The UNIX system: Debugging C programs with the blit

The Blit terminal is changing the way we debug C programs. Using multiple virtual terminals on the Blit, a programmer can interact simultaneously with several of the tools needed when debugging. This makes existing tools more useful and influences the design of new tools. In particular, the Blit cleanly separates the programmer's communication with a debugger from communication with the program being debugged. Moreover, joff, a debugger for C programs that run in the Blit, demonstrates the advantage of operating a debugger asynchronously with the subject process and the effectiveness of a source-level user interface based on pop-up menus. The graphics user interface supports “pointer chasing” through arbitrary data structures and graphical display of graphics data objects.