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[Protools5LEGuy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacsBug

MacsBug is a low-level (assembly language/machine-level) debugger for the classic Mac OS (Macintosh operating system). MacsBug is an acronym for Motorola Advanced Computer Systems Debugger, as opposed to Macintosh debugger (The Motorola 68000 Microprocessor is imprinted with the MACSS acronym[1]). The original version was developed by Motorola as a general debugger for its 68000 systems — it was ported to the Mac as a programmer's tool early in the project's development.

MacsBug is invoked by hitting the Macintosh's "Programmer's Key" or, as it became later known, the "Interrupt Key" or by pressing "Command-Power". MacsBug offers many commands for disassembling, searching, and viewing data as well as control over processor registers. MacsBug is not installed by default with Mac OS, although every Macintosh since the Macintosh Plus includes a debugger in ROM known as MicroBug.[2]

Users who stumble into MacsBug by accident need only to enter G and press return to escape from MacsBug; however, MacsBug is not installed by default, requiring a system extension, so a typical user environment does not include it. However, it was occasionally installed by end users to provide very basic error recovery. As the classic Mac OS lacked memory protection, "hard crashes" where an application crash simply froze the entire system weren't uncommon. With MacsBug installed, instead of an unresponsive system, the user would be dumped into MacsBug, where they could type ES to Exit to Shell (force quit the crashed application and return to the Finder) or RB for ReBoot, which restarted the system.[3] Such recovery efforts were often not successful, with the only alternative a hard reset.

In Mac OS versions 7.5 and later, the presence of MacsBug is indicated at startup; it is present if the user sees the text Debugger installed (although, occasionally, this may indicate the presence of another piece of software loaded into the area of memory reserved for the debugger, instead).

MacsBug was originally for the Motorola 68000 series of processors only. When Apple introduced the Power Macintosh in 1994, it was followed by an updated MacsBug that supported the PowerPC instruction set and architecture.

The last version of MacsBug was 6.6.3, released September 14, 2000. This final version works with all of the machines released in the July–September timeframe of 2000, including the Power Mac G4 (uni- and multi-processor), Power Mac G4 Cube, the iMac family (Ruby, Indigo, Sage, Graphite, and Snow), and the iBook family (Indigo, Key Lime, and Graphite).

6.6.3 includes better support for debugging MP tasks, and fixes some serious bugs in the memory setting commands when used in PCI I/O space. It can also be used in Classic when running under Mac OS X, where it is invoked by pressing "⌘-⏏" (or "⌘-F12" on systems without an Eject key).

Mac OS X allows programmers to use familiar MacsBug commands in gdb. This gdb plugin is included with the OS X Developer Tools, located in the directory /usr/libexec/gdb/plugins/MacsBug/.

Third party alternatives to MacsBug included ICOM Simulations' TMON which came with the Darin Adler Extended User Area & Trap Discipline (allowing all documented Mac API parameters to be verified) and the fully symbolic Jasik debugger, which was much more powerful, but harder to use due to the intricate and non-standard user interface.

https://web.archive.org/web/20110605022118/http://developer.apple.com/tools/debuggers/MacsBug/Documentation/MacsBugRef_6.2.pdf

http://www.fenestrated.net/~macman/mirrors/Apple%20Technotes%20(As%20of%202002)/tn/pdf/tn1136.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20110814213229/http://developer.apple.com/tools/debuggers/MacsBug/

http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.15/15.06/MacsBugRevisited/index.html

http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.02/02.07/MidWest,TMON/index.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20150716042214/http://www.warplife.com/tips/code/mac/classic/debug/macsbug/debug-meister.html


Garden to rescue, again


http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/macsbug-663

[Protools5LEGuy]

Garden to rescue, again

[Knezzen]

ProTools, please don't hotlink to the garden. You can link to the MacBugs page, but please don't hotlink directly to the downloadable file.

You can hotlink to macintosharchive if you want, I have nothing to do with that site

[Protools5LEGuy]

Ok. Hotlinks removed

[ELN]

Anyone found the MP (Multiprocessing) dcmd? It'd help with the NK work.

