debugging-tauri-apps

Debugging Tauri Applications

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Install skill "debugging-tauri-apps" with this command: npx skills add dchuk/claude-code-tauri-skills/dchuk-claude-code-tauri-skills-debugging-tauri-apps

Debugging Tauri Applications

This skill covers debugging Tauri v2 applications including console debugging, WebView inspection, IDE configurations, and CrabNebula DevTools.

Development-Only Code

Use conditional compilation to exclude debug code from production builds:

// Only runs during tauri dev #[cfg(dev)] { // Development-only code }

// Runtime check if cfg!(dev) { // tauri dev code } else { // tauri build code }

// Programmatic check let is_dev: bool = tauri::is_dev();

// Debug builds and tauri build --debug #[cfg(debug_assertions)] { // Debug-only code }

Console Debugging

Rust Print Macros

Print messages to the terminal where tauri dev runs:

println!("Message from Rust: {}", msg); dbg!(&variable); // Prints variable with file:line info

Enable Backtraces

For detailed error information:

Linux/macOS

RUST_BACKTRACE=1 tauri dev

Windows PowerShell

$env:RUST_BACKTRACE=1 tauri dev

WebView DevTools

Opening DevTools

  • Right-click and select "Inspect Element"

  • Ctrl + Shift + i (Linux/Windows)

  • Cmd + Option + i (macOS)

Platform-specific inspectors: WebKit (Linux), Safari (macOS), Edge DevTools (Windows).

Programmatic Control

tauri::Builder::default() .setup(|app| { #[cfg(debug_assertions)] { let window = app.get_webview_window("main").unwrap(); window.open_devtools(); // window.close_devtools(); } Ok(()) })

Production DevTools

Create a debug build for testing:

tauri build --debug

To permanently enable devtools in production, add to src-tauri/Cargo.toml :

[dependencies] tauri = { version = "...", features = ["...", "devtools"] }

WARNING: Using the devtools feature enables private macOS APIs that prevent App Store acceptance.

VS Code Setup

Required Extensions

Extension Platform Purpose

vscode-lldb All LLDB debugger

C/C++ Windows Visual Studio debugger

launch.json Configuration

Create .vscode/launch.json :

{ "version": "0.2.0", "configurations": [ { "type": "lldb", "request": "launch", "name": "Tauri Development Debug", "cargo": { "args": [ "build", "--manifest-path=./src-tauri/Cargo.toml", "--no-default-features" ] }, "preLaunchTask": "ui:dev" }, { "type": "lldb", "request": "launch", "name": "Tauri Production Debug", "cargo": { "args": [ "build", "--release", "--manifest-path=./src-tauri/Cargo.toml" ] }, "preLaunchTask": "ui:build" } ] }

Windows Visual Studio Debugger

For faster Windows debugging with better enum support:

{ "version": "0.2.0", "configurations": [ { "name": "Launch App Debug", "type": "cppvsdbg", "request": "launch", "program": "${workspaceRoot}/src-tauri/target/debug/your-app-name.exe", "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}", "preLaunchTask": "dev" } ] }

tasks.json Configuration

Create .vscode/tasks.json :

{ "version": "2.0.0", "tasks": [ { "label": "ui:dev", "type": "shell", "isBackground": true, "command": "npm", "args": ["run", "dev"] }, { "label": "ui:build", "type": "shell", "command": "npm", "args": ["run", "build"] }, { "label": "build:debug", "type": "cargo", "command": "build", "options": { "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}/src-tauri" } }, { "label": "dev", "dependsOn": ["build:debug", "ui:dev"], "group": { "kind": "build" } } ] }

Debugging Workflow

  • Set breakpoints by clicking the line number margin in Rust files

  • Press F5 or select debug configuration from Run menu

  • The preLaunchTask runs the dev server automatically

  • Debugger attaches and stops at breakpoints

NOTE: LLDB bypasses the Tauri CLI, so beforeDevCommand and beforeBuildCommand must be configured as tasks.

RustRover / IntelliJ Setup

Project Configuration

If your project lacks a top-level Cargo.toml , create a workspace file:

[workspace] members = ["src-tauri"]

Or attach src-tauri/Cargo.toml via the Cargo tool window.

Run Configurations

Create two configurations in Run | Edit Configurations:

  1. Tauri App Configuration (Cargo)

  • Command: run

  • Additional arguments: --no-default-features

The --no-default-features flag is critical - it tells Tauri to load assets from the dev server instead of bundling them.

  1. Development Server Configuration

For Node-based projects:

  • Create an npm Run Configuration

  • Set package manager (npm/pnpm/yarn)

  • Set script to dev

For Rust WASM (Trunk):

  • Create a Shell Script configuration

  • Command: trunk serve

Debugging Workflow

  • Start the development server configuration first

  • Click Debug on the Tauri App configuration

  • RustRover halts at Rust breakpoints automatically

  • Inspect variables and step through code

Neovim Setup

Required Plugins

  • nvim-dap - Debug Adapter Protocol client

  • nvim-dap-ui - Debugger UI

  • nvim-nio - Async dependency for nvim-dap-ui

  • overseer.nvim (recommended) - Task management

Prerequisites

Download codelldb from GitHub releases and note the installation path.

