GDB server

The GDB server allows you to set breakpoints and control your PSX program's execution from your gdb compatible IDE.

Enabling the GDB server

In PCSX-Redux: Configuration > Emulation > Enable GDB server.

Make sure the debugger is also enabled.

GDB setup

You need gdb-multiarch on your system :

Windows

Download a pre-compiled version from here : https://static.grumpycoder.net/pixel/gdb-multiarch-windows/

GNU/Linux

Debian based

Install via your package manager :

# Debian derivative; Ubuntu, Mint...
sudo apt install gdb-multiarch

Arch based

On Arch based distributions, multiarch is now enabled by default in regular builds and you don't need to install a specific version anymore.
You can install the 'gdb' package with pacman :

sudo pacman -S gdb

IDE setup

MS VScode

• Install the Native debug extension :
  https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=webfreak.debug

• Adapt your launch.json file to your environment :
  A sample lanuch.json file is available here.
  This should go in your-project/.vscode/.

You need to adapt the values of "executable", "gdbpath" and "autorun" according to your system :

executable

This is the path to your .elf executable :

   "executable": "HelloWorld.elf",

https://github.com/grumpycoders/pcsx-redux/blob/a3bebd490388130e924124cdfeff3bc46b6149d9/.vscode/launch.json#L153

gdbpath

This the path to the gdb-multiarch executable:

   "gdbpath": "/usr/bin/gdb-multiarch",

https://github.com/grumpycoders/pcsx-redux/blob/a3bebd490388130e924124cdfeff3bc46b6149d9/.vscode/launch.json#L154-L157

autorun

   "autorun": [
    "monitor reset shellhalt",
    [...]
    "load your-file.elf",

Make sure that "load your-file.elf" corresponds to the "target" value.

https://github.com/grumpycoders/pcsx-redux/blob/a3bebd490388130e924124cdfeff3bc46b6149d9/.vscode/launch.json#L159-L165

By default, using localhost should work, but if encountering trouble, try using your computer's local IP (e.g; 192.168.x.x, 10.0.x.x, etc.)

https://github.com/grumpycoders/pcsx-redux/blob/a3bebd490388130e924124cdfeff3bc46b6149d9/.vscode/launch.json#L150

Geany

Make sure you installed the official plugins and enable the Scope debugger.

To enable the plugin, open Geany, go to Tools > Plugin manager and enable Scope Debugger.

You can find the debugging facilities in the Debug menu ;

You can find the plugin's documentation here : https://plugins.geany.org/scope.html

.gdbinit

Create a .gdbinit file at the root of your project with the following content, adapting the path to your elf file and the gdb server's ip.

target remote localhost:3333
symbol-file load /path/to/your/executable.elf
monitor reset shellhalt
load /path/to/your/executable.elf

Plugin configuration

In Geany : Debug > Setup Program :

CLion

Open the Run/Debug Configurations menu, which you can find here:

Then, add a new Remote Debug configuration:

Finally, set your new configuration up:

.gdbinit

Create a .gdbinit file at the root of your project with the following content, adapting the path to your elf file.

define target remote
target extended-remote $arg0
symbol-file /path/to/your/executable.elf
monitor reset shellhalt
load /path/to/your/executable.elf
end

Beginning Debugging

Launch pcsx-redux, then run the debugger from your IDE. It should load the elf file, and execute until the next breakpoint.

Starting debugging in Geany

Source :
https://archive.org/details/pcsx_redux_geany_gdb

Additional tools

https://github.com/cyrus-and/gdb-dashboard/