ndk-gdb from NDK r11c for Windows x64 can't start the debugging session - it just outputs ERROR: Failed to find running process 'com.example.native_activity'

[dosvidos]

I've tried to debug the native-activity NDK sample with ndk-gdb script on Nexus 9 running API23 with February 2016 security updates - the script fails to start the default activity if a package process is not running on the device:

f:\work\android-ndk-r11c\ndk-gdb.cmd -v
ADB command used: 'adb -s HT4AHJT08522'
ADB version: Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.32 Revision 09a0d98bebce-android
Using project directory: c:\wrk\android\android-ndk-samples\native-activity
Found package name: com.example.native_activity
Attaching to existing application process.
Application ABIs: arm64-v8a, armeabi, armeabi-v7a, armeabi-v7a-hard, mips, mips64, x86, x86_64
Device ABIs: arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a, armeabi
Selecting ABI: arm64-v8a
Detected pretty printer: none
Found application data directory: /data/data/com.example.native_activity
App gdbserver not found at /data/data/com.example.native_activity/lib/gdbserver, uploading.
Copying gdbserver to /data/data/com.example.native_activity/arm64-gdbserver.
Uploaded gdbserver to /data/data/com.example.native_activity/arm64-gdbserver
ERROR: Failed to find running process 'com.example.native_activity'

--delay option makes no difference, maybe it's not working at all:

f:\work\android-ndk-r11c\ndk-gdb.cmd -v --delay 3.0
ADB command used: 'adb -s HT4AHJT08522'
ADB version: Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.32 Revision 09a0d98bebce-android
Using project directory: c:\wrk\android\android-ndk-samples\native-activity
Found package name: com.example.native_activity
Attaching to existing application process.
Application ABIs: arm64-v8a, armeabi, armeabi-v7a, armeabi-v7a-hard, mips, mips64, x86, x86_64
Device ABIs: arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a, armeabi
Selecting ABI: arm64-v8a
Detected pretty printer: none
Found application data directory: /data/data/com.example.native_activity
App gdbserver not found at /data/data/com.example.native_activity/lib/gdbserver, uploading.
Copying gdbserver to /data/data/com.example.native_activity/arm64-gdbserver.
Uploaded gdbserver to /data/data/com.example.native_activity/arm64-gdbserver
ERROR: Failed to find running process 'com.example.native_activity'

After the process for package com.example.native_activity is created on the device - either by hand from Android launcher or by Activity Manager command adb shell am start ndk-gdb script works without a problem.

The issue is reproduced on other devices, too.
My Nexus 9 props:

