Re: Problem trying to get DDD to debug a simple assembly language program

[Žarko Živanov]

Rich,
I'm using ddd as a tool in assembly programming class, and I think I could help 
you, but I'll need the source files that you are trying to run through ddd (I 
don't use nasm, but gcc's assembler), to see what's going on.

Regarding the fonts issue, it was reported and solved long time ago, but never 
got into the ddd source 
(http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.debugging.ddd.general/8238, 
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ddd/+bug/959664).

I have my own packages for ddd that are distributed to students, where some of 
the bugs are fixed and the interface is tailored towards assembly debugging, 
you may try it if you want (you'll need to rm -rf ~/.ddd/ and install 
xfonts-100dpi package):
http://www.acs.uns.ac.rs/sr/node/237/443

Best regards,
Zarko


On 03/04/13 22:11, Rich Loda wrote:
> I have a Zareason 64 bit laptop running Ubuntu Linux 12.10 64 bit. Have been reading an 
> "Assembly language step by step" book and have been attempting to use ddd
> to  debug. Obtained ddd from Ubuntu software center download.
> Have compiled: nasm -f elf64 -g -F dwarf junk.asm
> Linked: ld -o junk junk.o
> The program from terminal successfully prints "Eat at Joe's!" as it should.
>
> However, when I try to load it into ddd  the program hangs and I get a continuous 
> hourglass. The code "displays", but I can't set breakpoints or do anything else.
> The only way I can get it to load is from the terminal, i.e ____$ddd junk.
>
> When I do the above. I note that the terminal lists several Warnings, e.g Warning: Cannot 
> convert string "-*helvetica-medium-r .....and Warning: could not load font....."
> I believe leaving the cursor hung up also.
>
> I've tried the unzipped file from the book site (called "eatsyscall"), and also 
> retyping in only the executable asm (no comments) to no avail.
>
> I can "debug" the (working) program with gdb from the terminal. Can set breaks, 
> list, inspect registers as one should.
>
> I've tried web sites and reading the ddd manual, but am at a loss. I suspect 
> I'm doing something silly, but would appreciate any feedback. Could it be ddd 
> doesn't handle 64 bit code? Note the same
> thing happens, even if I use the 32-bit book version that was already compiled 
> when unzipped?!
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Rich