ARCHIVED: In Unix, what is ups, and how can I use it?

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In Unix, ups is a debugger with a graphical interface used on X Window System programs. You can use it to run a program or to debug a dead program from its core file (if one was left). It is also useful for tracing through a running program to find where an error is occurring.

The first step in using any debugger is to make sure the source code is compiled with debugging information (often obtained via a -g flag). For example, to compile foo.c with symbol tables, at the Unix prompt, enter:

 cc -g -o foo foo.c

To start the ups program with the file foo, at the Unix prompt, enter:

 ups foo

ups is menu driven. To run the program, select the start option. It will run until there is an error. It will provide all of the X Window System output the program normally would, allowing you to see the program and interact with it.

You can use the menus to step through the program as it is running and show what is happening. You can also use the expand command to show all of the calls to a procedure and find where an error exists.

For information on the other features in ups, see the man pages. At the Unix prompt, enter:

 man ups

At Indiana University, for personal or departmental Linux or Unix systems support, see Get help for Linux or Unix at IU.

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Last modified on 2018-01-18 09:10:24.