VSCode's C++ plugin supports both gdb and lldb (at least on macOS). As for what to learn--I'd learn GDB. Pretty much every architecture on the planet has a GDB port.

Yeah GDB it is. The C++ plugin is excellent from what I've seen and the debugging UI is very pleasant to work with.

There's also a brand-new lldb plugin too https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vadimcn....

Which would you recommend I start with as a newcomer to the low-level debugging world - gdb or lldb? I have some experience debugging assembly in x86 real mode (yep, my class was outdated!).

> I have some experience debugging assembly in x86 real mode (yep, my class was outdated!).

Are you kidding that is an awesome skill to have. Everyone "should" learn assembly and write a small program once.

I personally don't have enough direct experience with lldb to say. I've heard good things. It's on my list of stuff to try out.

I have little experience with both, but the developers of LLDB have a goal of making more informative error messages. This was successful enough that GDB devs were compelled to mimic this behavior, making their error reporting more accessible. As far as I know, LLDB still has the advantage in this regard.

You must be confusing LLDB/GDB with Clang/GCC. LLDB and GDB are debuggers, they generally do not produce many error messages. Clang has/had better error messages than GCC.

You are right; I stand corrected.