This snapshot establishes the camera-to-result recognition flow and related tests while checking in the project skill/docs assets required for the configured local tooling.
481 lines
14 KiB
Markdown
481 lines
14 KiB
Markdown
---
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name: axiom-lldb-ref
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description: Complete LLDB command reference — variable inspection, breakpoints, threads, expression evaluation, process control, memory commands, and .lldbinit customization
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license: MIT
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---
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# LLDB Command Reference
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Complete command reference for LLDB in Xcode. Organized by task so you can find the exact command you need.
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For debugging workflows and decision trees, see `/skill axiom-lldb`.
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---
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## Part 1: Variable Inspection
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### `v` / `frame variable`
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Reads memory directly. No compilation. Most reliable for Swift values.
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```
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(lldb) v # All variables in current frame
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(lldb) v self # Self in current context
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(lldb) v self.propertyName # Specific property
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(lldb) v localVariable # Local variable
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(lldb) v self.array[0] # Collection element
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(lldb) v self._showDetails # SwiftUI @State backing store (underscore prefix)
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```
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**Flags:**
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| Flag | Effect |
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|------|--------|
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| `-d run` | Run dynamic type resolution (slower but more accurate) |
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| `-T` | Show types |
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| `-R` | Show raw (unformatted) output |
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| `-D N` | Limit depth of nested types to N levels |
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| `-P N` | Limit pointer depth to N levels |
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| `-F` | Flat output (no hierarchy) |
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**Limitations:** Cannot evaluate expressions, computed properties, or function calls. Use `p` for those.
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### `p` / `expression` (with format)
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Compiles and executes an expression. Shows formatted result.
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```
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(lldb) p self.computedProperty
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(lldb) p items.count
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(lldb) p someFunction()
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(lldb) p String(describing: someValue)
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(lldb) p (1...10).map { $0 * 2 }
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```
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Result stored in numbered variables:
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```
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(lldb) p someValue
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$R0 = 42
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(lldb) p $R0 + 10
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$R1 = 52
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```
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### `po` / `expression --object-description`
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Calls `debugDescription` (or `description`) on the result.
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```
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(lldb) po myObject
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(lldb) po error
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(lldb) po notification.userInfo
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(lldb) po NSHomeDirectory()
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```
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**When `po` adds value:** Classes with `CustomDebugStringConvertible`, `NSError`, `NSNotification`, collections of objects.
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**When `po` fails:** Swift structs without `CustomDebugStringConvertible`, protocol-typed values (use `v` instead — it performs iterative dynamic type resolution that `po` doesn't).
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### `expression` (full form)
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Full expression evaluation with all options.
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```
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(lldb) expression self.view.backgroundColor = UIColor.red
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(lldb) expression self.debugFlag = true
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(lldb) expression myArray.append("test")
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(lldb) expression CATransaction.flush() # Force UI update
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(lldb) expression Self._printChanges() # SwiftUI debug
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```
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**Flags:**
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| Flag | Effect |
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|------|--------|
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| `-l objc` | Evaluate as Objective-C |
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| `-l swift` | Evaluate as Swift (default) |
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| `-O` | Object description (same as `po`) |
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| `-i false` | Stop on breakpoints hit during evaluation (default: ignore) |
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| `--` | Separator between flags and expression |
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**ObjC expressions for Swift debugging:**
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```
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(lldb) expr -l objc -- (void)[[[UIApplication sharedApplication] keyWindow] recursiveDescription]
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(lldb) expr -l objc -- (void)[CATransaction flush]
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(lldb) expr -l objc -- (int)[[UIApplication sharedApplication] _isForeground]
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```
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### `register read`
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Low-level register inspection:
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```
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(lldb) register read
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(lldb) register read x0 x1 # Specific registers (ARM64)
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(lldb) register read --all # All register sets
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```
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---
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## Part 2: Breakpoints
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### Setting Breakpoints
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```
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(lldb) breakpoint set -f File.swift -l 42 # File + line
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(lldb) b File.swift:42 # Short form
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(lldb) breakpoint set -n methodName # By function name
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(lldb) breakpoint set -n "MyClass.myMethod" # Qualified name
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(lldb) breakpoint set -S layoutSubviews # ObjC selector
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(lldb) breakpoint set -r "viewDid.*" # Regex on name
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(lldb) breakpoint set -a 0x100abc123 # Memory address
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```
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### Conditional Breakpoints
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```
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(lldb) breakpoint set -f File.swift -l 42 -c "value == nil"
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(lldb) breakpoint set -f File.swift -l 42 -c "index > 100"
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(lldb) breakpoint set -f File.swift -l 42 -c 'name == "test"'
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```
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### Ignore Count
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```
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(lldb) breakpoint set -f File.swift -l 42 -i 50 # Skip first 50 hits
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```
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### One-Shot Breakpoints
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```
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(lldb) breakpoint set -f File.swift -l 42 -o # Delete after first hit
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```
