Doubt about PDB files

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Its always recommended to store the PDB files for each public build so that we can debug if there is any issue on Production server.

My doubt is if my source code is changed even due to addition of two lines whether i will be able to debug when i run the program and try to attach it to my debugger?
In my understanding since PDB contains the line no. and local variable only,if the source code is changed we can't debug , so how its helpful unless we go back to original source which created the dll but if we know the source file then why we need the original pdb since we can replace it our local pdb.
I am sure i am missing something here..Will be glad if you clear this.

Posted 2-Mar-12 9:57am

Rishikesh_Singh

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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 3-Mar-12 23:01pm

This is plain wrong.
--SA

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Clifford Nelson · Answer 1 · 2012-03-02T10:13:00

The PDB files are regenerated everytime you compile in Debug mode. Therefore, they will be out of date. I beleive if there is a version update with the compile, then the system will recognize they are out of date. They contain the symbols, making it easier to debug since you Program can still be debugged, but you will see the IL code, and there will be no way to associate to the original source file.

From the microsoft site:
The .PDB extension stands for "program database." It holds the new format for storing debugging information that was introduced in Visual C++ version 1.0. In the future, the .PDB file will also hold other project state information. One of the most important motivations for the change in format was to allow incremental linking of debug versions of programs, a change first introduced in Visual C++ version 2.0.

Note: the location of the Microsoft site with this information is http://support.microsoft.com/kb/121366[^]

There are quite a few other places to get information. The actual format of the PDB file is actually a microsoft secret, so you must use Microsoft tools to get visibility into this format.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Answer 2 · 2012-03-03T17:03:00

Solution 2

The statement in the beginning of the question is plain wrong.

PDB is temporary file and should not be preserved, added to the Revision Control System, deployed in any form. Maybe, it's not dangerous but could easily confuse inexperienced when the file is outdated.

—SA

Posted 3-Mar-12 17:03pm

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Comments

Rishikesh_Singh 3-Mar-12 23:21pm

What about the Symbol store and source store that microsoft and many other companies are are maintaining.. May be not always but just because its confusing for some.. shouldn't be reason.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 3-Mar-12 23:48pm

What are you talking about? In your PDB file, of course. It is created each time, not comes with source code.
Do not preserve it. If that the reason of your vote of 1? If so, I would advise to understand first.
--SA

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 3-Mar-12 23:49pm

Perhaps you just did not get it. This file stays with you, you just should not preserve it, ever.
--SA

Rishikesh_Singh 4-Mar-12 6:14am

I know there is no need to preserve PDBs and it doesn't come with Source, and i don't think any programmer will not know this.
In my question i didn't mention that for debugging i need PDB files , I said when we attach Running program(Attach to process option) to debugger then we need PDB files.

I read somewhere that if we maintain Source Store and Symbol store and source is indexed with Symbol then we can debug the application in QA or any environment without having actual Source there (but ofcourse visual studio is needed there)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 4-Mar-12 13:20pm

That's the point: you can rely only of freshly generated PDB. Of course it is important.
Don't you think we already understood each other; and there is nothing to argue about?
--SA

Rishikesh_Singh 4-Mar-12 6:26am

There is a nice article here explaining the importance of PDB files
http://www.wintellect.com/CS/blogs/jrobbins/archive/2009/05/11/pdb-files-what-every-developer-must-know.aspx

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 4-Mar-12 13:22pm

I understand what do you mean, as well as the author of this post.
Thank you.
--SA

Rishikesh_Singh 5-Mar-12 1:06am

May be i should have been more clearer in my question. Thanks anyway for helping almost all of us asking questions here.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 5-Mar-12 1:40am

You are welcome.
--SA