GDB is integral to debugging the Forsaken Lands. Oddly, and randomly at that, code likes to break. This can be caused by editing a function that you thought was only going to affect a skill or spell, and/or caused by random memory issues.
When the MUD dies, it generates a core file. This core file helps debug what caused the issue, and the steps leading up to the crash or memory kill.
For instance, just recently, we've been having crashes while running REBOOT_PURGE (which purges all the players who don't have enough hours). This is fixed already, however, perhaps someone can walk me through how you'd debug the following core file:
#5 0x082283ed in free_string (str=0xa0ab59c "armor") at recycle.c:1552
1552 if( !str || str == &str_empty[0] )
(gdb) up
#6 0x0823e19f in fread_char (ch=0xb62f1a00, fp=0xa0aa9e8) at save.c:1645
1645 skill = one_argument_2( name, name );
(gdb) up
#7 0x08240efe in load_char (d=0xb62f0ba8, name=0xa1129a7 "Survihyal") at save.c:1234
1234 for ( iNest = 0; iNest < MAX_NEST; iNest++ )
(gdb) up
#8 0x08143fd1 in purge_players (fPurge=2 '\002', fWipe=0 '\000', fCount=32 ' ', fLimited=0 '\000') at db.c:2835
2835 fFound = load_char (d, Dir->d_name);
(gdb) up
#9 0x0814e8d0 in boot_db (fHotReboot=1 '\001') at db.c:3268
3268 purge_players(IS_SET(reboot_act, REBOOT_PURGE),
(gdb) up
#10 0x08117f60 in main (argc=5, argv=0xbf9a6624) at comm.c:377
377 boot_db (fHotReboot);