1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
23 @c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
24 @c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
25 @c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
26 @c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
30 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
31 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
34 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
35 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
38 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
41 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
43 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
44 @c manuals to an info tree.
45 @dircategory Software development
47 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
51 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
52 Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
54 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
55 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
56 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
57 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
58 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
59 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
61 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
62 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
63 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
68 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
70 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
71 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
72 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
73 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
75 Version @value{GDBVN}.
81 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
82 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
84 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
85 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
87 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
89 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
93 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
94 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
95 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
99 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
100 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
101 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
102 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
103 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
110 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
116 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
117 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
118 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
120 Version @value{GDBVN}.
122 Copyright (C) 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
125 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
126 software in general. We will miss him.
129 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
130 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
133 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
134 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
135 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
136 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
137 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
138 * Stack:: Examining the stack
139 * Source:: Examining source files
140 * Data:: Examining data
141 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
142 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
143 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
144 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
146 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
148 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
149 * Altering:: Altering execution
150 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
151 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
152 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
153 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
154 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
155 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
156 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
157 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
158 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
159 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
160 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
161 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
162 * In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
166 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
167 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
168 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
170 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
171 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
172 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
174 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
175 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
176 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
177 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
178 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
179 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
180 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
182 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
184 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
185 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
186 * Man Pages:: Manual pages
187 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
188 how you can copy and share GDB
189 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
190 * Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
191 * Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
192 functions, and Python data types
200 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
202 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
203 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
204 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
206 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
207 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
211 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
214 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
217 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
220 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
221 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
224 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
225 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
226 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
228 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
232 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
233 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
235 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
236 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
239 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
240 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
241 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
245 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
246 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
249 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
250 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
253 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
254 * Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
255 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
259 @unnumberedsec Free Software
261 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
262 General Public License
263 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
264 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
265 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
266 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
267 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
268 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
270 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
271 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
274 @node Free Documentation
275 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
277 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
278 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
279 include with the free software. Many of our most important
280 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
281 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
282 when an important free software package does not come with a free
283 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
286 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
287 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
288 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
289 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
290 them from the free software world.
292 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
293 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
294 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
295 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
296 contract to make it non-free.
298 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
299 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
300 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
301 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
302 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
303 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
304 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
306 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
307 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
308 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
309 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
311 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
312 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
313 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
314 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
315 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
316 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
319 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
320 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
321 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
322 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
323 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
324 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
325 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
326 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
329 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
330 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
331 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
332 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
333 manual to replace it.
335 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
336 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
337 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
338 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
339 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
340 the free software community.
342 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
343 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
344 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
345 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
346 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
347 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
348 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
349 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
350 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
352 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
353 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
354 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
355 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
356 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
357 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
358 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
359 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
361 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
362 published by other publishers, at
363 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
366 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
368 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
369 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
370 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
371 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
372 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
373 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
374 blow-by-blow account.
376 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
379 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
380 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
381 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
384 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
385 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
387 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
388 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
389 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
390 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
391 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
392 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
393 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
394 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
395 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
397 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
398 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
400 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
401 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
402 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
403 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
404 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
406 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
407 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
408 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
410 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
411 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
413 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
415 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
416 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
418 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
419 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
420 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
421 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
422 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
423 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
424 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
425 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
426 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
427 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
428 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
429 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
430 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
431 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
432 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
433 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
435 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
437 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
440 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
441 about several machine instruction sets.
443 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
444 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
445 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
446 and RDI targets, respectively.
448 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
449 command-line editing and command history.
451 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
452 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
454 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
455 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
458 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
459 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
461 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
463 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
466 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
468 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
470 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
472 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
475 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
477 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
479 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
480 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
482 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
483 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
484 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
485 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
486 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
487 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
488 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
490 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
491 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
493 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
494 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
495 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
496 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
497 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
498 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
499 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
500 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
501 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
502 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
503 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
504 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
505 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
506 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
507 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
509 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
510 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
512 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
515 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
516 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
517 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
518 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
519 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
520 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
522 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
523 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
524 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
525 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
526 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
527 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
528 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
529 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
530 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
531 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
532 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
535 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
536 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
537 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
538 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
540 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
541 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
544 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
546 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
547 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
548 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
551 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
552 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
555 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
556 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
558 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
559 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
560 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
561 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
562 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
563 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
564 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
565 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
566 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
575 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
579 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
581 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
584 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
588 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
591 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
592 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
593 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
594 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
595 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
597 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
600 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
605 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
606 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
607 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
608 that examples fit in this manual.
611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
615 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
616 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
617 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
618 @code{break} command.
621 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
622 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
626 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
627 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
628 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
631 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
632 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
640 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
641 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
642 context where it stops.
645 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
647 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
649 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
653 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
654 the next line of the current function.
658 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
663 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
664 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
665 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
666 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
670 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
672 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
676 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
677 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
678 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
679 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
680 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
681 stack frame for each active subroutine.
684 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
685 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
687 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
689 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
690 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
692 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
693 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
697 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
698 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
699 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
703 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
705 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
706 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
708 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
711 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
715 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
716 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
717 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
718 (@code{print}) to see their values.
721 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
722 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
723 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
724 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
728 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
729 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
730 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
736 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
738 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
741 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
742 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
749 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
750 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
754 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
757 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
759 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
764 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
765 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
766 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
767 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
768 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
772 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
774 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
779 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
780 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
781 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
782 example that caused trouble initially:
788 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
795 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
796 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
797 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
801 Program exited normally.
805 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
806 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
807 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
810 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
814 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
816 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
820 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
822 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
826 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
827 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
828 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
829 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
833 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
835 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
836 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
838 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
839 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
841 The command-line options described here are designed
842 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
843 options may effectively be unavailable.
845 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
846 specifying an executable program:
849 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
853 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
857 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
860 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
861 to debug a running process:
864 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
868 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
869 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
871 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
872 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
873 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
874 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
875 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
877 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
878 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
881 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
883 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
884 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
886 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
887 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
894 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
895 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
905 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
906 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
908 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
909 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
910 @samp{-x} option is used.
914 * File Options:: Choosing files
915 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
916 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
920 @subsection Choosing Files
922 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
923 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
924 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
925 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
926 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
927 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
928 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
929 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
930 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
931 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
932 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
933 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
934 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
936 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
937 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
938 argument and ignore it.
