Atom editor is a popular and highly customizable text editor that supports numerous programming languages, including C++. While Atom does not come with built-in debugging capabilities, you can extend its functionality by installing plugins that provide debugging features.

In this article, we will explore how to set up and use the atom-ide-debugger-cpp plugin to debug C++ code in Atom.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure that you have the following prerequisites in place:

1. Atom Editor: If you haven’t already, download and install the Atom editor from the official website (https://atom.io).

2. GCC: Make sure you have GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) installed on your system. This is required to compile and run C++ code.

Installing the atom-ide-debugger-cpp plugin

To enable C++ debugging in Atom, follow these steps:

1. Launch Atom and go to File > Settings > Install.

2. In the search box, type atom-ide-debugger-cpp and click on the Install button next to the plugin.

3. Once the installation is complete, you will have to configure the plugin.

Configuring the atom-ide-debugger-cpp plugin

To configure the atom-ide-debugger-cpp plugin, follow these steps:

1. Open your project in Atom.

2. Create a .vscode folder in the root directory of your project if it doesn’t exist already.

3. Inside the .vscode folder, create a launch.json file.

4. Add the following content to launch.json:

   {
     "version": "0.2.0",
     "configurations": [
       {
         "name": "C++ Debug",
         "type": "cppdbg",
         "request": "launch",
         "program": "${workspaceFolder}/<your_executable_name>",
         "args": [],
         "stopAtEntry": false,
         "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
         "environment": [],
         "externalConsole": true,
         "MIMode": "gdb"
       }
     ]
   }
   

   Make sure to replace <your_executable_name> with the name of your C++ executable file.

5. Save the launch.json file.

Debugging C++ code in Atom

To start debugging your C++ code in Atom, follow these steps:

1. Ensure that you have a breakpoint set in your code by placing the cursor on the desired line and pressing F9.

2. Open the file you want to debug.

3. Press F5 or go to Packages > atom-ide-debugger-cpp > Debug: Start Debugging to start the debugging session.

4. The debugger will pause your program at the breakpoint, allowing you to inspect variables, step through code, and track down errors.

Conclusion

By installing and configuring the atom-ide-debugger-cpp plugin, you can enhance Atom’s functionality and debug your C++ code effectively. With breakpoints, variable inspection, and step-through capabilities, debugging C++ in Atom becomes more efficient.

Give it a try and streamline your C++ development workflow in the Atom editor!

#AtomEditor #C++Debugging