Debugging Tool SHA 256

SHA-256 and artifact identity

← Debugging Tools and Commands

SHA-256 establishes byte-for-byte identity for files used or produced by an investigation.

Property	Details
Supported OS	Windows, Linux, macOS
Install	Windows includes Get-FileHash; GNU coreutils provides sha256sum; macOS provides shasum.
Verify	Get-FileHash $PSHOME\pwsh.exe -Algorithm SHA256 # Windows
Primary output	See the workflow below.

When to use it

On Linux/MSYS:

sha256sum xemu.exe xemu.debug

On Windows PowerShell:

Get-FileHash .\xemu.exe -Algorithm SHA256
Get-FileHash .\xemu.debug -Algorithm SHA256

Record the hashes with the trace/report.

Read the output

A SHA-256 match establishes byte-for-byte identity. A mismatch means the binary or symbol artifact is different even when its filename is identical.

A trace should therefore carry at least:

source commit
source tree
xemu.exe SHA-256
matching DWARF/debug artifact SHA-256
compiler/toolchain identity
optimization/LTO/ISA settings

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Boundaries and common mistakes

A matching filename, release label, or source commit is not byte identity. Hash the final artifact after stripping, packaging, copying, or downloading it.

Hashes do not prove correctness or safety. They prove only that two byte sequences match.

Evidence to retain

• Tool name and exact version.
• Source commit/tree and executable SHA-256.
• The complete command or saved profile used.
• Input artifact hashes and the explicitly selected time or address range.
• Raw output plus any derived report; do not retain only a screenshot or conclusion.
• Admission failures, warnings, dropped events, incomplete rows, or unsupported operations.

Official references

• PowerShell Get-FileHash
• GNU coreutils checksum utilities

Related xemu guides

• Debugging Tools and Commands
• Debugging Lag and Hot Paths
• Performance Methodology