940 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
941 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
942 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
943 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
944 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
946 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
947 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
951 @item -symbols @var{file}
953 @cindex @code{--symbols}
955 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
957 @item -exec @var{file}
959 @cindex @code{--exec}
961 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
962 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
966 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
969 @item -core @var{file}
971 @cindex @code{--core}
973 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
975 @item -pid @var{number}
976 @itemx -p @var{number}
979 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
981 @item -command @var{file}
983 @cindex @code{--command}
985 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
986 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
987 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
989 @item -eval-command @var{command}
990 @itemx -ex @var{command}
991 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
993 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
995 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
996 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
999 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1000 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1003 @item -init-command @var{file}
1004 @itemx -ix @var{file}
1005 @cindex @code{--init-command}
1007 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1008 after loading gdbinit files).
1011 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1012 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1013 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1015 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1016 after loading gdbinit files).
1019 @item -directory @var{directory}
1020 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1021 @cindex @code{--directory}
1023 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1027 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1029 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1030 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1031 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1036 @subsection Choosing Modes
1038 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1039 batch mode or quiet mode.
1047 Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1048 There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1051 @item @file{system.gdbinit}
1052 This is the system-wide init file.
1053 Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1054 configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1055 It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1056 have been processed.
1057 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1058 This is the init file in your home directory.
1059 It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1060 command options have been processed.
1061 @item @file{./.gdbinit}
1062 This is the init file in the current directory.
1063 It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1064 @code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1065 @code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1068 For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1069 For documentation on how to write command files,
1070 @xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1075 Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1076 in your home directory.
1082 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1083 @cindex @code{--silent}
1085 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1086 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1089 @cindex @code{--batch}
1090 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1091 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1092 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1093 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1094 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1095 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1096 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1098 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1099 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1100 make this more useful, the message
1103 Program exited normally.
1107 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1108 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1112 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1113 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1114 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1115 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1116 for an interactive session.
1118 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1119 messages, for example.
1121 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1122 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1124 @item -return-child-result
1125 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1126 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1127 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1131 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1132 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1133 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1135 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1137 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1138 the exit code will be -1.
1141 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1142 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1147 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1149 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1150 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1151 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1155 @cindex @code{--windows}
1157 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1160 @item -cd @var{directory}
1162 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1163 instead of the current directory.
1165 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1166 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1167 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1168 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1169 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1173 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1175 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1176 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1177 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1178 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1179 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1180 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1181 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1182 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1185 @item -annotate @var{level}
1186 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1187 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1188 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1189 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1190 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1191 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1192 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1193 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1194 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1196 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1200 @cindex @code{--args}
1201 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1202 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1203 This option stops option processing.
1205 @item -baud @var{bps}
1207 @cindex @code{--baud}
1209 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1210 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1212 @item -l @var{timeout}
1214 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1215 for remote debugging.
1217 @item -tty @var{device}
1218 @itemx -t @var{device}
1219 @cindex @code{--tty}
1221 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1222 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1224 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1226 @cindex @code{--tui}
1227 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1228 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1229 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1230 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1231 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1232 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1235 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1236 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1237 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1238 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1241 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1242 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1243 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1244 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1245 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1246 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1248 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1249 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1250 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1251 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1252 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1253 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1256 @cindex @code{--write}
1257 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1258 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1262 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1263 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1264 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1267 @cindex @code{--version}
1268 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1269 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1274 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1275 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1277 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1281 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1282 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1286 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1287 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1288 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1291 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1293 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1294 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1295 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1298 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1300 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1301 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1302 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1303 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1307 Processes command line options and operands.
1309 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1311 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1312 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1313 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1314 This is only done if the current directory is
1315 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1316 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1317 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1321 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1322 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1323 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1324 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1326 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1327 you must do something like the following:
1330 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1333 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1337 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1338 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1339 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1342 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1343 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1344 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1347 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1348 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1349 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1350 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1351 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1352 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1354 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1355 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1357 @cindex init file name
1358 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1359 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1360 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1361 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1362 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1363 port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1364 @file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1365 and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1369 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1370 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1371 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1374 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1375 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1376 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1378 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1379 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1380 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1381 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1386 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1387 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1388 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1389 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1390 until a time when it is safe.
1392 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1393 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1394 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1396 @node Shell Commands
1397 @section Shell Commands
1399 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1400 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1401 just use the @code{shell} command.
1406 @cindex shell escape
1407 @item shell @var{command-string}
1408 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1409 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1410 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1411 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1412 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1413 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1416 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1417 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1422 @cindex calling make
1423 @item make @var{make-args}
1424 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1425 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1428 @node Logging Output
1429 @section Logging Output
1430 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1431 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1433 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1434 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1438 @item set logging on
1440 @item set logging off
1442 @cindex logging file name
1443 @item set logging file @var{file}
1444 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1445 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1446 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1447 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1448 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1449 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1450 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1451 @kindex show logging
1453 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1457 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1459 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1460 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1461 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1462 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1463 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1466 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1467 * Completion:: Command completion
1468 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1471 @node Command Syntax
1472 @section Command Syntax
1474 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1475 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1476 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1477 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1478 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1479 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1481 @cindex abbreviation
1482 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1483 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1484 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1485 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1486 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1487 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1488 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1490 @cindex repeating commands
1491 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1492 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1493 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1494 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1495 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1496 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1497 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1499 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1500 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1501 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1503 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1504 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1505 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1506 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1507 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1509 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1511 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1512 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1513 Files,,Command Files}).
1515 @cindex repeating command sequences
1516 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1517 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1518 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1519 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1523 @section Command Completion
1526 @cindex word completion
1527 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1528 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1529 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1530 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1532 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1533 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1534 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1535 enter it). For example, if you type
1537 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1538 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1539 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1540 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1542 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1546 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1547 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1550 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1554 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1555 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1556 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1557 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1558 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1559 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1561 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1562 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1563 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1564 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1565 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1566 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1567 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1568 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1572 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1573 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1574 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1575 make_abs_section make_function_type
1576 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1577 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1578 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1579 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1583 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1584 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1587 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1588 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1589 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1590 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1591 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1593 @cindex quotes in commands
1594 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1595 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1596 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1597 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1598 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1599 @value{GDBN} commands.