DAP Configuration

Add to your Neovim config (init.lua or equivalent):

local dap = require("dap")

-- Configure codelldb adapter dap.adapters.codelldb = { type = 'server', port = "${port}", executable = { command = '/path/to/codelldb/adapter/codelldb', args = {"--port", "${port}"}, } }

-- Launch configuration for Rust/Tauri dap.configurations.rust = { { name = "Launch Tauri App", type = "codelldb", request = "launch", program = function() return vim.fn.input('Path to executable: ', vim.fn.getcwd() .. '/target/debug/', 'file') end, cwd = '${workspaceFolder}', stopOnEntry = false }, }

UI Integration

local dapui = require("dapui") dapui.setup()

-- Auto-open/close UI dap.listeners.before.attach.dapui_config = function() dapui.open() end dap.listeners.before.launch.dapui_config = function() dapui.open() end dap.listeners.before.event_terminated.dapui_config = function() dapui.close() end dap.listeners.before.event_exited.dapui_config = function() dapui.close() end

Visual Indicators

vim.fn.sign_define('DapBreakpoint', { text = 'B', texthl = 'DapBreakpoint', linehl = '', numhl = '' }) vim.fn.sign_define('DapStopped', { text = '>', texthl = 'DapStopped', linehl = 'DapStopped', numhl = '' })

Keybindings

vim.keymap.set('n', '<F5>', function() dap.continue() end) vim.keymap.set('n', '<F6>', function() dap.disconnect({ terminateDebuggee = true }) end) vim.keymap.set('n', '<F10>', function() dap.step_over() end) vim.keymap.set('n', '<F11>', function() dap.step_into() end) vim.keymap.set('n', '<F12>', function() dap.step_out() end) vim.keymap.set('n', '<Leader>b', function() dap.toggle_breakpoint() end) vim.keymap.set('n', '<Leader>o', function() overseer.toggle() end) vim.keymap.set('n', '<Leader>R', function() overseer.run_template() end)

Development Server Task

Create .vscode/tasks.json for overseer.nvim compatibility:

{ "version": "2.0.0", "tasks": [ { "type": "process", "label": "dev server", "command": "npm", "args": ["run", "dev"], "isBackground": true, "presentation": { "revealProblems": "onProblem" }, "problemMatcher": { "pattern": { "regexp": "^error:.*", "file": 1, "line": 2 }, "background": { "activeOnStart": false, "beginsPattern": ".Rebuilding.", "endsPattern": ".listening." } } } ] }

NOTE: The development server does not start automatically when bypassing Tauri CLI. Use overseer.nvim or start it manually.

CrabNebula DevTools

CrabNebula DevTools provides real-time application instrumentation including log inspection, performance monitoring, and Tauri event/command analysis.

Features

  • Inspect log events (including dependency logs)

  • Monitor command execution performance

  • Analyze Tauri events with payloads and responses

  • Real-time visualization

Installation

cargo add tauri-plugin-devtools@2.0.0

Setup

Initialize DevTools as early as possible in src-tauri/src/main.rs :

fn main() { // Initialize DevTools only in debug builds #[cfg(debug_assertions)] let devtools = tauri_plugin_devtools::init();

let mut builder = tauri::Builder::default();

#[cfg(debug_assertions)]
{
    builder = builder.plugin(devtools);
}

builder
    .run(tauri::generate_context!())
    .expect("error while running tauri application")

}

Usage

When running tauri dev , DevTools automatically opens a web-based interface showing:

  • Application logs with filtering

  • IPC command calls with timing

  • Event payloads and responses

  • Performance spans

For full documentation, see CrabNebula DevTools docs.

Quick Reference

Task Command/Action

Enable backtraces RUST_BACKTRACE=1 tauri dev

Open WebView DevTools Ctrl+Shift+i / Cmd+Option+i

Debug build tauri build --debug

Add DevTools plugin cargo add tauri-plugin-devtools@2.0.0

IDE Comparison

Feature VS Code RustRover Neovim

Extension/Plugin vscode-lldb Built-in nvim-dap + codelldb

Windows Alt cppvsdbg Built-in codelldb

Task Runner tasks.json Run configs overseer.nvim

Setup Complexity Medium Low High

Common Issues

  • Breakpoints not hit: Ensure --no-default-features is set when building

  • Dev server not starting: Configure preLaunchTask or start manually

  • App not loading frontend: Dev server must be running before Tauri app starts

  • Windows enum display issues: Use cppvsdbg instead of LLDB

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