[fpc-devel] Re: Debugger for FPC

[Flávio Etrusco]

>
> I still did not yet get any discussion rolling on the issue of "pure" read
> functions (that have no side-effect). The debugger might use a "pure" read
> function to show the property value, but it can't if the read function is
> not pure. gcc does know about pure functions, thus I suppose DWARF also does
> so. In gcc there is an appropriate procedure attribute that lets the
> programmer define a function as "pure" but I suppose that the compiler also
> can do this automatically.
>
> Delphi seems to do do something similar, as the debugger can show values for
> _some_ properties with read functions, but not for all of them. I suppose
> FPC can be made recognize many read functions as "pure" and thus instruct
> gdb to use the read functions to show the property value.
>
> -Michael

AFAICT Delphi allows one to 'Evaluate' _all_ properties, but only
allow 'Watch' properties with read functions if 'Allow side effects in
new watches' is enabled.

-Flávio