1601 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1602 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1603 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1604 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1605 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1606 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1607 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1608 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1609 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1610 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1611 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1614 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1615 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1616 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1619 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1620 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1621 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1625 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1626 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1627 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1631 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1632 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1633 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1635 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1636 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1637 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1638 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1640 @cindex completion of structure field names
1641 @cindex structure field name completion
1642 @cindex completion of union field names
1643 @cindex union field name completion
1644 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1645 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1646 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1647 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1648 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1652 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1653 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1654 to_data to_isatty to_write
1655 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1660 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1661 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1668 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1669 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1670 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1671 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1672 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1673 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1674 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1675 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1676 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1683 @section Getting Help
1684 @cindex online documentation
1687 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1688 using the command @code{help}.
1691 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1694 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1695 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1699 List of classes of commands:
1701 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1702 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1703 data -- Examining data
1704 files -- Specifying and examining files
1705 internals -- Maintenance commands
1706 obscure -- Obscure features
1707 running -- Running the program
1708 stack -- Examining the stack
1709 status -- Status inquiries
1710 support -- Support facilities
1711 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1712 stopping the program
1713 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1715 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1716 commands in that class.
1717 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1719 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1722 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1724 @item help @var{class}
1725 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1726 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1727 help display for the class @code{status}:
1730 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1735 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1736 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1737 info -- Generic command for showing things
1738 about the program being debugged
1739 show -- Generic command for showing things
1742 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1744 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1748 @item help @var{command}
1749 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1750 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1753 @item apropos @var{args}
1754 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1755 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1756 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1767 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1768 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1769 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1770 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1771 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1776 @item complete @var{args}
1777 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1778 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1779 command you want completed. For example:
1785 @noindent results in:
1796 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1799 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1800 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1801 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1802 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1803 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1804 Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1810 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1812 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1813 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1814 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1815 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1816 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1817 @w{@code{help info}}.
1821 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1822 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1823 @code{set prompt $}.
1827 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1828 @value{GDBN} itself.
1829 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1830 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1831 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1832 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1835 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1836 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1837 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1838 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1839 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1840 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1844 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1845 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1848 @kindex show version
1849 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1851 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1852 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1853 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1854 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1855 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1856 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1857 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1858 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1861 @kindex show copying
1862 @kindex info copying
1863 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1866 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1868 @kindex show warranty
1869 @kindex info warranty
1871 @itemx info warranty
1872 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1873 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1878 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1880 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1881 debugging information when you compile it.
1883 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1884 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1885 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1886 kill a child process.
1889 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1890 * Starting:: Starting your program
1891 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1892 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1894 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1895 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1896 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1897 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1899 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1900 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1901 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1902 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1906 @section Compiling for Debugging
1908 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1909 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1910 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1911 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1912 and addresses in the executable code.
1914 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1917 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1918 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1919 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1920 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1921 executables containing debugging information.
1923 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1924 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1925 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1926 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1927 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1929 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1930 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1931 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1933 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1934 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1935 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1936 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1937 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1938 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1940 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1941 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1942 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1944 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1945 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1946 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1947 format in @value{GDBN}.
1951 @section Starting your Program
1957 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1960 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1961 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1962 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1963 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1964 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1968 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1969 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1970 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1971 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1972 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1973 message like this one:
1976 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1977 Try "help target" or "continue".
1981 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1982 first (@pxref{load}).
1984 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1985 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1986 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1987 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1988 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1989 divided into four categories:
1992 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1993 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1994 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1995 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1996 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1998 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1999 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
2000 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
2002 @item The @emph{environment.}
2003 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2004 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2005 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2006 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2008 @item The @emph{working directory.}
2009 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2010 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2011 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2013 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2014 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2015 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2016 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2017 set a different device for your program.
2018 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2021 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2022 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2023 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2027 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2028 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2029 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2030 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2031 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2033 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2034 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2035 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2036 your current breakpoints.
2041 @cindex run to main procedure
2042 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2043 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2044 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2045 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2046 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2047 procedure, depending on the language used.
2049 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2050 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2051 the @samp{run} command.
2053 @cindex elaboration phase
2054 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2055 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2056 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2057 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2058 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2059 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2060 will remain to halt execution.
2062 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2063 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2064 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2065 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2066 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2068 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2069 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2070 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2071 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2072 elaboration code before running your program.
2074 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2075 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2076 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2077 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2078 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2079 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2080 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2081 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2082 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2083 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2084 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2086 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2087 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2088 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2089 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2091 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2092 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2096 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2100 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2101 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2103 @kindex set disable-randomization
2104 @item set disable-randomization
2105 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2106 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2107 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2108 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2109 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2111 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2112 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2115 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2118 @item set disable-randomization off
2119 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2120 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2121 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2122 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2123 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2124 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2126 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2127 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2128 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2129 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2130 a code at its expected addresses.
2132 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2133 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2134 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2135 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2136 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2137 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2138 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2139 a randomly chosen address.
2141 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2142 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2143 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2144 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2145 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2147 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2148 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2150 @item show disable-randomization
2151 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2152 the virtual address space of the started program.
2157 @section Your Program's Arguments
2159 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2160 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2162 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2163 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2164 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2165 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2166 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2168 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2169 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2170 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2171 the program, not by the shell.
2173 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2174 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2179 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2180 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2181 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2182 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2183 it again without arguments.
2187 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2191 @section Your Program's Environment
2193 @cindex environment (of your program)
2194 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2195 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2196 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2197 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2198 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2199 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2200 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2204 @item path @var{directory}
2205 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2206 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2207 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2208 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2209 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2210 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2211 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2213 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2214 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2215 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2216 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2217 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2218 @var{directory} to the search path.
2219 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2220 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2224 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2225 environment variable).
2227 @kindex show environment
2228 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2229 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2230 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2231 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2232 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2234 @kindex set environment
2235 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2236 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2237 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2238 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2239 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2240 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2242 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2243 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2245 For example, this command:
2252 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2253 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2254 are not actually required.)
