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How can I step through JDK source code in IntelliJ IDEA 7 and see the debug info? I can currently hit breakpoints and step through the code, but the debug info is not available. This means I can't see the value of local variables.

I only want to step through the source code of one class, if that matters. (For what it's worth, it's the javax.swing.text.html.HTMLDocument class (and I do have a copy of the corresponding .java file).)

+6  A: 

If you look in Settings -> Debugger -> Stepping you will see a list "Do not step into these classes", probably with "java.*" listed there. Is that the case? You can turn that off there.

Apparently the debug information is not available. According to this thread:

Sadly the JDK classes have debug information for parameters and local variable stripped off.

Years ago I filed a request that Idea should deduce the necessary information from the source code (basically converting variable names to indexes into the methods local var):
Debugger: Show variable information when no debug info

Please vote/comment.

As a workaround you can re-compile the JDK from sources, but you need to exclude some classes which do not have all needed source code attached.

Interestingly, you can download the beta version of Java 6u18, which has debug information in it (in the DEBUG bundle).

cletus
As I mentioned in my original post, I can hit my breakpoints just fine in the javax.* classes. The problem is that the debug info is not available. Anyway, just to be sure, I did what you suggested, but the debug info is still not available.
Paul Reiners
+5  A: 

Java classes which are part of the JDK are compiled without debug info for the size and performance reasons. If you want debug info in these classes, you'll either need to install a development version of the JDK where the classes are built with the debug info or rebuild the parts of JDK you want to debug from source with the debug info enabled and configure the new JDK with these versions of classes in jars.

This thread provides the instructions how to rebuild JDK classes in rt.jar from the source code with debugging information.

P.S. This question is not specific to IntelliJ IDEA.

CrazyCoder
A: 

setting - compiler - java Compiler - java options, you should check the option "generate debugging info", then, it will compile with debug info.

heaven