File: gawk.info,  Node: Debugging Summary,  Prev: Limitations,  Up: Debugger

14.6 Summary
============

   * Programs rarely work correctly the first time.  Finding bugs is
     called debugging, and a program that helps you find bugs is a
     debugger.  'gawk' has a built-in debugger that works very similarly
     to the GNU Debugger, GDB.

   * Debuggers let you step through your program one statement at a
     time, examine and change variable and array values, and do a number
     of other things that let you understand what your program is
     actually doing (as opposed to what it is supposed to do).

   * Like most debuggers, the 'gawk' debugger works in terms of stack
     frames, and lets you set both breakpoints (stop at a point in the
     code) and watchpoints (stop when a data value changes).

   * The debugger command set is fairly complete, providing control over
     breakpoints, execution, viewing and changing data, working with the
     stack, getting information, and other tasks.

   * If the GNU Readline library is available when 'gawk' is compiled,
     it is used by the debugger to provide command-line history and
     editing.

   * Usually, the debugger does not not affect the program being
     debugged, but occasionally it can.