2256 @kindex unset environment
2257 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2258 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2259 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2260 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2261 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2264 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2266 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2267 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2268 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2269 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2270 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2271 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2274 @node Working Directory
2275 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2277 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2278 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2279 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2280 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2281 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2282 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2284 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2285 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2290 @cindex change working directory
2291 @item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2292 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2293 given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2297 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2300 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2301 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2302 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2303 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2304 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2305 current working directory of the debuggee.
2308 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2313 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2314 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2315 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2316 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2317 running your program.
2320 @kindex info terminal
2322 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2326 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2327 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2334 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2337 @cindex controlling terminal
2338 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2339 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2340 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2341 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2342 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2349 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2350 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2351 that as their controlling terminal.
2353 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2354 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2357 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2358 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2359 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2360 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2362 @cindex inferior tty
2363 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2364 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2365 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2369 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2370 @kindex set inferior-tty
2371 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2373 @item show inferior-tty
2374 @kindex show inferior-tty
2375 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2379 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2384 @item attach @var{process-id}
2385 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2386 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2387 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2388 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2389 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2391 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2392 executing the command.
2395 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2396 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2397 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2398 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2400 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2401 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2402 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2403 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2404 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2407 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2408 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2409 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2410 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2411 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2412 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2413 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2418 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2419 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2420 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2421 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2422 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2423 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2424 executing the command.
2427 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2428 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2429 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2430 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2431 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2435 @section Killing the Child Process
2440 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2443 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2444 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2447 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2448 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2449 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2450 outside the debugger.
2452 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2453 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2454 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2455 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2456 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2457 breakpoint settings).
2459 @node Inferiors and Programs
2460 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2462 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2463 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2464 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2465 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2466 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2467 from multiple executables.
2470 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2471 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2472 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2473 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2474 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2475 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2476 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2477 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2478 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2479 threads running in it.
2481 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2485 @kindex info inferiors
2486 @item info inferiors
2487 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2489 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2493 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2496 the target system's inferior identifier
2499 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2504 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2505 indicates the current inferior.
2509 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2512 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2513 Num Description Executable
2514 2 process 2307 hello
2515 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2518 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2521 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2522 @item inferior @var{infno}
2523 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2524 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2525 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2529 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2530 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2531 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2532 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2533 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2534 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2537 @kindex add-inferior
2538 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2539 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2540 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2541 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2542 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2543 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2545 @kindex clone-inferior
2546 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2547 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2548 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2549 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2550 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2553 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2554 Num Description Executable
2555 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2556 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2559 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2560 Num Description Executable
2562 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2565 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2567 @kindex remove-inferiors
2568 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2569 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2570 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2571 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2575 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2576 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2577 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2578 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2581 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2582 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2583 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2584 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2585 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2586 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2588 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2589 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2590 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2591 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2592 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2593 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2596 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2597 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2598 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2599 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2602 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2603 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2606 @kindex set print inferior-events
2607 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2608 @item set print inferior-events
2609 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2610 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2611 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2612 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2613 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2614 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2616 @kindex show print inferior-events
2617 @item show print inferior-events
2618 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2619 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2622 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2623 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2624 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2627 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2628 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2629 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2630 info program-spaces}} command.
2633 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2634 @item maint info program-spaces
2635 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2638 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2642 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2645 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2646 the @code{file} command.
2651 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2652 indicates the current program space.
2654 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2655 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2656 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2659 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2662 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2666 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2667 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2668 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2669 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2670 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2673 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2676 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2679 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2680 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2684 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2686 @cindex threads of execution
2687 @cindex multiple threads
2688 @cindex switching threads
2689 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2690 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2691 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2692 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2693 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2694 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2695 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2697 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2701 @item automatic notification of new threads
2702 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2703 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2704 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2705 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2706 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2707 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2708 messages on thread start and exit.
2709 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2710 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2711 isn't compatible with the program.
2715 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2716 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2717 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2718 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2719 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2723 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2724 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2725 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2726 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2728 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2729 @c doesn't support threads"?
2732 @cindex focus of debugging
2733 @cindex current thread
2734 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2735 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2736 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2737 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2738 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2740 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2741 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2742 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2743 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2744 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2745 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2746 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2747 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2748 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2749 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2752 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2756 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2757 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2760 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2761 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2762 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2764 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2765 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2766 @c threads ab initio?
2768 @cindex thread number
2769 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2770 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2771 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2774 @kindex info threads
2775 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2776 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2777 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2778 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2779 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2783 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2786 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2789 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2790 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2794 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2798 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2799 indicates the current thread.
2803 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2806 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2808 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2809 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2810 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2814 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2815 Solaris-specific command:
2818 @item maint info sol-threads
2819 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2820 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2821 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2825 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2826 @item thread @var{threadno}
2827 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2828 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2829 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2830 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2831 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2834 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2835 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2836 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2837 8 printf ("hello\n");
2841 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2842 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2845 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2846 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2847 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2848 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2849 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2850 information on convenience variables.
2852 @kindex thread apply
2853 @cindex apply command to several threads
2854 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2855 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2856 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2857 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2858 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2859 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2860 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2861 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2864 @cindex name a thread
2865 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2866 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2867 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2868 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2870 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2871 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2872 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2873 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2874 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2877 @cindex search for a thread
2878 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2879 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2880 matches the supplied regular expression.
2882 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2883 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2884 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2888 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2889 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2890 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2892 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2895 @kindex set print thread-events
2896 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2897 @item set print thread-events
2898 @itemx set print thread-events on
2899 @itemx set print thread-events off
2900 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2901 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2902 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2903 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2904 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2906 @kindex show print thread-events
2907 @item show print thread-events
2908 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2909 have started and exited.
2912 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2913 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2914 programs with multiple threads.
2916 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2917 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2919 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2921 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2922 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2923 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2924 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2925 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2926 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2927 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2928 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2931 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2932 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2933 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2934 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2935 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2936 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2938 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2939 refers to the default system directories that are
2940 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2941 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2942 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2944 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2945 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2946 was loaded in the inferior process.
2948 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2949 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2950 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2951 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2952 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2953 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2954 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2956 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2957 only on some platforms.
2959 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2960 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2961 Display current libthread_db search path.
