Ollydbg vs Strace: Which Debugging Tool tool is Best in 2025?

Ollydbg is a 32-bit assembler-level debugger for Microsoft Windows applications, available on Kali Linux at /usr/bin/ollydbg via Wine, designed for analyzing and debugging binary code without access to source code. Developed by Oleh Yuschuk, Ollydbg excels in dynamic analysis, offering an intuitive graphical interface for tracing registers, setting breakpoints, and inspecting memory. Widely used for malware analysis, software cracking, and vulnerability research, it supports a robust plugin architecture for extended functionality. As a shareware tool requiring free registration for commercial use, Ollydbg is a cornerstone for cybersecurity professionals and ethical hackers.

Strace is a powerful open-source diagnostic and debugging tool for Linux, available on Kali Linux at /usr/bin/strace, used to monitor and manipulate interactions between user-space processes and the Linux kernel. Developed initially by Paul Kranenburg for SunOS in 1991 and ported to Linux in 1992, Strace leverages the ptrace kernel feature to trace system calls, signals, and process state changes. Maintained by Dmitry Levin and released under the GNU Lesser General Public License 2.1, it’s a staple for cybersecurity professionals, system administrators, and developers for troubleshooting programs without source code.