Debug symbol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. A debug symbol is information that expresses which programming- language constructs generated a specific piece of machine code in a given executable module. Sometimes the symbolic information is compiled together with the module's binary file, or distributed in a separate file, or simply discarded during the compilation and/or linking.
This information enables a person using a symbolic debugger to gain additional information about the binary, such as the names of variables and routines from the original source code. This information can be extremely helpful while trying to investigate and fix a crashing application or any other fault.[1]When debug symbols are embedded in the binary itself, the file can then grow significantly larger (sometimes by several times the original file size).[2] To avoid this extra size, modern compilers and early mainframe debugging systems output the symbolic information into a separate file; for Microsoft compilers, this file is called a PDB file. Some companies ship the PDB on their CD/DVD to enable troubleshooting and other companies (like Microsoft, and the Mozilla Corporation) have special online servers from which it's possible to download the debug symbols separately. Microsoft's Win. DBG debugger can be configured to automatically download debug symbols for Windows. DLLs on demand as they are needed.
- Should I remove Debugging Tools for Windows (x64) by Microsoft? Use Debugging Tools for Windows to debug drivers, applications, and services on Windows systems.
- Occasionally, my Windows XP SP2 laptop has had the Blue Screen of Death appear unexpectedly. It doesn't occur when any particular application is running, a.
- July 2016. Start here for an overview of Debugging Tools for Windows. This tool set includes WinDbg and other debuggers. 3 ways to get Debugging Tools for Windows.
![Debugging Tools Symbol Files Debugging Tools Symbol Files](http://tyappi.wankuma.com/images/ProcessExplorersymbol_118BE/ProcessExplorer101.png)
The PDB debug symbols that Microsoft distributes are only partial (they include only public functions, global variables and their data types), whereas the Mozilla Corporation has similar infrastructure but distributes full debug information. Both Microsoft and Mozilla also offer the source code (Microsoft provides certain components, such as most of the . NET Framework, whereas Mozilla offers full source) to make debugging easier. Apple uses the term "Symbolicate" to refer to the creation of debug symbols on Apple operating systems.[3]History[edit]Symbolic debuggers have existed since the mainframe era, almost since the first introduction of suitable computer displays on which to display the symbolic debugging information (and even earlier with symbolic dumps on paper). They were not restricted to high level compiled languages and were available also for Assembly language programs. For the IBM/3. 60, these produced object code (on request) that included "SYM cards". These were usually ignored by the program loader but were useful to a symbolic debugger as they were kept on the same program library as the executable logic code.
![Debugging Tools Symbol Files Debugging Tools Symbol Files](http://www.edsquared.com/content/binary/Windows-Live-Writer/Source-Server-and-Symbol-Server-Support-_80F8/image_thumb.png)
Public symbol and source servers[edit]References[edit]^"Windows Dev Center - Debugging with Symbols". ^"Tech. Net - What are Symbols For?". Technet. ^"i. OS Developer Library - Understanding and Analyzing i.
OS Application Crash Reports". See also[edit].
A debug symbol is information that expresses which programming-language constructs generated a specific piece of machine code in a given executable module. Download symbol packages for Windows or use the Microsoft Symbol Server. Find installation instructions, requirements, and resources for debugging.
![Debugging Tools Symbol Files Debugging Tools Symbol Files](http://www.maxpaulousky.com/blog/Images/localhost/blog/WindowsLiveWriter/PerformanceofVisualStudio2010RTMRelease_1CFF/DebuggingSymbolsTurnedOff.png)