2963 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2964 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2965 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2966 @item set debug libthread-db
2967 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2968 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2969 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2973 @section Debugging Forks
2975 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2976 @cindex multiple processes
2977 @cindex processes, multiple
2978 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2979 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2980 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2981 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2982 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2983 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2984 will cause it to terminate.
2986 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2987 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2988 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2989 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2990 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2991 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2992 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2993 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2994 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2995 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2997 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2998 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2999 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3000 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3002 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3003 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3005 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3006 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3009 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
3010 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3011 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3012 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3013 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3017 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3018 unimpeded. This is the default.
3021 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3026 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3027 @item show follow-fork-mode
3028 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3031 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3032 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3033 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3036 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3037 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3038 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3039 retain debugger control over them both.
3043 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3044 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3045 independently. This is the default.
3048 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3049 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3050 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3055 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3056 @item show detach-on-fork
3057 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3060 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3061 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3062 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3063 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3064 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3065 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3067 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3068 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3069 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3070 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3073 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3074 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3075 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3076 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3077 the child process's @code{main}.
3079 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3080 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3082 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3083 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3084 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3085 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3086 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3087 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3091 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3092 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3094 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3095 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3097 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3101 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3102 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3103 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3109 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3111 Id Description Executable
3114 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3115 Program exited normally.
3116 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3117 Id Description Executable
3123 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3124 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3125 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3126 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3127 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3132 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3133 Id Description Executable
3136 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3137 Program exited normally.
3138 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3139 Id Description Executable
3146 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3147 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3148 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3150 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3151 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3156 @cindex snapshot of a process
3157 @cindex rewind program state
3159 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3160 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3161 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3164 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3165 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3166 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3167 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3168 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3170 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3171 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3172 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3173 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3174 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3175 start again from there.
3177 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3178 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3180 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3185 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3186 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3187 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3189 @kindex info checkpoints
3190 @item info checkpoints
3191 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3192 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3199 @item Source line, or label
3202 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3203 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3204 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3205 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3206 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3207 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3208 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3210 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3211 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3212 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3215 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3216 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3217 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3221 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3222 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3223 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3224 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3225 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3226 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3227 previously read data can be read again.
3229 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3230 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3231 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3232 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3233 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3234 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3236 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3237 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3238 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3239 different execution path this time.
3241 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3242 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3243 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3244 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3245 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3246 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3247 potentially pose a problem.
3249 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3251 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3252 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3253 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3254 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3255 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3258 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3259 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3260 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3261 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3262 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3265 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3267 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3268 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3269 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3271 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3272 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3273 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3274 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3275 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3276 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3277 explicitly request this information at any time.
3280 @kindex info program
3282 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3283 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3287 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3288 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3289 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3290 Skipping over functions and files
3292 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3296 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3299 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3300 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3301 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3302 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3303 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3304 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3307 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3308 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3309 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3310 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3311 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3315 @cindex data breakpoints
3316 @cindex memory tracing
3317 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3318 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3319 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3320 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3321 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3322 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3323 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3324 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3325 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3326 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3329 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3330 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3334 @cindex breakpoint on events
3335 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3336 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3337 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3338 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3339 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3340 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3341 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3343 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3344 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3345 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3346 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3347 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3348 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3349 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3350 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3353 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3354 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3355 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3356 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3357 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3358 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3359 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3362 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3363 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3364 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3365 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3366 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3367 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3368 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3369 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3370 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3371 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3372 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3373 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3377 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3379 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3380 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3382 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3385 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3386 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3387 @cindex latest breakpoint
3388 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3389 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3390 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3391 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3392 convenience variables.
3395 @item break @var{location}
3396 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3397 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3398 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3399 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3400 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3402 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3403 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3404 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3407 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3408 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3409 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3412 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3413 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3414 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3415 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3416 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3417 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3418 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3419 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3420 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3423 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3424 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3425 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3426 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3427 existed when your program stopped.
3429 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3430 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3431 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3432 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3433 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3434 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3435 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3438 @item tbreak @var{args}
3439 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3440 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3441 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3442 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3445 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3446 @item hbreak @var{args}
3447 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3448 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3449 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3450 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3451 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3452 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3453 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3454 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3455 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3456 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3457 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3458 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3459 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3460 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3461 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3462 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3463 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3464 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3467 @item thbreak @var{args}
3468 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3469 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3470 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3471 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3472 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3473 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3474 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3475 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3478 @cindex regular expression
3479 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3480 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3481 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3482 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3483 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3484 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3485 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3486 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3487 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3489 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3490 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3491 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3492 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3493 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3494 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3496 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3497 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3498 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3501 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3502 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3503 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3506 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3509 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3510 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3511 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3512 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3513 every function in a given file:
3516 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3519 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3520 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3522 @kindex info breakpoints
3523 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3524 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3525 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3526 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3527 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3528 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3529 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3532 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3534 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3536 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3537 @item Enabled or Disabled
3538 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3539 that are not enabled.
3541 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3542 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3543 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3544 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3545 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3546 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3548 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3549 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3550 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3551 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3555 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3556 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3557 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3558 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3559 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3560 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3562 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3563 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3564 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3565 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3568 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3569 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3570 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3571 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3572 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3575 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3576 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3577 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3578 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3579 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3580 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3583 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3584 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3588 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3589 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3590 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3591 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3593 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3594 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3595 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3596 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3600 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3603 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3604 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3607 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3608 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3611 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3612 several places where that function is inlined.
3615 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3616 the relevant locations.
3618 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3619 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3620 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3621 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3622 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3623 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3624 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3629 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3630 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3632 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3633 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3634 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3637 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3638 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3639 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3640 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3641 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3642 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3643 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3644 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3645 that belong to that breakpoint.
3647 @cindex pending breakpoints
3648 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3649 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3650 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3651 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3652 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3653 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3654 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3655 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3656 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3657 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3658 is not yet resolved.
3660 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3661 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3662 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3663 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3664 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3665 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3667 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3668 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3669 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3670 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3672 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3673 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3674 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3676 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3677 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3678 address specification to an address:
3680 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3681 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3683 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3684 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3685 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3687 @item set breakpoint pending on
3688 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3689 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3691 @item set breakpoint pending off
3692 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3693 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3694 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3696 @item show breakpoint pending
3697 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3700 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3701 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3702 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3704 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3705 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3706 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3707 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3708 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3709 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3710 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3713 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3715 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3716 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3718 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3719 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3720 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3721 breakpoint must be used.