[ro.bootimage.build.date]: [Fri Aug 28 18:07:58 UTC 2015]
[ro.bootimage.build.date.utc]: [1440785278]
[ro.bootimage.build.fingerprint]: [google/volantis/flounder:6.0/MRA58B/2214705:userdebug/dev-keys]
[ro.bootloader]: [3.48.0.0135]
[ro.bootmode]: [normal]
[ro.bt.bdaddr_path]: [/sys/module/flounder_bdaddress/parameters/bdaddress]
[ro.build.characteristics]: [tablet,nosdcard]
[ro.build.date]: [Fri Aug 28 18:01:50 UTC 2015]
[ro.build.date.utc]: [1440784910]
[ro.build.description]: [volantis-userdebug 6.0 MRA58B 2214705 dev-keys]
[ro.build.display.id]: [volantis-userdebug 6.0 MRA58B 2214705 dev-keys]
[ro.build.expect.bootloader]: [3.48.0.0135]
[ro.build.fingerprint]: [google/volantis/flounder:6.0/MRA58B/2214705:userdebug/dev-keys]
[ro.build.flavor]: [volantis-userdebug]
[ro.build.host]: [wpiu7.hot.corp.google.com]
[ro.build.id]: [MRA58B]
[ro.build.product]: [flounder]
[ro.build.tags]: [dev-keys]
[ro.build.type]: [userdebug]
[ro.build.user]: [android-build]
[ro.build.version.all_codenames]: [REL]
[ro.build.version.base_os]: []
[ro.build.version.codename]: [REL]
[ro.build.version.incremental]: [2214705]
[ro.build.version.preview_sdk]: [0]
[ro.build.version.release]: [6.0]
[ro.build.version.sdk]: [23]
[ro.build.version.security_patch]: [2015-09-01]
[ro.carrier]: [unknown]
[ro.com.android.dataroaming]: [false]
[ro.com.android.wifi-watchlist]: [GoogleGuest]
[ro.com.google.clientidbase]: [android-google]
[ro.com.widevine.cachesize]: [16777216]
[ro.config.alarm_alert]: [Oxygen.ogg]
[ro.config.notification_sound]: [Tethys.ogg]
[ro.config.ringtone]: [Girtab.ogg]
[ro.crypto.fs_crypto_blkdev]: [/dev/block/dm-2]
[ro.crypto.state]: [encrypted]
[ro.crypto.type]: [block]
[ro.dalvik.vm.native.bridge]: [0]
[ro.debuggable]: [1]
[ro.enable_boot_charger_mode]: [1]
[ro.error.receiver.system.apps]: [com.google.android.gms]
[ro.expect.recovery_id]: [0x69ebff8f7cdfc74fa12ca89f6e3ad6be7da66cba000000000000000000000000]
[ro.facelock.black_timeout]: [700]
[ro.facelock.det_timeout]: [1500]
[ro.facelock.est_max_time]: [500]
[ro.facelock.lively_timeout]: [2500]
[ro.facelock.rec_timeout]: [2500]
[ro.facelock.use_intro_anim]: [true]
[ro.frp.pst]: [/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-name/PST]
[ro.hardware]: [flounder]
[ro.hardware.gps]: [bcm47521]
[ro.hwui.disable_scissor_opt]: [true]
[ro.hwui.drop_shadow_cache_size]: [6]
[ro.hwui.gradient_cache_size]: [1]
[ro.hwui.layer_cache_size]: [48]
[ro.hwui.path_cache_size]: [32]
[ro.hwui.r_buffer_cache_size]: [8]
[ro.hwui.text_large_cache_height]: [1024]
[ro.hwui.text_large_cache_width]: [2048]
[ro.hwui.text_small_cache_height]: [1024]
[ro.hwui.text_small_cache_width]: [1024]
[ro.hwui.texture_cache_flushrate]: [0.4]
[ro.hwui.texture_cache_size]: [72]
[ro.opengles.version]: [196609]
[ro.product.board]: [flounder]
[ro.product.brand]: [google]
[ro.product.cpu.abi]: [arm64-v8a]
[ro.product.cpu.abilist]: [arm64-v8a,armeabi-v7a,armeabi]
[ro.product.cpu.abilist32]: [armeabi-v7a,armeabi]
[ro.product.cpu.abilist64]: [arm64-v8a]
[ro.product.device]: [flounder]
[ro.product.locale]: [en-US]
[ro.product.manufacturer]: [htc]
[ro.product.model]: [Nexus 9]
[ro.product.name]: [volantis]
[ro.radio.noril]: [true]
[ro.recovery_id]: [0x69ebff8f7cdfc74fa12ca89f6e3ad6be7da66cba000000000000000000000000]
[ro.revision]: [0]
[ro.ril.def.agps.mode]: [1]
[ro.runtime.firstboot]: [1459154601632]
[ro.secure]: [1]
[ro.serialno]: [HT4AHJT08522]
[ro.setupwizard.enterprise_mode]: [1]
[ro.setupwizard.require_network]: [any]
[ro.sf.lcd_density]: [320]
[ro.url.legal]: [http://www.google.com/intl/%s/mobile/android/basic/phone-legal.html]
[ro.url.legal.android_privacy]: [http://www.google.com/intl/%s/mobile/android/basic/privacy.html]
[ro.vendor.build.date]: [Fri Aug 28 18:26:10 UTC 2015]
[ro.vendor.build.date.utc]: [1440786370]
[ro.vendor.build.fingerprint]: [google/volantis/flounder:6.0/MRA58B/2214705:userdebug/dev-keys]
[ro.wifi.channels]: []
[ro.zygote]: [zygote64_32]
[selinux.reload_policy]: [1]
[sendbug.preferred.domain]: [google.com]
[service.bootanim.exit]: [1]
[sys.boot_completed]: [1]
[sys.oem_unlock_allowed]: [0]
[sys.settings_global_version]: [2]
[sys.settings_secure_version]: [4]
[sys.sysctl.extra_free_kbytes]: [36864]
[sys.sysctl.tcp_def_init_rwnd]: [60]
[sys.usb.config]: [mtp,adb]
[sys.usb.ffs.ready]: [1]
[sys.usb.state]: [mtp,adb]
[vold.decrypt]: [trigger_restart_framework]
[vold.has_adoptable]: [0]
[vold.post_fs_data_done]: [1]
[wifi.interface]: [wlan0]
[wlan.driver.status]: [unloaded]

[jmgao]

the script fails to start the default activity if a package process is not running on the device:
ndk-gdb.cmd -v

If I understand correctly, this is working as intended. (although apparently undocumented after I added the optional arg to --attach). It works with --launch, right? (i.e. the bug is that --help makes it sound like --launch is the default)

[dosvidos]

@jmgao

If I understand correctly, this is working as intended. (although apparently undocumented after I added the optional arg to --attach). It works with --launch, right? (i.e. the bug is that --help makes it sound like --launch is the default)

You're right, ndk-gdb.cmd -v --launch works like it should, but it's very confusing because the --launch switch is implied as the default one.

[jmgao]

https://android-review.googlesource.com/#/c/220741