Until the release of the NetBeans C/C++ Development pack 5.5, it has never been a requirement for programs compiled with Sun compilers to be debuggable with gdb. Because of this, there had been only minimal testing of Sun Studio compiled programs and gdb.

We've done very preliminary testing of Sun Studio compiled applications with gdb and have included our results below. The current release of the Sun compilers is Sun Studio 11. It is a Solaris only release. Sun has recently provided an early access release called Sun Studio Express 2, with preliminary Linux compilers. All Sun Studio and Sun Studio Express releases are downloadable for free from the Sun Studio web page.

• Linux 32-bit, Sun Studio Express 2:

• gdb 6.1: "does not work" (gdb does not report full filename)
• gdb 6.4: "almost works" (function breakpoint does not work properly - it is set 3 lines below the beginning of function)

• gdb 6.1: does not work
• gdb 6.4: does not work
• gdb 6.5: does not work

• gdb 6.1: "does not work" (gdb does not report full filename)
• gdb 6.4: "almost works" (function breakpoint does not work properly- it is set 3 lines below the beginning of function)
• gdb 6.5: No Solaris port was found

Not tested yet (don't have a 64-bit gdb)

• gdb 6.1: "does not work" (gdb does not report full filename)
• gdb 6.4: No Solaris port was found
• gdb 6.5: No Solaris port was found

Not tested yet (don't have a 64-bit gdb)

So, it looks like gdb 6.4 on 32-bit Linux and Solaris x86 can be used as a workaround.