3723 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3724 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3725 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3726 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3729 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3730 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3731 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3732 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3733 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3734 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3735 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3736 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3737 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3739 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3740 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3742 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3743 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3744 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3745 removed from the target when it stops.
3747 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3748 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3749 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3750 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3751 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3753 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3754 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3755 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3756 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3757 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3758 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3759 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3762 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3763 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3764 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3766 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3767 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3769 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3771 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3772 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3774 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3775 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3776 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3777 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3778 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3780 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3781 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3782 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3783 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3784 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3785 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3786 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3787 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3788 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3789 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3790 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3791 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3792 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3794 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3795 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3796 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3797 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3798 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3799 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3803 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3804 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3805 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3806 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3807 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3808 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3809 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3810 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3813 @node Set Watchpoints
3814 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3816 @cindex setting watchpoints
3817 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3818 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3819 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3820 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3821 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3825 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3828 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3829 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3830 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3833 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3834 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3835 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3838 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3839 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3840 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3841 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3842 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3843 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3844 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3845 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3846 the expression changes.
3848 @cindex software watchpoints
3849 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3850 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3851 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3852 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3853 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3854 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3857 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3858 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3859 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3863 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3864 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3865 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3866 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3867 to watch the value of a single variable:
3870 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3873 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3874 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3875 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3876 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3877 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3878 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3880 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3881 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3882 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3883 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3884 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3885 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3886 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3889 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3890 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3891 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3892 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3893 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3894 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3895 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3896 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3897 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3898 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3902 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3903 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3907 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3908 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3912 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3913 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3914 or written into by the program.
3916 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3917 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3918 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3919 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3922 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3923 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3924 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3925 a never-changing value:
3928 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3929 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3930 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3931 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3934 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3935 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3936 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3937 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3938 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3939 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3941 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3942 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3943 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3944 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3945 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3946 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3947 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3948 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3951 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3952 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3953 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3955 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3956 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3957 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3960 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3961 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3962 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3964 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3967 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3971 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3973 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3974 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3975 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3976 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3977 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3978 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3979 will print a message like this:
3982 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3985 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3986 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3987 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3988 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3989 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3990 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3991 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3992 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3994 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3995 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3996 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3997 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3998 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3999 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4002 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4006 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4008 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4009 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4010 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4011 expression with separately allocated resources.
4013 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4014 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4015 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4017 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4018 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4019 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4020 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4021 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4022 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4023 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4024 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4025 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4027 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4028 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4029 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4030 watched expression from every thread.
4033 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4034 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4035 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4036 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4037 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4038 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4039 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4040 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4041 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4044 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4046 @node Set Catchpoints
4047 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4048 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4049 @cindex exception handlers
4050 @cindex event handling
4052 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4053 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4054 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4058 @item catch @var{event}
4059 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4062 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4063 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
4066 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4069 @cindex Ada exception catching
4070 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4071 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4072 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4073 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4074 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4076 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4077 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4078 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4079 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4080 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4081 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4082 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4083 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4085 @item exception unhandled
4086 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4089 A failed Ada assertion.
4092 @cindex break on fork/exec
4093 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4097 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4098 @cindex break on a system call.
4099 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4100 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4101 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4102 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4103 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4104 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4107 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4108 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4109 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4110 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4112 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4113 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4114 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4115 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4117 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4118 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4119 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4122 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4123 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4124 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4125 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4126 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4127 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4128 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4129 behind the OS upgrades).
4131 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4135 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4136 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4138 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4140 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4141 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4145 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4146 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4150 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4153 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4154 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4156 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4158 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4159 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4163 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4164 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4168 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4169 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4170 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4173 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4174 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4176 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4178 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4179 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4183 Program exited normally.
4187 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4188 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4189 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4190 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4193 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4194 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4195 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4199 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4200 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4201 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4202 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4203 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4204 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4207 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4208 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4209 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4210 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4211 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4215 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4217 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4218 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4221 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4222 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4225 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4228 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4232 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4235 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4236 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4237 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4238 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4239 matches one of the affected libraries.
4241 @item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4242 The delivery of a signal.
4244 With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4245 used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4246 @samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4248 With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4249 @value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4252 Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4253 @code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4256 One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4257 @code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4260 When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4261 @code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4262 However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4263 on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4268 @item tcatch @var{event}
4269 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4270 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4274 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4276 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4277 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4281 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4282 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4283 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4284 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4285 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4286 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4287 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4288 disabled within interactive calls.
4291 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4294 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4297 @cindex raise exceptions
4298 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4299 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4300 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4301 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4302 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4303 out where the exception was raised.
4305 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4306 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4307 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4308 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4311 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4312 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4313 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4317 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4318 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4319 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4321 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4322 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4323 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4324 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4329 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4331 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4332 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4333 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4334 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4335 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4336 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4338 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4339 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4340 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4341 their breakpoint numbers.
4343 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4344 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4345 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4350 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4351 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4352 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4353 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4355 @item clear @var{location}
4356 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4357 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4358 most useful ones are listed below:
4361 @item clear @var{function}
4362 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4363 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4365 @item clear @var{linenum}
4366 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4367 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4368 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4371 @cindex delete breakpoints
4373 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4374 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4375 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4376 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4377 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4378 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4382 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4384 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4385 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4386 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4387 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4388 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4390 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4391 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4392 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4393 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4394 do not know which numbers to use.
4396 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4397 affects all of its locations.
4399 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4400 different states of enablement:
4404 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4405 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4407 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4409 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4412 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4413 N times, then becomes disabled.
