strace is a diagnostic, debugging and instructional userspace tracer for Linux. It is used to monitor and tamper interactions between userspace processes and the Linux kernel, which include system calls, signal deliveries, and changes of process state. The operation of strace is made possible by the kernel feature known as ptrace.

Want to get involved? Check out the Guide for new contributors.

The current maintainer is Dmitry Levin.


strace participated in the Google Summer Of Code in the years 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014.