Side by side
Perl Debugger vs RenderDoc
Both stand on debuggers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Choose Perl Debugger if you need a free, Perl-specific way to inspect execution, set breakpoints, and examine values. It is included with Perl rather than installed as a separate debugger. Look elsewhere if you need stack-frame details for functions compiled outside Perl, or if your workflow depends on the `-W` switch.
Visit Perl Debugger Free plan AndroidLinuxWindows
RenderDoc offers frame-capture debugging across several graphics APIs, with platform-specific limits to consider. It is intended for debugging your own programs, and stable builds are recommended for new users.
Visit RenderDocThe facts
| Perl Debugger | RenderDoc | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Android, Linux, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | perldoc.perl.org | renderdoc.org |
| On debuggers | #11 of 27 | #15 of 27 |
Perl Debugger: what it does well
- Included with Perl and free to use.
- Supports conditional breakpoints and global expression watches.
- Can step into or over subroutine calls.
- Recursively pretty-prints nested data structures.
- Options can be set interactively or in configuration files.
What to know first
- The program must compile correctly before debugging.
- Lexical variable inspection requires PadWalker version 0.08 or higher.
- Cannot provide stack-frame information for C or C++ extension functions.
- Does not currently work with Perl's -W switch.
RenderDoc: what it does well
- Free and released under the MIT license.
- Supports Vulkan, D3D11, D3D12, OpenGL, and OpenGL ES.
- Windows offers 32-bit, 64-bit, and portable ZIP options.
- Online documentation, CHM documentation, and introductory videos are listed.
- Stable and nightly binary releases are available.
What to know first
- Linux support is limited to 64-bit x86.
- D3D9/10 and Metal are unavailable.
- Nightly builds may be less stable.
- Public support channels exclude captures of programs you did not create.
Alternatives to Perl Debugger Alternatives to RenderDoc The whole list