debugR: a Debugging Tool for R

This tool, debugR, available here. greatly enhances the R debugging process. R's own built-in debugging tools are very limited, but debugR extends them to a rich set of commands, plus visual display of your execution of the debuggee. Those who have used GDB for C/C++ will find many similarities, but no such background is assumed. (Note: RStudio now has a built-in debugging tool, as do ESS and statet.)

(I am no longer supporting edtdbg.)

The tool needs a Linux or other Unix-family environment, e.g. Macs. It should work on Cygwin. (I may have a Windows version soon.) Python is also required.

Quick Start:

• Use your text editor to create a file test.R, with contents

  f <- function() {
     sum <- 0
     for (i in 1:3) {
        sum <- sum + i
     }
     sum
  }
  

• In a terminal window, type

  python debugR.py test.R
  

• In the command area (space at the bottom of the window type)

  df f
  

  to set the function f() to debug status. Then in the command area, type

  rn f()
  

  to run the function f(). (No arguments in this particular call, but of course you could have some for other functions.)

• You can then type n for next line, c for continue, etc., rather like GDB. Type Q to quit the browser, and es to leave the debugging tool.

• There are many other commands, e.g. conditional breakpoints, automatic printing of variables/expressions at each pause, etc. Type h to see a list of all commands.