# RAD Debugger

> MIT native graphical debugger for Windows x64 from Epic Games, plus a fast MSVC-compatible linker

**Category:** DevOps  
**Pricing:** open-source  
**URL:** https://github.com/EpicGames/raddebugger/releases  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/EpicGames/raddebugger  
**Added:** 2026-10-11

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## The Hook

The RAD Debugger is a fast, standalone, multi-process graphical debugger for native Windows code — what C, C++ and game developers reach for when Visual Studio's debugger is too slow or too heavy.

## What's Good

MIT (EpicGames/raddebugger), release v0.9.29-alpha (2026-09-30); prebuilt binaries on the releases page. Debugs local Windows x64 programs with PDBs and converts debug info on demand into its own RAD Debug Info (RDI) format, with a `radbin` tool to convert and dump it. Ships the RAD Linker, an x64 PE/COFF linker with MSVC-compatible command-line syntax built for huge binaries — the project reports about 50% faster links in its own tests with multi-gigabyte debug info. Maintained under Epic Games. ★~8k.

## The Catch

Alpha, and the README asks you to file crash dumps — expect bugs. Windows x64 with PDBs only today; Linux and DWARF support are stated plans, not shipped, so it does nothing for Mac or Linux work. The repo README is a technical overview; the usage guide ships inside the release download. Native code only — no managed .NET, JavaScript or Python debugging.

## Verdict

Worth a try for every Windows C/C++ or game developer tired of waiting on Visual Studio — just treat it as alpha.