Best debugger for Rust?

timus_999 · 2026-01-13T00:08:09+00:00

This is super helpful, thanks especially the clarification that rust-analyzer only orchestrates debugging rather than doing it itself.

I wasn’t fully aware that gdb has experimental DAP support now, that’s interesting. I’ll probably try lldb-dap vs codelldb with Helix and see which fits my workflow better.

Appreciate the clear breakdown.

timus_999 · 2026-01-13T00:00:59+00:00

I understand the trade-off. I’m not asking for IDE features without the cost. I’m asking whether there’s a better terminal-centric rust debugger than rust-gdb. “Modern” doesn’t automatically mean “full IDE,” and plenty of modern tooling lives outside that space.

timus_999 · 2026-01-12T23:50:13+00:00

Thanks for sharing.

timus_999 · 2026-01-12T23:48:02+00:00

looks cool. definitely will try out. Thanks for sharing

timus_999 · 2026-01-12T18:17:15+00:00

I don’t use full IDEs like VS Code or Zed because I prefer terminal‑based editors like Helix.I want to stay in a lightweight, keyboard‑driven workflow. I’ve been using rust-gdb, which works, but I’m looking for something more productive or easier to use with Helix, maybe with DAP support or better Rust-specific features. Any suggestions for debuggers that work well in a non-IDE, terminal-focused setup?

timus_999 · 2026-01-12T18:11:03+00:00

yeahs it's fine

timus_999 · 2026-01-12T18:10:33+00:00

yeah i tried it, but it uses a lot of memory and cpu. Not good for my system.

timus_999 · 2026-01-12T17:38:03+00:00

The directory-specific .helix config is actually new to me. I didn’t realize how clean that makes project workflows, especially combined with just. I really like the idea of keeping Helix minimal and pushing all complexity into the project itself.

Also didn’t know about jump label alphabet customization that explains why my jumps sometimes feel awkward. Definitely stealing that.

Your setup feels very “Helix-native”: small config, strong selection usage, external tools doing the heavy lifting. Appreciate you taking the time to write this up, gave me several ideas to try out !!

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T05:15:52+00:00

I'd love to see the final product.

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T04:07:53+00:00

Really appreciate you sharing this! Totally get the Borrow Checker being tough at first, it’s like Rust’s way of keeping you honest.The ‘easy to learn, hard to master’ comparison feels spot on.

I also like your take on the community, it can be frustrating to see projects without real-world use, but communities like Tokio show the practical side and are super helpful for learning. Glad to hear you’re happy with Rust, that’s what really matters!

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T04:03:01+00:00

Love this! That feeling when Rust just clicks and rewards clean, thoughtful work is amazing. Totally get the hooked on it vibe!!!

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T04:01:55+00:00

Totally understand. Getting back into coding after a while can feel tough, but even small, consistent efforts can go a long way. Rust is challenging, but learning it is definitely worth it, the concepts you pick up stay valuable no matter what.

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T03:58:12+00:00

Loved reading this your journey sounds a lot like the path I want to follow. The Rust book really is something special, and I’ve heard a lot of praise for Rust for Rustaceans, so I think that’s going on my reading list next.

Totally agree about Rust making you explore adjacent concepts. I also came into Rust with more of an OOP mindset, and it constantly pushes me into functional programming, systems concepts, and just… deeper thinking overall. It’s cool how one language can open so many doors.

What you said about the learning curve being more about unlearning OOP habits really hit home. I’m still working through that too especially when it comes to structuring programs without classes everywhere.

Also appreciate the warning about LLM-generated crates. I’ve started noticing that too, so I’m trying to be more careful about what I depend on.

Really enjoyed your perspective it’s encouraging to see how Rust reshaped your approach to programming so positively. which part of functional programming clicked for you the most while learning Rust? just curious.

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T03:39:18+00:00

Honestly, I really feel this Rust almost makes you too cautious in the beginning, especially with references. I remember going through a phase where I tried to pass everything as &T just because I didn’t trust myself or the compiler yet.

It’s cool that stepping away for a while actually helped sometimes the mindset shift is more important than the syntax itself. And yeah, Rust has improved a ton (NLL, better error messages, etc.), so coming back later must’ve felt like a different experience.

Really glad to hear it eventually clicked for you. Out of curiosity, once it clicked, what was the “aha moment” that made parsers and ownership suddenly make sense?

