llvm-project/libcxx/docs/DesignDocs/DebugMode.rst

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==========
Debug Mode
==========
.. contents::
:local:
.. _using-debug-mode:
Using Debug Mode
================
Libc++ provides a debug mode that enables assertions meant to detect incorrect
usage of the standard library. By default these assertions are disabled but
they can be enabled using the ``_LIBCPP_DEBUG`` macro.
**_LIBCPP_DEBUG** Macro
-----------------------
**_LIBCPP_DEBUG**:
This macro is used to enable assertions and iterator debugging checks within
libc++. By default it is undefined.
**Values**: ``0``, ``1``
Defining ``_LIBCPP_DEBUG`` to ``0`` or greater enables most of libc++'s
assertions. Defining ``_LIBCPP_DEBUG`` to ``1`` enables "iterator debugging"
which provides additional assertions about the validity of iterators used by
the program.
Note that this option has no effect on libc++'s ABI; but it does have broad
ODR implications. Users should compile their whole program at the same
debugging level.
Handling Assertion Failures
---------------------------
When a debug assertion fails the assertion handler is called via the
``std::__libcpp_debug_function`` function pointer. It is possible to override
this function pointer using a different handler function. Libc++ provides a
the default handler, ``std::__libcpp_abort_debug_handler``, which aborts the
program. The handler may not return. Libc++ can be changed to use a custom
assertion handler as follows.
.. code-block:: cpp
#define _LIBCPP_DEBUG 1
#include <string>
void my_handler(std::__libcpp_debug_info const&);
int main(int, char**) {
std::__libcpp_debug_function = &my_handler;
std::string::iterator bad_it;
std::string str("hello world");
str.insert(bad_it, '!'); // causes debug assertion
// control flow doesn't return
}
Debug Mode Checks
=================
Libc++'s debug mode offers two levels of checking. The first enables various
precondition checks throughout libc++. The second additionally enables
"iterator debugging" which checks the validity of iterators used by the program.
Basic Checks
============
These checks are enabled when ``_LIBCPP_DEBUG`` is defined to either 0 or 1.
The following checks are enabled by ``_LIBCPP_DEBUG``:
* Many algorithms, such as ``binary_search``, ``merge``, ``next_permutation``, and ``sort``,
wrap the user-provided comparator to assert that `!comp(y, x)` whenever
`comp(x, y)`. This can cause the user-provided comparator to be evaluated
up to twice as many times as it would be without ``_LIBCPP_DEBUG``, and
causes the library to violate some of the Standard's complexity clauses.
* FIXME: Update this list
Iterator Debugging Checks
=========================
These checks are enabled when ``_LIBCPP_DEBUG`` is defined to 1.
The following containers and STL classes support iterator debugging:
* ``std::string``
* ``std::vector<T>`` (``T != bool``)
* ``std::list``
* ``std::unordered_map``
* ``std::unordered_multimap``
* ``std::unordered_set``
* ``std::unordered_multiset``
The remaining containers do not currently support iterator debugging.
Patches welcome.