The WebKit Open Source Project

Debugging on Mac OS X

Each WebKit component -- JavaScriptCore, WebCore, and WebKit2 -- contains its own Xcode project that depends on the build location specified in the project itself. In Xcode 4, choose Xcode > Preferences > Locations, click Locations, click the Advanced button, and ensure that the build location is Locations Specified by Targets.

Debugging UIProcess

Follow the instructions on the debugging UIProcess page.

Debugging WebProcess

  1. Launch Safari

    Follow the instructions on Running WebKit to launch Safari from the command line with the WebKit version you built. Alternatively you can use the WebKit2 Xcode project to launch Safari.

  2. Open a project

    Open the Xcode project belonging to the component -- WebCore or JavaScriptCore -- you want to debug.

  3. Attach to WebProcess

    Choose Product > Attach to Process > WebProcess.

  4. See the Xcode Debugging Guide for more information on using Xcode to debug software on Mac OS X.

Debugging on Windows

  1. Open WebKit/WebKit/win/WebKit.vcproj/WebKit.sln

    You can open it in either Visual Studio 2005, or Visual C++ Express 2005. If you get errors about not being able to find .vsprops files, run update-webkit, then close and relaunch Cygwin and Visual Studio or Visual C++ Express.

  2. Set WebKit.vcproj as the solution's StartUp project

    Select the WebKit project in the Solution Explorer, then choose Project > Set as StartUp Project. This will cause the project to turn bold in the Solution Explorer.

  3. Set WebKit.vcproj's Debugging properties

    With the WebKit project selected, choose Project > Properties, then navigate to Configuration Properties > Debugging. Set the following options:

    Command
    $(PROGRAMFILES)\Safari\Safari.exe
    Environment
    WEBKITNIGHTLY=$(OutDir)

    Then click OK to close the properties dialog.

  4. Launch the debugger

    Choose Debug > Start Debugging.

It is also recommended that you follow the instructions to configure Visual Studio to use Apple's Safari for Windows symbol server. This will give Visual Studio the information it needs to provide reliable backtraces when pausing in the debugger or when a crash occurs.