Docker GDB Container for Eclipse

Debug C applications with gdb on MacOS and Windows using Eclipse and Docker.

Motivation

gdb is not supported on MacOS X since Leopard. The only debugger that works is lldb. However Eclipse does not support the llvm stack. One solution is to use a MI bridge which is compatible with lldb (e.g. lldb-mi).

Using docker you already have linux installed on your computer.

Requirements

• Docker 12+
• Eclipse (CDT)
  • C/C++ Docker Container Launch Support Plugin

Installation

Clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/jdoubleu/docker-gdb-eclipse.git

and change into the directory.

Eclipse Docker Plugin

To install the C/C++ Docker Container Launch Support Plugin navigate to Help > Install New Software, then select your Eclipse' versions repository (e.g. http://download.eclipse.org/releases/oxygen). Look for Programming Languages > C/C++ Docker Container Launch Support.

Build the container

There's already a build script included. Simply run:

./build.sh

Configuration

Now open your C project and edit the build configuration. Open a file in your project and navigate to Project > Properties. Open the C/C++ Build tree. It is recommended to create a new build configuration under Manage configurations.

After creating and selecting the new build configuration open the Tool Chain Editor page and make sure the current toolchain is set to Linux GCC. Go to page Settings and open Container settings. Enable docker, select your connection and enter jdoubleu/gdb as docker image. Save your build configuration.

Now let's build your project using the new configuration: Click the arrow next to the hammer icon and select the name of your newly created build configuration.

Next create a new debug/run configuration. Add a new configuration of type C/C++ Container Launcher. The C/C++ Application should be the compiled version of your new build configuration. You may want to automatically build the project using the previous build configuration automatically when needed. Now open the tab Container and again enter jdoubleu/gdb. Under Debugger tab you nee to change the gdb binary (GDB debugger) to the wrapper.sh script included in this repository. Set GDB command file to /root/.gdbinit.

Run

Now you are able to start debugging the code from inside a docker container. Eclipse will automatically start the required container and your programm. Just run the debug configuration.