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### Breakpoint Commands (Logpoints)
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Add commands that execute when breakpoint hits:
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```
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(lldb) breakpoint command add 1
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> v self.state
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> p self.items.count
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> continue
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> DONE
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```
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Or in one line:
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```
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(lldb) breakpoint command add 1 -o "v self.state"
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```
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### Exception Breakpoints
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```
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(lldb) breakpoint set -E swift # All Swift errors
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(lldb) breakpoint set -E objc # All ObjC exceptions
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# Filtering by exception name requires Xcode's GUI (Edit Breakpoint → Exception field)
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```
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### Symbolic Breakpoints
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```
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(lldb) breakpoint set -n UIViewAlertForUnsatisfiableConstraints # Auto Layout
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(lldb) breakpoint set -n "-[UIApplication _run]" # App launch
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(lldb) breakpoint set -n swift_willThrow # Swift throw
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```
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### Managing Breakpoints
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```
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(lldb) breakpoint list # List all
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(lldb) breakpoint list -b # Brief format
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(lldb) breakpoint enable 3 # Enable breakpoint 3
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(lldb) breakpoint disable 3 # Disable breakpoint 3
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(lldb) breakpoint delete 3 # Delete breakpoint 3
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(lldb) breakpoint delete # Delete ALL (asks confirmation)
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(lldb) breakpoint modify 3 -c "x > 10" # Add condition to existing
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```
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### Watchpoints
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Break when a variable's memory changes:
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```
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(lldb) watchpoint set variable self.count # Watch for write
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(lldb) watchpoint set variable -w read_write myGlobal # Watch for read or write
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(lldb) watchpoint set expression -- &myVariable # Watch memory address
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(lldb) watchpoint list # List all
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(lldb) watchpoint delete 1 # Delete watchpoint 1
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(lldb) watchpoint modify 1 -c "self.count > 10" # Add condition
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```
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**Note:** Hardware watchpoints are limited (~4 per process). Use sparingly.
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---
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## Part 3: Thread & Backtrace
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### Backtraces
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```
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(lldb) bt # Current thread backtrace
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(lldb) bt 10 # Limit to 10 frames
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(lldb) bt all # All threads
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(lldb) thread backtrace all # Same as bt all
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```
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### Thread Navigation
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```
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(lldb) thread list # List all threads with state
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(lldb) thread info # Current thread details + stop reason
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(lldb) thread select 3 # Switch to thread 3
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```
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### Frame Navigation
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```
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(lldb) frame info # Current frame details
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(lldb) frame select 5 # Jump to frame 5
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(lldb) up # Go up one frame (toward caller)
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(lldb) down # Shortcut: go down one frame
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```
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### Thread Return (Skip Code)
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Force an early return from the current function:
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```
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(lldb) thread return # Return void
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(lldb) thread return 42 # Return specific value
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```
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**Use with caution** — skips cleanup code, can leave state inconsistent.
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---
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## Part 4: Expression Evaluation
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### Swift Expressions
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```
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(lldb) expr let x = 42; print(x)
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(lldb) expr self.view.backgroundColor = UIColor.red
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(lldb) expr UIApplication.shared.windows.first?.rootViewController
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(lldb) expr UserDefaults.standard.set(true, forKey: "debug")
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```
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### Objective-C Expressions
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Switch to ObjC when Swift expression parser fails:
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```
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(lldb) expr -l objc -- (void)[CATransaction flush]
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(lldb) expr -l objc -- (id)[[UIApplication sharedApplication] keyWindow]
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(lldb) expr -l objc -- (void)[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] postNotificationName:@"test" object:nil]
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```
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### UI Debugging Expressions
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```
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(lldb) expr -l objc -- (void)[[[UIApplication sharedApplication] keyWindow] recursiveDescription]
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(lldb) po UIApplication.shared.windows.first?.rootViewController?.view.recursiveDescription()
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```
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### SwiftUI Debugging
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```
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(lldb) expr Self._printChanges() # Print what triggered body re-eval (inside view body only)
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```
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### Runtime Type Information
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```
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(lldb) expr type(of: someValue)
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(lldb) expr String(describing: type(of: someValue))
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```
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---
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## Part 5: Process Control
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### Execution Control
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```
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(lldb) continue # Resume execution (c)
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(lldb) c # Short form
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(lldb) process interrupt # Pause running process
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(lldb) thread step-over # Step over (n / next)
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(lldb) n # Short form
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(lldb) thread step-in # Step into (s / step)
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(lldb) s # Short form
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(lldb) thread step-out # Step out (finish)
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(lldb) finish # Short form
