Front-end of a Debugger for Compiled Programs in Haskell

Abstract

There are debugging tools available for Haskell programs today, but despite providing help for developers, these tools are not widely used in the Haskell community. Current debugging tools for Haskell have different kinds of limitations. This thesis will discuss the implementation of a new debugger with a graphical interface. This program makes it possible for a user to debug a compiled Haskell program. It offers features such as step by step evaluation, setting breakpoints, and examining the heap through visualisation. We will also briefly explain the basic concepts of the Haskell programming language, parts of the Glasgow Haskell Compiler’s run-time environment, and more thoroughly discuss the visualisation of the evaluation process for Haskell programs. The finished program is a user-friendly debugger that works for compiled Haskell code and can act as a useful tool for learning, profiling, and debugging purposes for both beginners and experienced Haskell developers.