4415 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4416 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4417 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4420 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4421 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4425 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4426 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4427 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4428 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4429 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4430 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4431 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4434 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4435 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4436 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4438 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4439 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4440 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4442 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4443 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4444 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4445 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4446 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4447 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4448 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4450 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4451 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4452 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4453 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4456 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4457 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4458 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4459 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4460 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4461 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4462 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4463 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4467 @subsection Break Conditions
4468 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4469 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4471 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4472 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4473 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4474 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4475 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4476 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4477 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4478 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4480 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4481 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4482 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4483 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4484 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4486 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4487 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4488 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4489 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4492 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4493 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4494 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4495 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4496 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4497 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4498 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4499 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4501 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4502 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4504 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4505 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4506 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4507 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4508 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4509 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4511 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4512 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4513 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4514 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4515 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4517 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4518 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4519 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4520 with the @code{condition} command.
4522 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4523 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4524 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4529 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4530 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4531 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4532 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4533 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4534 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4535 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4536 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4537 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4538 prints an error message:
4541 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4546 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4547 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4548 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4550 @item condition @var{bnum}
4551 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4552 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4555 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4556 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4557 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4558 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4559 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4560 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4561 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4562 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4563 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4564 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4565 your program reaches it.
4569 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4570 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4571 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4572 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4575 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4578 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4579 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4580 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4581 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4583 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4584 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4585 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4587 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4588 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4589 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4593 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4596 @node Break Commands
4597 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4599 @cindex breakpoint commands
4600 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4601 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4602 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4603 enable other breakpoints.
4607 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4608 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4609 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4611 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4612 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4613 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4615 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4616 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4618 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4619 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4620 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4621 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4622 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4623 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4624 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4628 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4629 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4631 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4632 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4633 that resumes execution.
4635 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4636 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4637 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4638 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4639 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4642 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4643 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4644 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4645 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4646 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4647 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4649 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4650 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4651 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4653 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4654 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4660 printf "x is %d\n",x
4665 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4666 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4667 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4668 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4669 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4670 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4671 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4682 @node Dynamic Printf
4683 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4685 @cindex dynamic printf
4687 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4688 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4689 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4690 having to recompile it.
4692 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4693 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4694 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4695 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4696 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4697 redirects to files and so forth.
4699 If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4700 ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4701 ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4702 with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4703 the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4704 target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4705 everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4709 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4710 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4711 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4712 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4714 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4715 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4716 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4717 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4718 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4719 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4722 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4723 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4726 @kindex dprintf-style call
4727 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4731 @kindex dprintf-style agent
4732 Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4733 the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4734 support running commands on the target.
4736 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4737 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4738 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4739 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4742 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4743 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4744 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4745 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4746 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4747 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4749 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4750 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4751 you could do the following:
4754 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4755 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4756 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4757 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4758 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4760 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4761 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4766 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4767 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4768 the variable settings.
4770 @item set disconnected-dprintf on
4771 @itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4772 @kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4773 Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4774 @value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4775 if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4777 @item show disconnected-dprintf off
4778 @kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4779 Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4783 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4784 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4785 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4786 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4787 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4788 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4790 @node Save Breakpoints
4791 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4793 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4794 breakpoints}} command.
4797 @kindex save breakpoints
4798 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4799 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4800 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4801 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4802 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4803 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4804 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4805 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4806 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4807 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4808 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4809 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4810 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4811 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4812 that can no longer be recreated.
4815 @node Static Probe Points
4816 @subsection Static Probe Points
4818 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4819 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4820 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4821 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4822 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4823 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4824 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4826 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4827 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4828 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4829 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4830 in your applications.
4832 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4833 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4834 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4835 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4836 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4837 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4838 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4839 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4841 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4842 probes}, with optional arguments:
4846 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4847 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4848 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4849 probes from all providers are listed.
4851 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4852 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4853 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4855 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4856 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4857 given, all object files are considered.
4859 @item info probes all
4860 List the available static probes, from all types.
4863 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4864 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4865 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4866 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4867 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4868 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4869 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4870 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4871 at the current probe point.
4873 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4874 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4878 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4879 @node Error in Breakpoints
4880 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4882 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4883 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4885 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4886 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4888 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4889 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4893 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4894 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4895 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4897 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4898 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4900 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4901 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4902 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4904 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4905 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4906 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4907 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4909 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4910 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4911 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4912 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4913 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4914 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4915 first in the bundle.
4917 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4918 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4919 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4920 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4921 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4922 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4925 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4926 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4929 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4932 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4933 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4934 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4935 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4936 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4937 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4938 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4939 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4941 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4942 adjusted breakpoints:
4945 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4949 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4950 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4951 frequently than expected.
4953 @node Continuing and Stepping
4954 @section Continuing and Stepping
4958 @cindex resuming execution
4959 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4960 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4961 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4962 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4963 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4964 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4965 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4966 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4970 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4971 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4972 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4973 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4974 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4975 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4976 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4977 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4978 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4979 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4981 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4982 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4983 @code{continue} is ignored.
4985 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4986 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4987 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4991 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4992 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4993 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4994 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4996 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4997 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4998 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4999 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5000 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5001 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5005 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5007 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5008 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5009 abbreviated @code{s}.
5012 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5013 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5014 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5015 @c distinction here.
5016 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5017 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5018 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5019 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5020 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5021 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5025 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5026 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5027 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5028 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5029 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5030 called within the line.
5032 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5033 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5034 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5035 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5036 was any debugging information about the routine.
5038 @item step @var{count}
5039 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5040 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5041 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5044 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5045 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5046 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5047 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5048 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5049 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5050 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5051 is abbreviated @code{n}.
5053 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5056 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5057 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5059 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5060 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5061 @c function are executed without stopping.
5063 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5064 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5065 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5067 @kindex set step-mode
5069 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5070 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5071 @itemx set step-mode on
5072 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5073 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5074 information rather than stepping over it.
5076 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5077 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5078 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5080 @item set step-mode off
5081 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5082 debug information. This is the default.
5084 @item show step-mode
5085 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5086 source line debug information.
5089 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5091 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5092 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5093 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5095 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5096 ,Returning from a Function}).
5099 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5100 @cindex run until specified location
5103 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5104 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5105 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5106 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5107 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5108 than the address of the jump.
5110 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5111 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5112 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5113 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5114 through the next iteration.
5116 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5119 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5120 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5121 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5122 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5123 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5127 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5129 (@value{GDBP}) until
5130 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5133 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5134 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5135 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5136 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5137 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5138 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5139 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5141 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5142 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5145 @item until @var{location}
5146 @itemx u @var{location}
5147 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5148 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5149 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5150 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5151 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5152 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5153 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5154 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5155 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5156 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5157 invocations have returned.
