# Visual Studio

{% hint style="warning" %}
The GitBook based NorthstarWiki has been replaced in favour of the [NorthstarDocs](https://docs.northstar.tf/) where this wiki has been integrated.

Check it out here: [https://docs.northstar.tf/Wiki/](https://docs.northstar.tf/Wiki/)

The same page on the new wiki should be located here: [https://docs.northstar.tf/Wiki/development/debugging/visualstudio](https://docs.northstar.tf/Wiki/development/debugging/visualstudio)
{% endhint %}

Northstar is easiest to debug through Visual Studio due to its cmake support.

* If you do not already have Visual Studio download it https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/
  * Its recommended that you install the Community version because it is freely availalbe.
  * You need to install the `Desktop development with C++` workflow to debug native programs\
    ![](https://828676448-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1ZIQZZRL9Avtst3lrKej%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-95255b55c9539060c900d56e53c851d89f85806f%2Fdebugger-visualstudio-installer-workloads-cpp.png?alt=media)
* Open Visual Studio
* Select `Open a project or solution`\
  ![](https://828676448-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1ZIQZZRL9Avtst3lrKej%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-40dcfda83847301bacacf7c31f4e54a316c3f3d3%2Fdebugger-visualstudio-launcher.png?alt=media)
  * If you already have a solution open you can open a new project through the menu bar\
    ![](https://828676448-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1ZIQZZRL9Avtst3lrKej%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d3dfc07659195595c10804564251412f1b62fe1f%2Fdebugger-visualstudio-menu-solution.png?alt=media)
* Open `NorthstarLauncher.exe`
* You can now debug Northstar\
  ![](https://828676448-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1ZIQZZRL9Avtst3lrKej%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-071e5b30d2ff81f47c798a266b7dd31930ce9a91%2Fdebugger-visualstudio-debug-menubar.png?alt=media)
  * You can find relevant debug symbols in [NorthstarLauncher releases](https://github.com/R2Northstar/NorthstarLauncher/releases)
