Source Level Debugging Using gdb and Visual Studio Code

Source-level debugging is a superpower, especially when you’re working in assembly. When you integrate GDB with Visual Studio Code, it becomes a visual experience where:

• You’re no longer guessing addresses or scrolling disassembly.

• You can read and debug your own source files, not just opcodes.

• You get a register view, memory view, and call stack in real-time

This post describes the steps to get up and running with gdb and Visual Studio Code.

Setup

Step 1: Install Windows Terminal

1. Open Microsoft Store (Start Menu → type “Microsoft Store”).

2. Search for Windows Terminal.

3. Click Install.

Step 2: Enable WSL2

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run

 wsl --install 

This installs:

• Windows Subsystem for Linux
• WSL2 as the default
• Ubuntu as the default distro

⚠️ If you’ve used WSL before, you might need to update it:

 wsl --update 

Reboot your computer when prompted

Step 3: Install Ubuntu

If Ubuntu wasn’t auto-installed:

1. Open Microsoft Store

2. Search for Ubuntu

3. Choose a version (e.g., Ubuntu 22.04 LTS) and click Install.

Step 4: Open Ubuntu in Windows Terminal

1. Open Windows Terminal

2. If Ubuntu is installed, it should already appear as a tab option or in the dropdown menu.

3. If not:

• Click the dropdown arrow (next to the tab bar)

• Select Settings

• Under Profiles → Add a new profile → WSL, select Ubuntu

Now, from the dropdown, click Ubuntu to open it.

Step 5: Install the Full Build Essentials in Ubuntu

sudo app update
sudo apt install build-essential gdb -y

Step 6: Verify Installation

gcc --version
g++ --version
make --version
as --version
ld --version
gdb --version