Overview
The article discusses the challenges faced by Uber engineers while debugging Go programs on Apple Silicon hardware, particularly focusing on the ARM64 architecture and its interaction with the DWARF debugging information. It highlights the complexities of the Go linker and how these issues were addressed, ultimately leading to improvements in debugging capabilities.
What You'll Learn
1
How to debug Go programs on ARM64 architecture effectively
2
Why DWARF information is crucial for debugging
3
When to use trampolines in Go binaries
Prerequisites & Requirements
- Understanding of Go programming language and its toolchain
- Familiarity with debugging concepts and DWARF(optional)
Key Questions Answered
What issues arise when debugging Go programs on ARM64?
Debugging Go programs on ARM64 can lead to problems such as inability to set breakpoints or retrieve line information, particularly when using tools like the Delve debugger. These issues stem from the differences in how DWARF information is generated and utilized compared to AMD64 architecture.
How does the Go linker handle DWARF information?
The Go linker embeds DWARF information in the final binary, which allows debuggers to map program addresses to source code. However, if a symbol is marked as external, the linker skips generating DWARF information for that symbol, leading to incomplete debugging data.
What is the role of trampolines in Go binaries?
Trampolines are used in Go binaries to facilitate function calls that exceed the immediate addressing limits of the ARM64 architecture. They allow for jumps to functions that are located beyond the reachable range of direct calls, thus enabling the execution of larger binaries.
Technologies & Tools
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Programming Language
Go
Used for developing applications and debugging tools discussed in the article.
Architecture
Arm64
The architecture under which the debugging issues were analyzed.
Debugging Format
Dwarf
The format used for debugging information in Go binaries.
Key Actionable Insights
1Implementing proper DWARF generation in Go binaries is essential for effective debugging.Ensuring that the linker generates complete DWARF information can significantly improve the debugging experience, especially when transitioning to ARM64 architectures.
2Utilizing trampolines can help manage function calls that exceed ARM64's immediate addressing limitations.When developing larger applications on ARM64, consider using trampolines to ensure that all function calls can be resolved correctly, avoiding potential runtime errors.
Common Pitfalls
1
Assuming that all symbols will have complete DWARF information can lead to debugging failures.
This occurs because the linker marks certain symbols as external, which prevents their associated DWARF information from being generated, thus complicating the debugging process.
Related Concepts
Debugging In Go
Linker Design And Architecture
Differences Between Arm64 And Amd64