ferros 0.0.0

A Rust-native debugger with hybrid MIR and system-level introspection.
ferros-0.0.0 is not a library.

🦀 Ferros

A Rust-native debugger built from the same element as Rust itself.

License Rust Unsafe

Ferros (from ferrum — Latin for iron) is a next-generation debugger designed specifically for the Rust programming language.

Unlike traditional debuggers that retrofit C-style semantics onto Rust programs, Ferros is built from the ground up to understand Rust's unique memory model, lifetimes, ownership system, and mid-level intermediate representation (MIR).

🎯 What Makes Ferros Different?

Ferros merges symbolic debugging and interpreted execution in a single hybrid architecture — capable of inspecting compiled binaries and running MIR-level simulations for deep program analysis.

Built from the same element as Rust.
A debugger that speaks Rust's language.

✨ Mission

To give Rust developers a first-class, language-native debugging experience — fast, intuitive, and designed for Rust's safety guarantees.

Ferros aims to become the Rust ecosystem's standard debugging platform, complementing cargo and integrating cleanly with editors, IDEs, and build tools.

🔧 Key Features

Feature Description
Rust-Native Inspection Understands ownership, borrows, lifetimes, and async tasks directly
MIR Integration Debug at the mid-level IR to analyze compiler-accurate control flow
Hybrid Execution Engine Combine symbolic simulation with native process control for precise debugging
Zero-Cost Breakpoints Lightweight traps integrated with Rust's runtime model
Memory Safety Visualization Visualize move semantics, borrows, and drops in real time
Cross-Platform Support Linux (ptrace), macOS (Mach ports), and Windows (WinDbg APIs)
Cargo Integration Seamless cargo ferros workflow for launching and inspecting projects

Note: Ferros is currently in active development. See ROADMAP.md for current status.

🏗️ Architecture

Ferros is structured as a workspace of multiple crates, each with a specific responsibility:

ferros/
├── crates/
│   ├── ferros/          # Command-line interface
│   ├── ferros-core/     # Low-level debugging primitives & process control
│   ├── ferros-mir/      # MIR integration & analysis
│   ├── ferros-ui/       # Optional TUI/GUI for visualization
│   ├── ferros-protocol/ # Communication layer
│   └── ferros-utils/    # Shared utilities & helpers

📖 Learn more: See ARCHITECTURE.md for detailed architecture documentation.

🚀 Quick Start

Coming Soon! Ferros is currently in early development. Check back soon for installation instructions.

Once available, you'll be able to:

# Install via cargo
cargo install ferros

# Debug your Rust project
cargo ferros run

# Attach to a running process
ferros attach <pid>

📚 Documentation

  • Architecture — Deep dive into Ferros' design and structure
  • Roadmap — Development milestones and planned features
  • Contributing — Guidelines for contributing to Ferros

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Ferros is built with ❤️ by the Rust community.

📖 Getting Started: Check out CONTRIBUTING.md for:

  • Development setup instructions
  • Code style guidelines
  • Testing requirements
  • How to submit pull requests

Looking for your first contribution? Check out issues labeled good first issue!

📄 License

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.

🙏 Acknowledgments

Ferros draws inspiration from:

  • The Rust compiler's MIR representation
  • Existing debuggers like gdb, lldb, and rr
  • Projects like probe-rs and miri

Ferros — built from the same element as Rust.

⭐ Star us on GitHub • 📖 Read the Docs • 🐛 Report Issues