[OC] Tired of "blind" C++ debugging in VS Code for Computer Vision? I built CV DebugMate C++ to view cv::Mat and 3D Point Clouds directly.

Hey everyone,

As a developer working on **SLAM and Computer Vision projects in C++**, I was constantly frustrated by the lack of proper debugging tools in VS Code after moving away from Visual Studio's Image Watch. Staring at memory addresses for cv::Mat and std::vector<cv::Point3f> felt like debugging blind!

So, I decided to build what I needed and open-source it: [CV DebugMate C++](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=zwdai.cv-debugmate-cpp).

It's a **VS Code extension** that brings back essential visual debugging capabilities for C++ projects, with a special focus on 3D/CV applications.

**🌟 Key Features**

**1.** 🖼️ **Powerful cv::Mat Visualization**

* Diverse Types: Supports various depths (uint8, float, double) and channels (Grayscale, BGR, RGBA).
* Pixel-Level Inspection: Hover your mouse to see real-time pixel values, with zoom and grid support.
* Pro Export: Exports to common formats like PNG, and crucially, TIFF for preserving floating-point data integrity (a must for deep CV analysis

**2.** 📊 **Exclusive: Real-Time 3D Point Cloud Viewing**

* Direct Rendering: Directly renders your **std::vector<cv::Point3f>** or **cv::Point3d** variables as an interactive 3D point cloud.
* Interactive 3D: Built on Three.js, allowing you to drag, rotate, and zoom the point cloud right within your debugger session. Say goodbye to blindly debugging complex 3D algorithm

**3. 🔍 CV DebugMate Panel**

[](https://github.com/dull-bird/cv_debug_mate_cpp/tree/main#-cv-debugmate-panel)

* Automatic Variable Collection: Automatically detects all visualizable OpenCV variables in the current stack frame.
* Dedicated Sidebar View: A new view in the Debug sidebar for quick access to all Mat and Point Cloud variables.
* Type Identification: Distinct icons for images (Mat) and 3D data (Point Cloud).
* One-Click Viewing: Quick-action buttons to open visualization tabs without using context menus

**4. Wide Debugger Support**

Confirmed compatibility with common setups: Windows (MSVC/MinGW), Linux (GDB), and macOS (LLDB). (Check the documentation for the full list).

**🛠 How to Use**

It's designed to be plug-and-play. During a debug session, simply Right-Click on your cv::Mat or std::vector<cv::Point3f> variable in the Locals/Watch panel and select "View by CV DebugMate".**🔗 Get It & Support**

The plugin is completely free and open-source. It's still early in development, so feedback and bug reports are highly welcome!

**VS Code Marketplace**: Search for CV DebugMate or zwdai

**GitHub Repository**: [https://github.com/dull-bird/cv\_debug\_mate\_cpp](https://github.com/dull-bird/cv_debug_mate_cpp)

If you find it useful, please consider giving it a Star on GitHub or a rating on the Marketplace—it's the fuel for continued bug fixes and feature development! 🙏

https://redd.it/1ps4a8n
@r_cpp