cpptrace/README.md

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# Cpptrace <!-- omit in toc -->
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Cpptrace is a lightweight C++ stacktrace library supporting C++11 and greater on Linux, macOS, and Windows including
MinGW and Cygwin environments. The goal: Make stack traces simple for once.
Some day C++23's `<stacktrace>` will be ubiquitous. And maybe one day the msvc implementation will be acceptable.
This library is in beta, if you run into any problems please open an [issue][issue]!
[issue]: https://github.com/jeremy-rifkin/cpptrace/issues
## Table of Contents <!-- omit in toc -->
- [30-Second Overview](#30-second-overview)
- [CMake FetchContent Usage](#cmake-fetchcontent-usage)
- [In-Depth Documentation](#in-depth-documentation)
- [Usage](#usage)
- [CMake FetchContent](#cmake-fetchcontent)
- [System-Wide Installation](#system-wide-installation)
- [Local User Installation](#local-user-installation)
- [Package Managers](#package-managers)
- [Platform Logistics](#platform-logistics)
- [Static Linking](#static-linking)
- [API](#api)
- [Back-ends](#back-ends)
- [Summary of Library Configurations](#summary-of-library-configurations)
- [Testing Methodology](#testing-methodology)
- [License](#license)
# 30-Second Overview
```cpp
#include <cpptrace/cpptrace.hpp>
void trace() {
cpptrace::print_trace();
}
// ...
```
![Screenshot](res/screenshot.png)
## CMake FetchContent Usage
```cmake
include(FetchContent)
FetchContent_Declare(
cpptrace
GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/jeremy-rifkin/cpptrace.git
GIT_TAG v0.1.1 # <HASH or TAG>
)
FetchContent_MakeAvailable(cpptrace)
target_link_libraries(your_target cpptrace)
```
On windows and macos some extra work is required, see [below](#platform-logistics).
# In-Depth Documentation
## Usage
### CMake FetchContent
With CMake FetchContent:
```cmake
include(FetchContent)
FetchContent_Declare(
cpptrace
GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/jeremy-rifkin/cpptrace.git
GIT_TAG v0.1.1 # <HASH or TAG>
)
FetchContent_MakeAvailable(cpptrace)
target_link_libraries(your_target cpptrace)
```
It's as easy as that. Cpptrace will automatically configure itself for your system. Note: On windows and macos some
extra work is required, see [below](#platform-logistics).
Be sure to configure with `-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug` or `-DDCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo` for symbols and line
information.
### System-Wide Installation
```sh
git clone https://github.com/jeremy-rifkin/cpptrace.git
git checkout v0.1.1
mkdir cpptrace/build
cd cpptrace/build
cmake .. -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=On
make -j
sudo make install
```
Using through cmake:
```cmake
find_package(cpptrace REQUIRED)
target_link_libraries(<your target> cpptrace::cpptrace)
```
Be sure to configure with `-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug` or `-DDCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo` for symbols and line
information.
Or compile with `-lcpptrace`:
```sh
g++ main.cpp -o main -g -Wall -lcpptrace
./main
```
If you get an error along the lines of
```
error while loading shared libraries: libcpptrace.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
```
You may have to run `sudo /sbin/ldconfig` to create any necessary links and update caches so the system can find
libcpptrace.so (I had to do this on Ubuntu). Only when installing system-wide. Usually your package manger does this for
you when installing new libraries.
<details>
<summary>System-wide install on windows</summary>
```ps1
git clone https://github.com/jeremy-rifkin/cpptrace.git
git checkout v0.1.1
mkdir cpptrace/build
cd cpptrace/build
cmake .. -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
msbuild cpptrace.sln
msbuild INSTALL.vcxproj
```
Note: You'll need to run as an administrator in a developer powershell, or use vcvarsall.bat distributed with visual
studio to get the correct environment variables set.
