Debug on Linux

Set up Qt VS Tools for cross-compilation on Linux, to debug applications running on Linux devices. First launch the application using gdbserver and then configure GDB to connect to the device and start a remote debugging session.

For this to work, the GDB installed in the WSL must support the target device architecture. A simple way to achieve this is to install gdb-multiarch. To ensure that Visual Studio uses the correct debugger, create a symbolic link from gdb to gdb-multiarch.

Set up remote debugging

To set up the remote debugging session in Visual Studio, you must pass additional commands to GDB:

1. Select a project in the Solution Explorer.
2. Go to Project > Properties > Configuration Properties > Debugging.

   

3. In Debugger to launch, select GDB Debugger.
4. In Additional Debugger Commands, add the following commands:

   target extended-remote <IP_address>:<port>
   set remote exec-file <path_to_executable>

Set environment variables

Before starting the remote debugging session:

1. Set the required environment variables:
   • LD_LIBRARY_PATH specifies the path to the directory where you installed Qt binaries.
   • QT_QPA_PLATFORM specifies the platform plugin, such as EGLFS, LinuxFB, DirectFB, or Wayland.
   • QT_QPA_PLATFORM_PLUGIN_PATH specifies the path to the directory where you installed the platform plugin.
   • For the EGLFS platform, QT_QPA_EGLFS_PHYSICAL_WIDTH and QT_QPA_EGLFS_PHYSICAL_HEIGHT specify the screen width and height in millimeters.
   • QML2_IMPORT_PATH specifies the path to the directory where you installed QML modules.
2. Launch gdbserver on the device.

Start remote debugging

Press F5 to start the remote debugging session.

Set up debugging on Linux devices

To debug Qt Quick applications on Linux devices:

1. Enable QML debugging for the project.
2. Go to Project > Properties > Configuration Properties > Debugging to set up program arguments for starting a QML debugging session.
3. In Debugger to launch, select GDB Debugger.
4. In Additional Debugger Commands, add the following command:

   -qmljsdebugger=port:<port>,host:<IP_address>,block