*debugger.txt*  For Vim version 6.3a.  Last change: 2001 Dec 22


		  VIM REFERENCE MANUAL    by Gordon Prieur


Debugger Support Features				*debugger-support*

1. Debugger Features		|debugger-features|
2. Vim Compile Options		|debugger-compilation|
3. Integrated Debuggers		|debugger-integration|

{Vi does not have any of these features}

==============================================================================
1. Debugger Features					*debugger-features*

The following features are available for an integration with a debugger or
an Integrated Programming Environment (IPE) or Integrated Development
Environment (IDE):

	Alternate Command Input				|alt-input|
	Debug Signs					|debug-signs|
	Debug Source Highlight				|debug-highlight|
	Message Footer					|gui-footer|
	Balloon Evaluation				|balloon-eval|

These features were added specifically for use in the Motif version of gvim.
However, the |alt-input| and |debug-highlight| were written to be usable in
both vim and gvim. Some of the other features could be used in the non-GUI
vim with slight modifications. However, I did not do this nor did I test the
reliability of building for vim or non Motif GUI versions.


1.1 Alternate Command Input				*alt-input*

For Vim to work with a debugger there must be at least an input connection
with a debugger or external tool. In many cases there will also be an output
connection but this isn't absolutely necessary.

The purpose of the input connection is to let the external debugger send
commands to Vim. The commands sent by the debugger should give the debugger
enough control to display the current debug environment and state.

The current implementation is based on the X Toolkit dispatch                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 