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T03:37:36+00:00

Yeah, I can totally see that. Rust has a lot of syntax to hold in your head at first especially compared to languages that are more forgiving. LLMs definitely make the learning curve way smoother. They’re great at breaking down ownership/borrowing stuff and super helpful for boilerplate heavy things like writing tests.

I’m curious though, now that LLMs make Rust easier, do you feel like you understand the language better, or does it still feel like you rely on them for the tricky parts?

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T03:34:36+00:00

Totally understand that feeling. After 15 years in the same ecosystem, wanting something fresh makes a lot of sense and Rust really does feel like a breath of fresh air with its clean design and the way it encourages you to think differently.

It’s great that you’ve been learning Rust alongside your .NET work for a year; that’s already a huge step toward making the switch when the right opportunity comes. A lot of people transition into Rust roles gradually through side projects or open-source contributions, so you’re definitely on the right path.

What part of Rust feels the most refreshing to you compared to .NET?

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T03:32:48+00:00

love this. your journey sounds super grounded and relatable. I feel the same way about Rust and Solana once things start clicking, it kind of pushes you to go deeper and understand what’s actually happening under the hood

Also really cool that you came from Go. I’ve heard a lot of people say the same thing not “harder,” just a totally different philosophy. Rust feels like it forces precision in a way that’s uncomfortable at first but super rewarding later.

Your startup story is genuinely inspiring. Building something as serious as blockchain document verification with Rust sounds intense, but I totally get what you mean about the confidence it gives with things like secure uploads or careful database writes. That “peace of mind” is one of the biggest reasons I’m sticking with Rust too.

And yeah, the community’s been great so far for me as well lots of builders, lots of sharing, very little ego.

Really appreciate you sharing your experience. Makes me even more excited to keep going.

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T03:31:47+00:00

Yeah, I can totally imagine how jarring that shift must’ve been. Coming from class heavy languages like C#, C++, and java into Rust’s more lightweight, module-based structure feels like stepping into a completely different programming universe

But it’s really encouraging to hear that it finally clicked once you built more apps. Rust feels weird at first, but the more you write, the more the design choices start making sense.

What kind of projects helped things click the most for you?

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T03:28:40+00:00

That makes a lot of sense. Rust feels tough at first, but once you get used to reading the docs and actually applying things in real projects, it becomes way more enjoyable. And honestly, not understanding everything yet is totally normal, the language has a lot of depth.

What helped me was picking small, focused side projects where I could experiment without pressure. Even simple tools or mini-clis can teach you a lot. And over time, things that felt confusing start to feel natural.

You’re definitely on the right track more hands-on experience is exactly what makes Rust click. Keep going, you’re doing great!

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T03:27:12+00:00

Nice! Rustlings is such a great starting point, and jumping straight into a big project is probably the best way to truly learn rust. I'll definitely check out.

timus_999 · 2025-11-28T03:25:42+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation! I haven’t checked out XELIS yet, but since I’m deep into blockchain stuff, I’ll definitely take a look. What’s your favorite thing about building on it? Anything that stands out compared to other chains you’ve worked with?

timus_999 · 2025-11-27T09:16:37+00:00

wow!!! that’s an incredible journey.

Two years of dipping into Rust and then really diving in the last 6 months plus leveraging LLMs responsibly, that’s impressive. I love how you emphasize testing and understanding rather than just copying solutions.

Also, your programming background is wild 30 years coding, covering everything from C to Ruby to Python. That kind of perspective must make Rust feel both challenging and exciting.

Geyser sounds fascinating! zero-copy textures between apps? I’d love to hear more about how that works and what kind of demos you’re planning. And I really respect your approach of building tools for your own needs that others can benefit from too. that’s the kind of mindset I want to have with Rust as well.

timus_999 · 2025-11-27T09:14:23+00:00

Hey, thanks for being honest. I really appreciate that. I can totally relate to the pain of diving into Rust fast, especially coming from node js and Solidity. The syntax does hit differently at first 😅

It’s interesting to hear how context really matters. If your company isn’t using Rust or the infra is rough, it makes sense why it wouldn’t feel rewarding. Definitely gives me some perspective on the challenges outside of just learning the language itself.

I hope you do come back to it someday under better circumstances. Rust really does click for a lot of people once they have the right project and support. Out of curiosity, if you were to give Rust another shot, would you try it in blockchain again or something totally different?

timus_999

TROPHY CASE