</details>
### Local User Installation
To install just for the local user (or any custom prefix):
```sh
git clone https://github.com/jeremy-rifkin/cpptrace.git
git checkout v0.1.1
mkdir cpptrace/build
cd cpptrace/build
cmake .. -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=On -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$HOME/wherever
make -j
sudo make install
```
Using through cmake:
```cmake
find_package(cpptrace REQUIRED PATHS $ENV{HOME}/wherever)
target_link_libraries(<your target> cpptrace::cpptrace)
```
Using manually:
```
g++ main.cpp -o main -g -Wall -I$HOME/wherever/include -L$HOME/wherever/lib -lcpptrace
```
### Package Managers
Coming soon
### Platform Logistics
Windows and macos require a little extra work to get everything in the right place
```cmake
# Copy the cpptrace.dll on windows to the same directory as the executable for your_target.
# Not required if static linking.
if(WIN32)
add_custom_command(
TARGET your_target POST_BUILD
COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_if_different
$<TARGET_FILE:cpptrace>
$<TARGET_FILE_DIR:your_target>
)
endif()
# Create a .dSYM file on macos. Currently required, but hopefully not for long
if(APPLE)
add_custom_command(
TARGET your_target
POST_BUILD
COMMAND dsymutil $<TARGET_FILE:your_target>
)
endif()
```
### Static Linking
To static link the library set `CPPTRACE_STATIC=On`.
## API
`cpptrace::print_trace()` can be used to print a stacktrace at the current call site, `cpptrace::generate_trace()` can
be used to get raw frame information for custom use.
**Note:** Debug info (`-g`) is generally required for good trace information. Some back-ends read symbols from dynamic
export information which may require `-rdynamic` or manually marking symbols for exporting.
**Note:** Currently on Mac .dSYM files are required, which can be generated with `dsymutil yourbinary`. A cmake snippet
for generating these is included above.
```cpp
namespace cpptrace {
struct stacktrace_frame {
uintptr_t address;
std::uint_least32_t line;
std::uint_least32_t col;
std::string filename;
std::string symbol;
};
std::vector<stacktrace_frame> generate_trace(std::uint32_t skip = 0);
void print_trace(std::uint32_t skip = 0);
}
```
## Back-ends
Back-end libraries are required for unwinding the stack and resolving symbol information (name and source location) in
order to generate a stacktrace.
The CMake script attempts to automatically choose good back-ends based on what is available on your system. You can
also manually set which back-end you want used.
**Unwinding**
| Library | CMake config | Platforms | Info |
| ------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| libgcc unwind | `CPPTRACE_UNWIND_WITH_UNWIND` | linux, macos, mingw | Frames are captured with libgcc's `_Unwind_Backtrace`, which currently produces the most accurate stack traces on gcc/clang/mingw. Libgcc is often linked by default, and llvm has something equivalent. |
| execinfo.h | `CPPTRACE_UNWIND_WITH_EXECINFO` | linux, macos | Frames are captured with `execinfo.h`'s `backtrace`, part of libc on linux/unix systems. |
| winapi | `CPPTRACE_UNWIND_WITH_WINAPI` | windows, mingw | Frames are captured with `CaptureStackBackTrace`. |
| N/A | `CPPTRACE_UNWIND_WITH_NOTHING` | all | Unwinding is not done, stack traces will be empty. |
These back-ends require a fixed buffer has to be created to read addresses into while unwinding. By default the buffer
can hold addresses for 100 frames (beyond the `skip` frames). This is configurable with `CPPTRACE_HARD_MAX_FRAMES`.
**Symbol resolution**
| Library | CMake config | Platforms | Info |
| ------------ | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| libbacktrace | `CPPTRACE_GET_SYMBOLS_WITH_LIBBACKTRACE` | linux, macos*, mingw* | Libbacktrace is already installed on most systems or available through the compiler directly. For clang you must specify the absolute path to `backtrace.h` using `CPPTRACE_BACKTRACE_PATH`. |
| addr2line | `CPPTRACE_GET_SYMBOLS_WITH_ADDR2LINE` | linux, macos, mingw | Symbols are resolved by invoking `addr2line` (or `atos` on mac) via `fork()` (on linux/unix, and `popen` under mingw). |
| dbghelp | `CPPTRACE_GET_SYMBOLS_WITH_DBGHELP` | windows | Dbghelp.h allows access to symbols via debug info. |
| libdl | `CPPTRACE_GET_SYMBOLS_WITH_LIBDL` | linux, macos | Libdl uses dynamic export information. Compiling with `-rdynamic` is needed for symbol information to be retrievable. Line numbers won't be retrievable. |
| N/A | `CPPTRACE_GET_SYMBOLS_WITH_NOTHING` | all | No attempt is made to resolve symbols. |
*: Requires installation
Note for addr2line: By default cmake will resolve an absolute path to addr2line to bake into the library. This path can
be configured with `CPPTRACE_ADDR2LINE_PATH`, or `CPPTRACE_ADDR2LINE_SEARCH_SYSTEM_PATH` can be used to have the library
search the system path for `addr2line` at runtime. This is not the default to prevent against path injection attacks.
