Insight is real-mode

Real mode

Real mode, also called real address mode, is an operating mode of 80286 and later x86-compatible CPUs. Real mode is characterized by a 20 bit segmented memory address space and unlimited direct software access to all memory, I/O addresses and peripheral hardware...

 debugger

Debugger

A debugger or debugging tool is a computer program that is used to test and debug other programs . The code to be examined might alternatively be running on an instruction set simulator , a technique that allows great power in its ability to halt when specific conditions are encountered but which...

 for DOS

DOS

DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...

. It includes i80486

Intel 80486

The Intel 80486 microprocessor was a higher performance follow up on the Intel 80386. Introduced in 1989, it was the first tightly pipelined x86 design as well as the first x86 chip to use more than a million transistors, due to a large on-chip cache and an integrated floating point unit...

 disassembler

Disassembler

A disassembler is a computer program that translates machine language into assembly language—the inverse operation to that of an assembler. A disassembler differs from a decompiler, which targets a high-level language rather than an assembly language...

, i8086 assembler

Assembly language

An assembly language is a low-level programming language for computers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other programmable devices. It implements a symbolic representation of the machine codes and other constants needed to program a given CPU architecture...

, trace-into and step-over

Program animation

Program animation or Stepping refers to the very common debugging method of executing code one "line" at a time. The programmer may examine the state of the program, machine, and related data before and after execution of a particular line of code...

 functions, breakpoint

Breakpoint

In software development, a breakpoint is an intentional stopping or pausing place in a program, put in place for debugging purposes. It is also sometimes simply referred to as a pause....

 handling, and a user-friendly interface.

There is also a separate (not related) program called the Insight cygnus debugger, which is a graphical front end to the gdb debugger.

System requirements

The Insight debugger is designed to be executed on any x86-family computer running a DOS

DOS

DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...

 compatible system (FreeDOS

FreeDOS

FreeDOS is an operating system for IBM PC compatible computers. FreeDOS is made up of many different, separate programs that act as "packages" to the overall FreeDOS Project...

, DOSBox

DOSBox

DOSBox is emulator software that emulates an IBM PC compatible computer running MS-DOS. It is intended especially for use with old PC games. DOSBox is free software....

, MS-DOS

MS-DOS

MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...

, etc). For full functionality it is desirable to have color monitor and EGA, VGA or SVGA video card. CGA could be used, but with possible graphical artifacts.

The debugger itself requires ≈ 30KB free disk space. When working, it occupies ≈ 45KB of RAM.

Short description of debugger's interface

Debugger's screen is divided into 5 windows:

• code/assembler window
• dump window
• registers window
• flags window
• stack window

Menu system

The debugger's menu system consists of the main menu and local menus of the windows. The main menu is hidden in inactive state, it can be activated with the keystroke of Alt or F10.

Keyboard usage

To perform majority of actions there are numerous keyboard shortcuts. The list of all combination and their purpose is documented inside help file.

External links

• Original authors' web site - initially released binaries and some history