Debugging Apache AGE source code using VS Code

Hello, in this bog we will be learning how to add a debugger sowe can debug our apache AGE source code.

Today we will simply install the debugger and learn how to use it.

Prerequisites

1. AGE PostgreSQL Source code installed
2. PostgreSQL Source code installed (with debg enabled)
3. VSCode
4. GDB

Step 1: Starting your PostgreSQL server

First go to the directory where you postgreSQL is installed

cd posgresql-16beta1

Then initialize your DB cluster

bin/initdb demo

Start your server

bin/pg_ctl -D demo -l logfile start

Then create your database

bin/createdb demodb

Then to access the database run

bin/psql demodb

Step 2: Getting backend pid

Using this command to check the backend process ID where postgresql server is running.

SELECT pg_backend_pid();

Step 3: Setting up AGE in VS Code

Open The AGE source code you have installed and then mainly install the

• C/C++ Plugin
• C/C++ Extension Pack Plugin

Both are from microsoft

After this press F5 and you can edit the launch.json file.

Add the path to your postgres like this in the file and save it

{
    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "(gdb) Attach",
            "type": "cppdbg",
            "request": "attach",
            "program": "/home/hannanaamir/age16/postgresql-16beta1/bin/postgres",
            "MIMode": "gdb",
            "setupCommands": [
                {
                    "description": "Enable pretty-printing for gdb",
                    "text": "-enable-pretty-printing",
                    "ignoreFailures": true
                },
                {
                    "description": "Set Disassembly Flavor to Intel",
                    "text": "-gdb-set disassembly-flavor intel",
                    "ignoreFailures": true
                }
            ]
        }


    ]
}

Step4: Start Debugging

Now again press F5 and now paste the pid of your server

You have now successfully enabled the debugger

Now in your code you can setup breakpoints and then load AGE in the sever

CREATE EXTENSION age;
LOAD 'age';
SET search_path = ag_catalog, "$user", public;

Now you can see how the code runs and behave you can also run further querries and see how it behaves with them. I hope this helps.

Extra

To help with postgreSQL and AGE installation you can follow this blog https://imranzaheer.hashnode.dev/install-age-psql-from-source