Definition
Plain language
A classic step-by-step debugger for compiled programs.
As stated in the literature
The GNU Debugger, a command-line debugger for C, C++, and other compiled languages supporting breakpoints, single-stepping, and core inspection.
Why it matters: It's the foundational debugger interface that many AI debugging agents and tooling frameworks build on top of.
For example, when a C program crashes, you can run it under GDB to stop at the failing line, inspect every local variable, and step backward through the call stack.
Heard on the show
“The whole genre of tools we call debuggers — PDB for Python, GDB for C, the visual debuggers in your IDE — they were all designed around a user whose per-action cost is basically free.”Episode 005 — Why a Debugger Designed for Humans Is the Wrong Tool for an AI Agent