# pdbpp/pdbpp

pdb++, a drop-in replacement for pdb (the Python debugger)

Repository: https://github.com/pdbpp/pdbpp
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/pdbpp
Language: Python
License: BSD-3-Clause
License Family: permissive
Topics: python, pdb, debugger, completion, syntax-highlighting
Last push: 2024-04-15T14:37:50+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 23/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3370, "days_push": 870, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1464, forks 74 (observed 2026-08-28T04:04:48.156078+00:00)

## What it is
pdb++ (pdbpp) is a drop-in replacement for Python's built-in pdb debugger that adds features like colorful TAB completion, syntax highlighting, sticky mode, and new interactive commands. It installs as a pdb module so tools like pytest automatically use it.

## Use cases
- debug python programs with a better pdb
- get syntax highlighting in the debugger
- use tab completion at the pdb prompt
- improve pytest --pdb debugging experience
- step through code with sticky mode showing the whole function
- replace pdb without changing any code

## When to choose
- you debug Python code interactively and want a nicer pdb experience
- you want pytest --pdb to drop into an enhanced debugger
- you want a drop-in pdb replacement with zero code changes

## When to avoid
- you need a graphical debugger or IDE-integrated debugging
- you need remote debugging out of the box
- you depend on exact pdb behavior and cannot tolerate any deviations

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: active
- function: developer-tools, cli
- domain: developer-tools, testing
- platform: python, cli, cross-platform
- tags: debugger, pdb, drop-in-replacement, tab-completion, syntax-highlighting, sticky-mode, command-line

## Member repositories
- pdbpp/pdbpp (main) score 23

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:48.156078+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T04:35:10.657943+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/pdbpp/pdbpp (fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:48.156078+00:00, sha 9fccda13e8e0)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.