Ltrace
ltrace is a debugging utility that intercepts and records dynamic library calls which are called by an executed process. It can be used to trace calls made by programs to shared libraries and helps debug issues caused by dynamic linking.
library
debugging
tracing
dynamic-linking
ltrace: Debugging Utility for Dynamic Library Calls
A debugging utility intercepting and recording dynamic library calls to help diagnose issues with shared libraries and dynamic linking, tracing calls made by programs.
What is Ltrace?
ltrace is a program tracing utility intended for debugging issues in running processes on Linux and some other Unix-like systems. It intercepts and records dynamic library calls which are called by processes during execution.
Specifically, it traces calls made by programs to shared libraries such as system calls and other dynamic linking calls. For each intercepted library call, ltrace prints out the name of the call along with its arguments and return value. This allows developers to trace execution of a program and observe its interactions with shared libraries.
Some common use cases of ltrace include:
- Debugging crashes or hangs due to invalid arguments passed to library calls
- Understanding the runtime behavior of a program and the system calls it makes
- Tracing the sequence of library calls made by a program during execution
- Profiling which library functions are called most frequently by an application
Overall, ltrace is useful for debugging complex issues caused by dynamic linking and shared libraries in Linux processes. When used properly, it provides insights into the runtime interactions between an executed program and the operating system libraries.
Ltrace Features
Features
- Intercepts and records dynamic library calls made by a process
- Can trace calls made by programs to shared libraries
- Helps debug issues caused by dynamic linking
- Shows parameters passed to library functions and return values
- Tracks time spent in each call
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Lightweight and easy to use for debugging
Does not require modifying or recompiling the target program
Works on most Linux distributions without special setup
Can trace proprietary programs where source code is unavailable
Cons
Only works for dynamic library calls, not static linking
Can introduce some runtime overhead when tracing
Does not trace code within libraries themselves
Limited Windows support compared to Linux
Official Links
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