DEBUG File

What are DEBUG files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a DEBUG file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your DEBUG files.

What is a DEBUG file?

A .DEBUG file is a Storm C++ Debug Strings file.

Storm C++ Debug Strings files store debugging information generated by the Storm C++ compiler in or after 1996 for use in debug builds. They embed human-readable metadata about source code symbols - such as source file names, type names, variable scopes, and line‐number positions - so that a debugger or other tool can match compiled executable code back to its original C++ code structure.

These files are written by Storm C++ during compilation, specifically when producing a debug version of a program, and are meant to supplement binaries with richer symbolic references. The information includes entries for types, scopes, source files, positions in source code, and string tables for debug messages or symbol names. The format is not a general text dump - it is binary with structured sections for quick lookup by debugging tools.

Internal structure starts with a "FORM" header at offset zero, followed by the ASCII tag SDBGSTRG ("Storm Debug Strings") at offset eight, and further a version identifier "Storm C++ V…" around offset 24. It carries embedded labels like WRITTEN BY JMFGB 1996, and keywords such as ILST, POSN, SCOP, SRCS, TYPE among others, which act as identifiers for sections containing strings, position records, scope information, source file references, and type definitions. These byte signatures help distinguish exactly this format from other debug‐string or symbol formats.

How to open DEBUG files

Important: Different programs may use files with the DEBUG file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your DEBUG file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: October 22, 2026

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