Introducing the Super Debugger: Wireless Real-Time Debugging for iOS
Article Summary
Jason Brennan from Shopify just open-sourced a debugger that lets you tweak iOS UI properties and watch them update in real-time on your device. No recompiling, no breakpoints, just instant visual feedback.
Back in 2013, Shopify Engineering released Super Debugger to address LLDB's clunky object handling. The tool enables wireless debugging of iOS apps running on devices or simulators, letting developers manipulate objects through a Mac companion app using F-Script syntax instead of traditional breakpoint-based debugging.
Key Takeaways
- Drag numbers in the debugger to adjust UI properties in real-time on device
- Uses F-Script syntax for cleaner object messaging than Objective-C brackets
- Connects wirelessly to any iOS device or simulator on same network
- Open-sourced on GitHub with working demo app included
Super Debugger transforms iOS debugging from a build-compile-wait cycle into instant run-test-change iteration with live visual feedback.
About This Article
LLDB, the standard iOS debugger, required breakpoints and made it hard to manipulate objects. Developers had to go through lengthy build-compile-wait cycles just to test UI changes.
Jason Brennan's Super Debugger uses F-Script syntax to send messages directly to running iOS objects over the network. This removes the need for breakpoints and lets developers explore objects interactively across devices and simulators on the same network.
Developers stopped waiting through build-compile cycles and started testing changes immediately. They could adjust properties like corner radius values with simple drag interactions and see the results in real time.