[macStuff]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacsBug
The last version of MacsBug was 6.6.3, released September 14, 2000.
https://web.archive.org/web/20010608110124/http://developer.apple.com/tools/debuggers/MacsBug/
https://web.archive.org/web/20010608110124/ftp://ftp.apple.com/developer/Tool_Chest/Testing_-_Debugging/Debuggers_-_dcmds/MacsBug_6.6.3.sit.hqx
https://staticky.com/dl/ftp.apple.com/developer/Tool_Chest/Testing_-_Debugging/Debuggers_-_dcmds/

[Protools5LEGuy]

Please Chris use search function before starting new topics.

[macnosy]

I recently joined this group ( Sept 3 2021) and noticed that there is no mention of MacNosy & The Debugger of which I am the author of.
It is still available and if you have a machine that Boots into System 9 both programs are fully functional.

As I am looking forward to trying the software mods that members of this group have developed to see how it works on a 2006 G4 PowerMac on which Serial Communication software is broken
For details on my programs, contact info, ... see www.jasik.com

I look forward to figuring out how to download the software mods group members made so that
 I can boot 9.2.2 natively on my 2006 G4 laptop.

For the curious, I have used Macsbug in the past.  I debugged my Debugger by running 2 copies of it
 and if both copied failed I would end up in Macsbug

BTW: I don''t like to bitch, but the captcha verification is a bit small for my 78 YO eyes
and I can't get the listen to the letters to work on OSX 10.14's latest version of Safari :-(

[IIO]

(one of the great features in firefox is that it scales literally everything when pressing command-+ and command--, and not only fonts and containers. it might feel strange on a mac, but i´d recommend everyone to install firefox in addition to safari)

...and welcome!

[IIO]

...

[teroyk]

I recently joined this group ( Sept 3 2021) and noticed that there is no mention of MacNosy & The Debugger of which I am the author of.
It is still available and if you have a machine that Boots into System 9 both programs are fully functional.

I understand that MacNosy&Debugger is real professional tool, but can you think sell it at lower price in these days?
Anyway big warm welcome to you. There is always room to people that can debug with debugger..especially when we try boot Mac OS 9 with G5.

[macnosy]

The price was lowered to $100 after 2001 or so,
 the text on my web page is confusing and has to be updated
to point out that the cost for the package is $100 for EVERYONE.

.MacNosy runs under SheepShaver on Modern Macs
and on Apple's Classic extension which allows one who runs 10.4 (OSX Tiger)
The Debugger runs under OS 9.2.2 or earlier on Macs that will boot into OS 9.
 I own Apple A1001 & A1025 models from 2002 & 2006.

I am currently working on making my Debugger load into the Apple Classic Extension so I can debug Classic apps
on my 2006 G4 Powerbook.
and hope to have it finished and tested on a 2006 G4 Laptop by Sept 15 or earlier.
I am creating a revised app to Lauch The Debugger which will be 9K

You order the package you send me an email to [email protected] and send $100 via Paypal to that address.
I  will announce any additions to The Debugger  to this group.
The only lost feature may be the ability to debug INITs.

I will test it out on this groups software mods when I figure out how to find them
or somebody points me to them

[Bolkonskij]

First off, welcome to our board, MacNosy! Always cool to have more devs here! Did I read right - you're 78 years old and still coding and fiddling with tech? Way to go! My role model ;-)

Also good to see the software is not abandoned. Unfortunately, someone is distributing your software other than you. I'll PN you with more detail.

[teroyk]

I am currently working on making my Debugger load into the Apple Classic Extension so I can debug Classic apps
on my 2006 G4 Powerbook.
and hope to have it finished and tested on a 2006 G4 Laptop by Sept 15 or earlier.
I am creating a revised app to Lauch The Debugger which will be 9K
...
I will test it out on this groups software mods when I figure out how to find them
or somebody points me to them

Do you looking for Mac OS 9.2.2 For Previously Unsupported G4s? :
http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2143.0.html
or this Mac OS 9.2.3:
wait a minute...all links for Mac OS 9.2.3 is death???

[IIO]

no, he just debugs in classic mode.

[Knezzen]

Just wanted to point out that we have a small MacsBug guide for the common user over at System 7 Today

http://system7today.com/helpcenter/mac-freezes-macsbug/

[Rosetta]

Apple DVD Player doesn't work when MacsBug is installed. Is there any way to bypass this other than just removing MacsBug when I need to play a DVD?

[IIO]

INITs can usually not be turned off.

but there might be alternative DVD players.