# IDA Linux Local Debugging

## Debugging Linux Applications with IDA Pro, locally

Last updated on July 29, 2020 — v0.1

You may already know that IDA lets you debug an application from an already existing IDB, by selecting the debugger using the drop-down debugger list.

<figure><img src="/files/zKbh7H7bJcJaIw7yY32I" alt="drop down debugger list"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

However, it is also possible to start IDA in a way that it will initially create an empty IDB, and then either:

* start a new process under its control
* attach to an existing process

## Launch IDA with a fresh new process

To do so, you will have to launch IDA from the command line, like so:

```bash
ida -rlinux /bin/ls
```

IDA will then launch the **/bin/ls** program, and break at its entrypoint

<figure><img src="/files/lmbVCAnQKPfaGKSiFF3s" alt="starting new process"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Attaching IDA to an existing process

For this example, we’ll launch, from a shell, a **/usr/bin/yes** process, and attach to.

Now, we’ll launch IDA so it offers a selection of processes to (and use quick filtering (**Ctrl+F**) to quickly find our process):

```bash
ida -rlinux+
```

<figure><img src="/files/WQlckJOHrEooh3AtxWJ1" alt="attaching to process"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

IDA will then attach to the selected process, and leave it suspended at the place it was when it was attached to:

<figure><img src="/files/uG3d48RCfvsNDwn9hkvB" alt="attached to process"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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