MCP GDB Server

MCP GDB Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides GDB debugging functionality for use with Claude or other AI assistants.

Features

• Start and manage GDB debugging sessions
• Load programs and core dumps for analysis
• Set breakpoints, step through code, and examine memory
• View call stacks, variables, and registers
• View source code with VS Code integration
• Execute arbitrary GDB commands

Installation

Claude Code

claude mcp add gdb -- npx -y mcp-gdb

Claude Desktop

Add the following to your Claude Desktop MCP configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gdb": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-gdb"]
    }
  }
}

Install from Source

git clone https://github.com/signal-slot/mcp-gdb.git
cd mcp-gdb
npm install
npm run build

Usage

Example Commands

Here are some examples of using the GDB MCP server through Claude:

Starting a GDB session

Use gdb_start to start a new debugging session

Loading a program

Use gdb_load to load /path/to/my/program with the sessionId that was returned from gdb_start

Setting a breakpoint

Use gdb_set_breakpoint to set a breakpoint at main in the active GDB session

Running the program

Use gdb_continue to start execution

Examining variables

Use gdb_print to evaluate the expression "my_variable" in the current context

Getting a backtrace

Use gdb_backtrace to see the current call stack

Terminating the session

Use gdb_terminate to end the debugging session

Supported GDB Commands

• gdb_start: Start a new GDB session
• gdb_load: Load a program into GDB
• gdb_command: Execute an arbitrary GDB command
• gdb_terminate: Terminate a GDB session
• gdb_list_sessions: List all active GDB sessions
• gdb_attach: Attach to a running process
• gdb_load_core: Load a core dump file
• gdb_set_breakpoint: Set a breakpoint
• gdb_continue: Continue program execution
• gdb_step: Step program execution
• gdb_next: Step over function calls
• gdb_finish: Execute until the current function returns
• gdb_backtrace: Show call stack
• gdb_print: Print value of expression
• gdb_examine: Examine memory
• gdb_info_registers: Display registers
• gdb_list_source: List source code at current location or specified location with VS Code integration

License

MIT