debugging - How to debug a windows service with Delphi?

Question

Is there a way to debug completely a windows service with Delphi?

Answer 1

It's actually quite easy. Just use the standard DEBUG compiler directive to start the service as a console application instead of a service.

program MyServiceApp;

{$ifdef DEBUG}
  {$APPTYPE CONSOLE}
{$endif}

uses
  System.SysUtils,

[..]

begin
  {$ifdef DEBUG}
  try
    // In debug mode the server acts as a console application.
    WriteLn('MyServiceApp DEBUG mode. Press enter to exit.');

    // Create the TService descendant manually.
    ServerContainer1 := TServerContainer.Create(nil);

    // Simulate service start.
    ServerContainer1.ServiceStart(ServerContainer1, MyDummyBoolean);

    // Keep the console box running (ServerContainer1 code runs in the background)
    ReadLn;

    // On exit, destroy the service object.
    FreeAndNil(ServerContainer1);
  except
    on E: Exception do
    begin
      Writeln(E.ClassName, ': ', E.Message);
      WriteLn('Press enter to exit.');
      ReadLn;
    end;
  end;
  {$else}
  // Run as a true windows service (release).
  if not Application.DelayInitialize or Application.Installing then
    Application.Initialize;
  Application.CreateForm(TServerContainer, ServerContainer1);
  Application.Run;
  {$endif}
end.