## Starting the Debugger

Use the Debug command () to begin debugging a compiled program. The debugger takes control of program execution, starting at the main entry point of the program. When starting the debugger for the first time, there are two types of debug launch configurations that you can choose between:

- Debug As > Symbian OS Application — select this option to create a new debug launch configuration for the project or run the the first debug launch configuration it finds in the debug launch configuration list (starting at the top of the list). Basically, this is a shortcut to help you start debugging immediately.
- Open Debug Dialog... — enables you to define one or more launch configurations for this project.

In the following steps, Config_Name refers to both debug launch configuration types.

#### Starting the Debugger

NOTE You can only debug compiled programs. Use the Build Project command to compile project sources into a binary file.

- Right-click the project's EXE file in the C/C++ Projects view and select Debug As > Config_Name from the C/C++ Projects contextual menu

or

- Select the project to debug and click the Debug button () in the C/C++ perspective

> NOTE If you don't see the Debug button on your EXE file you'll need to define a Configuration for the program.

> or

- Select the project to debug and then select Run > Debug As > Config_Name from the menu bar

The current routine executes and returns to its caller, then program execution stops

NOTE Some projects require additional configuration before the debugging session can begin. The IDE might prompt you for permission to perform this configuration automatically.

For more information on debugging, see C/C++ Development User Guide > Tasks > Running and debugging projects > Debugging.

##### Related references

- Working with the Debugger
- Debug View