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(lldb) thread step-inst # Step one instruction (assembly-level)
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(lldb) ni # Step over one instruction
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```
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### Process Management
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```
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(lldb) process launch # Launch/restart
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(lldb) process attach --pid 1234 # Attach to running process
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(lldb) process attach --name MyApp # Attach by name
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(lldb) process detach # Detach without killing
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(lldb) kill # Kill debugged process
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```
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---
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## Part 6: Memory & Image
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### Memory Reading
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```
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(lldb) memory read 0x100abc123 # Read memory at address
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(lldb) memory read -c 64 0x100abc123 # Read 64 bytes
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(lldb) memory read -f x 0x100abc123 # Format as hex
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(lldb) memory read -f s 0x100abc123 # Format as string
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```
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### Memory Search
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```
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(lldb) memory find -s "searchString" -- 0x100000000 0x200000000
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```
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### Image/Module Inspection
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```
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(lldb) image lookup -a 0x100abc123 # Lookup symbol at address
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(lldb) image lookup -n myFunction # Find function by name
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(lldb) image lookup -rn "MyClass.*" # Regex search
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(lldb) image list # List all loaded images/frameworks
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(lldb) image list -b # Brief format
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```
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**Common use:** Finding which framework a crash address belongs to:
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```
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(lldb) image lookup -a 0x1a2b3c4d5
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```
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---
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## Part 7: .lldbinit & Customization
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### File Location
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LLDB reads `~/.lldbinit` at startup. Per-project init files are also supported when configured in Xcode's scheme settings.
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### Useful Aliases
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Add to `~/.lldbinit`:
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```
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# Quick reload — flush UI changes made via expression
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command alias flush expr -l objc -- (void)[CATransaction flush]
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# Print view hierarchy
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command alias views expr -l objc -- (void)[[[UIApplication sharedApplication] keyWindow] recursiveDescription]
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# Print auto layout constraints
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command alias constraints po [[UIWindow keyWindow] _autolayoutTrace]
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```
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### Custom Type Summaries
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```
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# Show CLLocationCoordinate2D as "lat, lon"
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type summary add CLLocationCoordinate2D --summary-string "${var.latitude}, ${var.longitude}"
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```
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### Settings
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```
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(lldb) settings show target.language # Current language
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(lldb) settings set target.language swift # Force Swift mode
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(lldb) settings set target.max-children-count 100 # Show more collection items
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```
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### Per-Project .lldbinit
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In Xcode: Edit Scheme → Run → Options → "LLDB Init File" field.
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Put project-specific aliases and breakpoints in a `.lldbinit` file in your project root.
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---
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## Part 8: Troubleshooting LLDB Itself
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### "expression failed to parse"
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**Cause:** Swift expression parser can't resolve types from the current module.
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**Fixes:**
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1. Use `v` instead (no compilation needed)
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2. Simplify the expression
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3. Try `expr -l objc -- ...` for ObjC-bridge types
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4. Clean derived data and rebuild
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### "variable not available"
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**Cause:** Compiler optimized the variable out.
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**Fixes:**
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1. Switch to Debug build configuration
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2. Set `-Onone` for the specific file (Build Settings → per-file compiler flags)
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3. Use `register read` to check if the value is in a register
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### "wrong language mode"
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**Cause:** LLDB defaults to ObjC in some contexts (especially in frameworks).
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**Fix:**
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```
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(lldb) settings set target.language swift
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(lldb) expr -l swift -- mySwiftExpression
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```
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### "expression caused a crash"
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**Cause:** The expression you evaluated had a side effect that crashed.
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**Fix:**
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1. Don't evaluate expressions that modify state unless you intend to
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2. Use `v` for read-only inspection
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3. If the crash corrupted state, restart the debug session
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### LLDB Hangs or Is Slow
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**Cause:** Usually compiling a complex expression or resolving types in a large project.
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**Fix:**
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1. Use `v` instead of `p`/`po` (no compilation)
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2. Reduce expression complexity
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3. If LLDB hangs during `po`, Ctrl+C to cancel and use `v` instead
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### Breakpoint Not Hit
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**Causes and fixes:**
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| Cause | Fix |
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| Wrong file/line (code moved) | Re-set breakpoint on current code |
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| Breakpoint disabled | `breakpoint enable N` |
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| Code not executed | Verify the code path is reached |
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| Optimized out (Release) | Switch to Debug configuration |
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| In a framework/SPM package | Set symbolic breakpoint by function name |
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---
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## Resources
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**WWDC**: 2019-429, 2018-412, 2022-110370, 2015-402
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**Docs**: /xcode/stepping-through-code-and-inspecting-variables-to-isolate-bugs, /xcode/setting-breakpoints-to-pause-your-running-app
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**Skills**: axiom-lldb, axiom-xcode-debugging
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