Debugger Canvas - a new way to debug code in Visual Studio

Debugger Canvas is quite an interesting way to debug applications (and not only). This plug-in for Visual Studio Ultimate gives a little, for me, an unusual way of step-by-step debugging in Visual Studio. After installing this extension in Visual Studio, you do not need to configure anything, and you can see its operation immediately after launching the application under the debugger and setting a breakpoint. Debugger Canvas will automatically open a separate tab with its functionality in Visual Studio. The idea of ​​this extension is that it opens each debugged method in a separate area, allowing you to trace the call stack of methods on one screen and, moreover, be able to view the values ​​of local variables in previous methods along the chain if you passed them under the debugger. Under the cat in more detail about the functions and screenshots.



It will be more understandable by looking at the screenshot of the work of this extension for Visual Studio (the screenshot is taken from the blog on MSDN [1]):







The idea of ​​such debugging was developed in MS Research together with Brown University. This plug-in for Visual Studio works so far well, but you need to bear in mind that this is only the Alpha version, you should not expect stability from it. Currently working out of the box:

• The ability to export the current window to an XPS file. Not to say that works fine. Let's just say, exports, but there are wishes. The functionality is available by right-clicking in the Debugger Canvas window.

• Ability to create sticky notes. To also invoke the right mouse button in the Debugger Canvas window. This, apparently, was added in order to be able to add meaningful comments when you send the XPS file to someone.
• Ability to make snapshots of local variable methods. Moreover, these snapshots of variable values ​​are visible between sessions. It looks like this (look at the last two columns of Locals for Do)

• You can add methods to the Debugger Canvas window via Go To Defninition and Find All References.

Moreover, this functionality Debugger Canvas is not going to limit us, in the future two functions will be available: the ability to edit directly in these windows, as well as the ability to climb according to IntelliTrace in the Debugger Canvas. Editing in the windows can be enabled now, but at your own peril and risk, since this functionality can drop Visual Studio, you can enable it in the Debugger Canvas settings:

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Undoubtedly, many Visual Studio users are upset because Debugger Canvas is only available in the Ultimate edition. The thing is that the current version is implemented over Visual Studio Ultimate, or rather, it uses Dependency Diagrams [1]. Still, there should be some buns in the Ultimate version.

References:

1. Debugger Canvas on DevLabs (blog in msdn)
2. DevLabs: Debugger Canvas (the official page on DevLabs, I recommend to watch the video, from there to install)
3. Debugger Canvas (official website for Microsoft Research, another video)

UPDATE: If there are problems with this plugin or just have suggestions, then you can share it on the Debugger Canvas forums.