# Release notes for the jdb debugger

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As a demonstration of the JavaTM Platform Debugger Architecture we are providing source code for the jdb debugger, which was re-written to use JDI.

## jdb man pages

> jdb man pages for Windows

> jdb man pages for Solaris

## Invoking jdb

The jdb sample can be started by executing:

       java com.sun.tools.example.debug.tty.TTY <options>.. <class-name>

where <class-name> is the name you would normally place on the `java` command line. The `-help` option provides information on options.

Note: the path to the JDI Library and to the compiled jdb class files must be on the class path used to invoke com.sun.tools.example.debug.tty.TTY.

For more information on invoking and connecting, refer to the Connection and Invocation Details section of the JPDA documentation, particularly the section on jdb.

## Source for jdb

Full source code for jdb is included under the `debug` directory of `examples.jar`. Note: these directories also include the source for `javadt`. Source code for these example applications is included to provide concrete examples for debugger developers. Example code may be used, modified and redistributed by debugger developers providing they adhere to the terms in the COPYRIGHT notice.

jdb uses the following packages (found under the `debug` directory):

`tty`
  Application code
`expr`
  Expression processing code

## Building jdb

To completely rebuild the jdb classes from the provided source files under the `debug` directory, you need only to compile them. No special options are required, aside from those which set your classpath to include the JDI Library.

However, if you want to modify the expression parser in the file `Expr.jj`, you will need the JavaCC parser generator. It is available free from Metamata (now part of WebGain).