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Debugging the Python layer

There are a number of Python debuggers. Presented here are just a couple of options known to work for certain developers on the ycmd project.

The options presented are:

  • Using ipdb (this is known not to work well on OS X).
  • Using pyclewn and attaching to the running Python process.

Using ipdb

  1. If you're not using vagrant, install ipdb (pip install ipdb).
  2. At the point in the code you want to break, add the following lines:
import ipdb; ipdb.set_trace()
  1. Run the tests without flake8, e.g.
./run_tests.py --skip-build --no-flake8 ycmd/tests/get_completions_test.py
  1. The test breaks at your code breakpoint and offers a command interface to debug.

See the ipdb docs for more info.

Using pyclewn in Vim

The procedure is similar to using ipdb but you attach to the suspended process and use Vim as a graphical debugger:

  1. Install pyclewna

  2. At the point you want to break, add the following lines:

import clewn.vim as clewn; clewn.pdb()
  1. Run the tests without flake8, e.g.
./run_tests.py --skip-build --no-flake8 ycmd/tests/get_completions_test.py
  1. The tests will pause at the breakpoint. Now within Vim attach the debugger with :Pyclewn pdb. Hope that it works. It can be a bit flaky.

See the pyclewn docs for more info.

Debugging the C++ layer (C++ Python library)

If you want to debug the c++ code using gdb (or your favourite graphical debugger, e.g. pyclewn in Vim), there are a few things you need to do:

  1. Ensure your Python is built with debug enabled. On Linux that's as simple as installing pyenv and running the commands:
    export OPT='-g' # Ensure Python binary has debugging info
    export PYTHON_CONFIGURE_OPTS='--enable-shared --with-pydebug'
    pyenv install 2.7.11 # or whatever version

On OS X, you need a working debugger. You can either use lldb which comes with XCode or brew install gdb. Note: If you use gdb from homebrew, then you need to sign the binary otherwise you can't debug anything. See later steps for a link.

  1. Build ycm_core library with debugging information (and link against debug Python):
    pyenv shell 2.7.11
    ./build.py --all --enable-debug
  1. Enable debugging in the OS. On Linux (Ubuntu at least, which is what all of our tests are run on), you must set the following sysctl parameter (you can make it permanent if you like by adding it to /etc/sysctl.conf or via any other appropriate mechanism):
     sudo sysctl kernel.yama.ptrace_scope=0

On OS X it is more fiddly: - The binary must be signed. See https://sourceware.org/gdb/wiki/BuildingOnDarwin - You can not debug system Python. Again: you must use a Python that is not the one provided by Apple. Use pyenv. That is the rule. Don't argue.

Don't ask why. It's for security.

  1. Here you have choices: either use a Python debugger to break the tests, or manually use Vim and YouCompleteMe to simulate the scenario you want to debug. In any case, you will need the PID of the running Python process hosting ycmd to attach to. For example using Vim:
    • :YcmDebugInfo to get the pid
    • gdb: attach <PID>
    • break YouCompleteMe::FilterAndSortCandidates