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EpicGames/raddebugger

A native, user-mode, multi-process graphical debugger for local x64 debugging on Windows and Linux, currently in alpha.

Open-source alternative to:Visual Studio Debugger

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What is it?

RAD Debugger is a native, user-mode graphical debugger that can attach to and control multiple processes. It currently supports local-machine x64 debugging on Windows, and Linux support is in an early stage. Remote and multi-machine debugging, along with other architectures, are listed as planned work.

The project also includes the RAD Debug Info (RDI) format, a custom debug information format that the debugger reads. PDB and DWARF data are converted to RDI on demand, so the debugger does not depend directly on those toolchain formats. The repository also contains the RAD Linker, a performance-focused linker for x64 PE/COFF binaries that emits standard PDB files and can optionally produce RDI, with command-line switches aimed at MSVC compatibility.

Builds are driven by simple scripts (build.bat on Windows, build.sh on Linux) and the codebase is organized into layers under src, with standalone lib_ libraries for RDI and markup that can be reused in other projects.

Key features

  • 01Native graphical debugger that controls multiple processes on local x64 machines.
  • 02Supports Windows and, in early form, Linux.
  • 03Converts PDB and DWARF debug information to the RAD Debug Info format on demand.
  • 04RAD Linker produces standard PDB files and can generate RDI debug info.
  • 05Command-line options compatible with MSVC for the linker, with thread and large-page controls.

Use cases

  • Debugging native C or C++ programs on Windows x64 with a standalone graphical debugger.
  • Speeding up link times for very large executables with the RAD Linker.
  • Experimenting with a custom debug info format or reusing the lib_rdi library in other tools.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install the Microsoft C/C++ Build Tools (Windows SDK and MSVC)

  2. 2

    Open the x64 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS

  3. 3

    From the repository root, run the build script to build the debugger

    build
  4. 4

    Or download pre-built release binaries from the GitHub releases page

Things to know

  • The debugger is in alpha, so expect bugs and rough edges.
  • It only supports local x64 debugging on Windows and Linux, and Linux support is still very early.
  • Remote and multi-machine debugging are not yet supported.

Topics

#debugger#native-debugging#linker#debug-info#x64#windows#linux

FAQ

What is raddebugger?
A native, user-mode, multi-process graphical debugger for local x64 debugging on Windows and Linux, currently in alpha. RAD Debugger is a native, user-mode graphical debugger that can attach to and control multiple processes. It currently supports local-machine x64 debugging on Windows, and Linux support is in an early stage. Remote and multi-machine debugging, along with other architectures, are listed as planned work.
Is raddebugger free to use? What license does it have?
raddebugger is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is raddebugger still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to raddebugger was on Nov 6, 2026.
What can I use raddebugger for?
Debugging native C or C++ programs on Windows x64 with a standalone graphical debugger. Speeding up link times for very large executables with the RAD Linker. Experimenting with a custom debug info format or reusing the lib_rdi library in other tools.
How do I install raddebugger?
Install the Microsoft C/C++ Build Tools (Windows SDK and MSVC) Open the x64 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS From the repository root, run the build script to build the debugger: build Or download pre-built release binaries from the GitHub releases page
Where can I get raddebugger?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/EpicGames/raddebugger

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