**Demangling**
Lastly, depending on other back-ends used a demangler back-end may be needed. A demangler back-end is not needed when
doing full traces with libbacktrace, getting symbols with addr2line, or getting symbols with dbghelp.
| Library | CMake config | Platforms | Info |
| -------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| cxxabi.h | `CPPTRACE_DEMANGLE_WITH_CXXABI` | Linux, macos, mingw | Should be available everywhere other than [msvc](https://godbolt.org/z/93ca9rcdz). |
| N/A | `CPPTRACE_DEMANGLE_WITH_NOTHING` | all | Don't attempt to do anything beyond what the symbol resolution back-end does. |
**Full tracing**
Libbacktrace can generate a full stack trace itself, both unwinding and resolving symbols. This can be chosen with
`CPPTRACE_FULL_TRACE_WITH_LIBBACKTRACE`. The auto config attempts to use this if it is available. Full tracing with
libbacktrace ignores `CPPTRACE_HARD_MAX_FRAMES`.
`<stacktrace>` can of course also generate a full trace, if you're using >=C++23 and your compiler supports it. This is
controlled by `CPPTRACE_FULL_TRACE_WITH_LIBBACKTRACE`. The cmake script will attempt to auto configure to this if
possible. `CPPTRACE_HARD_MAX_FRAMES` is ignored.
**More?**
There are plenty more libraries that can be used for unwinding, parsing debug information, and demangling. In the future
more back-ends can be added. Ideally this library can "just work" on systems, without additional installation work.
### Summary of Library Configurations
Summary of all library configuration options:
Back-ends:
- `CPPTRACE_FULL_TRACE_WITH_LIBBACKTRACE=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_FULL_TRACE_WITH_STACKTRACE=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_GET_SYMBOLS_WITH_LIBBACKTRACE=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_GET_SYMBOLS_WITH_LIBDL=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_GET_SYMBOLS_WITH_ADDR2LINE=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_GET_SYMBOLS_WITH_DBGHELP=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_GET_SYMBOLS_WITH_NOTHING=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_UNWIND_WITH_UNWIND=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_UNWIND_WITH_EXECINFO=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_UNWIND_WITH_WINAPI=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_UNWIND_WITH_NOTHING=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_DEMANGLE_WITH_CXXABI=On/Off`
- `CPPTRACE_DEMANGLE_WITH_NOTHING=On/Off`
Back-end configuration:
- `CPPTRACE_STATIC=On/Off`: Create the cpptrace library as a static library.
- `CPPTRACE_BACKTRACE_PATH=<string>`: Path to libbacktrace backtrace.h, needed when compiling with clang/
- `CPPTRACE_HARD_MAX_FRAMES=<number>`: Some back-ends write to a fixed-size buffer. This is the size of that buffer.
Default is `100`.
- `CPPTRACE_ADDR2LINE_PATH=<string>`: Specify the absolute path to the addr2line binary for cpptrace to invoke. By
default the config script will search for a binary and use that absolute path (this is to prevent against path
injection).
- `CPPTRACE_ADDR2LINE_SEARCH_SYSTEM_PATH=On/Off`: Specifies whether cpptrace should let the system search the PATH
environment variable directories for the binary.
Testing:
- `CPPTRACE_BUILD_TEST` Build a small test program
- `CPPTRACE_BUILD_DEMO` Build a small demo program
- `CPPTRACE_BUILD_TEST_RDYNAMIC` Use `-rdynamic` when compiling the test program
- `CPPTRACE_BUILD_SPEEDTEST` Build a small speed test program
- `CPPTRACE_BUILD_SPEEDTEST_DWARF4`
- `CPPTRACE_BUILD_SPEEDTEST_DWARF5`
## Testing Methodology
Cpptrace currently uses integration and functional testing, building and running under every combination of back-end
options. The implementation is based on [github actions matrices][1] and driven by python scripts located in the
[`ci/`](ci/) folder. Testing used to be done by github actions matrices directly, however, launching hundreds of two
second jobs was extremely inefficient. Test outputs are compared against expected outputs located in
[`test/expected/`](test/expected/). Stack trace addresses may point to the address after an instruction depending on the
unwinding back-end, and the python script will check for an exact or near-match accordingly.
[1]: https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-jobs/using-a-matrix-for-your-jobs
# License
This library is under the MIT license.
Libdwarf is bundled as part of this library so the code in `bundled/libdwarf` is LGPL. If this library is statically
linked with libdwarf then the library's binary will itself be LGPL.