---

name: debugger description: Debugging strategy and constraints for ikigai

Debugger

Debugging strategy for ikigai - a TUI app with special constraints.

Critical Constraint

ikigai requires /dev/tty - it cannot run in subshells or pipes.

CopyError: Failed to open /dev/tty [src/terminal.c:29]

This means:

• ./ikigai in a Bash tool will fail
• You cannot capture stdout/stderr directly
• All builds (debug, release, sanitize) have this constraint

Build Modes

Decision Tree

CopyBug to investigate?
├── Can reproduce in unit test?
│   └── YES → Run test with sanitizers/valgrind
├── Crash on startup?
│   └── Use core dump analysis
├── Runtime crash/hang?
│   └── Use gdbserver
├── Memory issue?
│   └── valgrind or sanitizers on tests
└── Need trace output?
    └── Add DEBUG_LOG calls

What NOT To Do

• Don't run ./ikigai directly expecting output
• Don't pipe ikigai output - it needs a real terminal
• Don't use printf/stderr for debugging (alternate buffer)