdir -p ~/.emacs.d/debug-adapters && tar -xvzf js-debug-dap-<version>.tar.gz -C ~/.emacs.d/debug-adapters`

For more information see OPTIONS.md.

Go - dlv

See delve installation. For more information see documentation.

C, C++ and Rust - codelldb

Download latest vsix release for your platform `codelldb-<platform>-<os>.vsix`
Unpack `mkdir -p ~/.emacs.d/debug-adapters && unzip codelldb-<platform>-<os>.vsix -d ~/.emacs.d/debug-adapters/codelldb`

See manual for more information.

C and C++ - cpptools

Download latesnd unpack vsix file with your favorite unzipper.

Download latest vsix release for your platform `cpptools-<platform>-<os>.vsix`
Unpack `mkdir -p ~/.emacs.d/debug-adapters && unzip cpptools-<os>-<platform>.vsix -d ~/.emacs.d/debug-adapters/cpptools`
Then `chmod +x ~/.emacs.d/debug-adapters/cpptools/extension/debugAdapters/bin/OpenDebugAD7`
And `chmod +x ~/.emacs.d/debug-adapters/cpptools/extension/debugAdapters/lldb-mi/bin/lldb-mi`

See options.

Python - debugpy

Install debugpy with pip `pip install debugpy`

See options.

Godot

Configure debug adapter port under “Editor” -> “Editor Settings” -> “Debug Adapter”.

Dart - flutter

See for installation https://docs.flutter.dev/get-started/install

C# - netcoredbg

See https://github.com/Samsung/netcoredbg for installation

Other untested adapters

If you find a working configuration for any other debug adapter please submit a PR.

See microsofts list for other adapters, your mileage will vary.

Roadmap

More options for indicator placement
Improving completion in REPL
Usage of “setVariable” inside of *dape-info* buffer
Improve memory reader with auto reload and write functionality
Individual thread controls
Variable values displayed in source buffer, this seams to require integration with lsp-mode and eglot

Bugs and issues

Before reporting any issues take a look at *dape-debug* buffer with all debug messages enabled. (setq dape--debug-on '(io info error std-server)).

joaotavora / dape