Hi,

I am currently working on a CFD code written in Fortran 95. I would like to switch from using write(*,*)'x= ' to using a source-level debugger. My first try was gdb with ddd as a front-end, but my code uses modules, and gdb does not handle them well (it is impossible to print variables declared inside modules).

After some research on Internet, I found several other possibilities. I would like to know if people have tested them or have an opinion. Here are the issues related to my requirements (I need to run it on x86 machines):

idb (Intel Compiler for Linux): is the Intel debugger compatible with ddd ? dbx (Sun Studio): the compiler bundled (sun f95 compiler) appears to only work on SPARC station Ladebug: seems to work on AlphaServers platform only

I really need this debugging capacity, so if a solution involving, for example, a complete linux installation is available, I can bargain with the guys in charge of IT at the laboratory (I currently run windows on my desktop). What I need is a solution to compile and debug fortran code on x86 machines using as far as possible free packages.

Thank you for your help,

J.D.

It seems like I could install the Intel Linux compiler, compile my programs, and then debug them using idb in either gdb or dbx mode, so that ddd could parse their outputs.

If anyone as an opinion on this, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

J.D.

Hello,

From what i have seen, fortran + free + debugger cannot be found. On linux, there are Eclipse and Intel. Eclipse cannot debug, and idb (intel) is not particularly nice. I am developing in fortran, and i am using Kdevelop. Debugging is done with write(*,*) (most of the time) and idb. I can't wait to switch to C++, so efficient on linux with kdevelop (debugging, documentation,...).

On windows this is actually easier. But free does not exist. Visual Fortran or similar works well enough, and are not expensive if you know where to look

Nico

Can you describe what is not nice with idb ? Since it can be run and produce gdb-like output, I thought it could work.

I don't know about DDD. But idb does not integrate well into the Eclipse or Kdevelop IDE. (some local variables are accessible, but not the arrays or any variables defined in modules). DDD might be the answer, but i haven't tried it yet.

Which idb's output mode did you try ? dbx or gdb ? I read somewhere that dbx, unlike gdb, can manage f90's modules, so maybe it is usable ?

idb on its own is working well. (everything is accessible). But it cannot be used (that i have seen) well inside an IDE like kdevelop or eclipse.

This "everything is accessible" really means a lot for me after the disappointment of gdb's inexistent support for f90 ! I will try it at soon as possible. Thanks !

make sure you try idb -gui.

I will try -idb --debugger dbx first

Hello, Your site is great. Regards, Valintino Guxxi