Slow debugging issue in Visual Studio

Question

In my Visual Studio, even I just wrote a single line of return in a C# console application, it will take me a minute after pressing F5 to execute the actual code (I mean the time it takes to stop on the single return statement after pressing F5 -- I set a breakpoint on return statement in Main function). I am wondering what is wrong? Any check list? Thanks!

I am using Visual Studio 2008 VSTS edition and debugging on Windows Server 2003 x64.

thanks in advance, George

Answer 1

Closing the "Autos" window improved debugging for me in vs2008 for a big native c++ solution. Hiding it won't work, it needs to be closed.

Answer 2

Go to tools/options/debugger/symbols and check if you have public symbols set or UNC network paths set. Also check tools/options/debugger/general to see if you have source server set.

All of these can affect debugging based on slow network speed or unavailable servers. The 5 minute wait time is network timeouts.

If nothing in options is set, check to see if you have the _NT_SYMBOL_PATH environment variable set.

Answer 3

Running under the debugger for me was roughly 10x slower than running without debugging.

After trying every solution suggested here, I went through every debugger setting and enabled/disabled to see if it made a difference.

For me, it turned out that disabling Suppress JIT optimization on module load in the debug settings massively improved things.

Answer 4

Or remove your .suo file which can be found next to your solution (.sln) file. This solved an issue I had with debug sessions taking a long time to start and stop.

Answer 5

In my case Google Toolbar was slowing down my debugging. gplus_notifications_gadget.html just kept going on and on overloading the debugger. I wanted to keep the Google Toolbar because I use it on a regular basis, so I just disabled the G+ notification button (the small button besides the profile button.) It is happy now.

Answer 6

I have seen this before. Try deleting all your breakpoints and then set the ones you want. Hit F5. Is it faster now?

I just noticed that you mentioned setting up .NET source debugging feature. Try to disable that, your network connectivity to Microsoft's source server may be slow. Also disable any symbol server connectivity in Tools > Options > Debugging > Symbols

Also try disabling "Enable property evaluation and other implicit function calls" in Tools > Options > Debugging > General.