5160 94 int factorial (int value)
5162 96 if (value > 1) @{
5163 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5170 @kindex advance @var{location}
5171 @item advance @var{location}
5172 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5173 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5174 @ref{Specify Location}.
5175 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5176 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5177 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5178 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5182 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5184 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5186 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5188 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5189 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5190 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5191 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5193 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5197 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5199 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5201 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5202 proceed until the function returns.
5204 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5207 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5208 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5209 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5211 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5212 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5213 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5215 For example, consider the following C function:
5226 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5227 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5228 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5229 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5231 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5232 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5233 is called from many places.
5235 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5236 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5237 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5240 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5241 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5244 @kindex skip function
5245 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5246 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5247 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5248 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5249 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5251 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5254 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5255 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5258 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5259 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5260 will be skipped over when stepping.
5262 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5263 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5266 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5267 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5271 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5272 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5273 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5274 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5278 A number identifying this skip.
5280 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5281 @item Enabled or Disabled
5282 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5284 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5285 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5286 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5287 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5290 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5291 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5292 where it is defined.
5296 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5297 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5301 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5302 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5305 @kindex skip disable
5306 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5307 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5316 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5317 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5318 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5319 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5320 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5321 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5322 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5323 requested an alarm).
5325 @cindex fatal signals
5326 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5327 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5328 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5329 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5330 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5331 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5333 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5334 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5337 @cindex handling signals
5338 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5339 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5340 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5341 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5342 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5345 @kindex info signals
5349 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5350 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5351 the defined types of signals.
5353 @item info signals @var{sig}
5354 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5356 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5358 @item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5359 Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5360 for details about this command.
5363 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5364 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5365 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5366 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5367 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5368 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5369 say what change to make.
5373 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5374 Their full names are:
5378 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5379 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5382 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5383 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5386 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5389 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5390 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5394 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5395 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5396 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5400 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5401 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5405 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5407 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5408 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5409 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5410 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5411 program sees that signal when you continue.
5413 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5414 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5415 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5418 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5419 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5420 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5421 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5422 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5423 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5424 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5425 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5428 @cindex extra signal information
5429 @anchor{extra signal information}
5431 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5432 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5433 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5434 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5435 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5436 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5437 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5438 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5439 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5442 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5443 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5447 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5448 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5449 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5451 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5458 struct @{...@} _kill;
5459 struct @{...@} _timer;
5461 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5462 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5463 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5466 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5470 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5471 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5475 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5478 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5480 @cindex stopped threads
5481 @cindex threads, stopped
5483 @cindex continuing threads
5484 @cindex threads, continuing
5486 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5487 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5488 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5489 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5490 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5491 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5492 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5493 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5494 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5497 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5498 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5499 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5500 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5501 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5502 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5506 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5508 @cindex all-stop mode
5510 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5511 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5512 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5513 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5516 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5517 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5518 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5520 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5521 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5522 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5523 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5524 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5525 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5528 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5529 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5530 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5531 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5533 @cindex automatic thread selection
5534 @cindex switching threads automatically
5535 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5536 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5537 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5538 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5539 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5542 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5543 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5546 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5547 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5548 @cindex lock scheduler
5549 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5550 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5551 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5552 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5553 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5554 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5555 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5556 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5557 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5558 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5559 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5560 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5562 @item show scheduler-locking
5563 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5566 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5567 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5568 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5569 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5570 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5571 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5572 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5573 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5574 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5575 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5576 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5577 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5578 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5579 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5582 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5583 @item set schedule-multiple
5584 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5585 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5586 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5587 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5588 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5589 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5591 @item show schedule-multiple
5592 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5597 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5599 @cindex non-stop mode
5601 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5602 @c with more details.
5604 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5605 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5606 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5607 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5608 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5609 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5611 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5612 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5613 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5614 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5615 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5616 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5617 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5618 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5619 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5620 independently and simultaneously.
5622 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5623 or attach to your program:
5626 # Enable the async interface.
5629 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5632 # Finally, turn it on!
5636 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5639 @kindex set non-stop
5640 @item set non-stop on
5641 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5642 @item set non-stop off
5643 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5644 @kindex show non-stop
5646 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5649 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5650 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5651 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5652 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5653 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5654 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5655 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5658 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5659 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5660 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5662 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5663 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5664 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5665 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5666 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5668 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5669 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5670 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5671 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5672 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5674 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5676 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5677 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5678 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5679 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5680 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5681 previously current thread.
5683 @node Background Execution
5684 @subsection Background Execution
5686 @cindex foreground execution
5687 @cindex background execution
5688 @cindex asynchronous execution
5689 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5691 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5692 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5693 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5694 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5695 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5696 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5698 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5699 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5700 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5703 @kindex set target-async
5704 @item set target-async on
5705 Enable asynchronous mode.
5706 @item set target-async off
5707 Disable asynchronous mode.
5708 @kindex show target-async
5709 @item show target-async
5710 Show the current target-async setting.
5713 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5714 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5716 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5717 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5718 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5724 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5728 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5732 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5736 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5740 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5744 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5748 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5752 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5756 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5760 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5761 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5762 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5763 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5764 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5765 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5767 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5768 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5775 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5776 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5777 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5778 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5781 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5782 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5784 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5785 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5786 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5789 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5790 @cindex thread breakpoints
5791 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5792 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5793 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5794 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5795 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5796 specify some source line.
5798 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5799 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5800 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5801 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5802 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5804 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5805 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5808 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5809 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5810 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5813 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5818 @node Interrupted System Calls
5819 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5821 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5822 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5823 @cindex premature return from system calls
5824 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5825 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5826 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5827 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5828 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5829 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5832 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5833 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5836 For example, do not write code like this:
5842 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5843 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5845 Instead, write this:
5850 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5853 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5854 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5855 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5858 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5859 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5860 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5861 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5864 @subsection Observer Mode
5866 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5867 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5868 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5869 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5870 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5872 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5873 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5874 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5877 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5878 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5879 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5880 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5881 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5886 @item set observer on
5887 @itemx set observer off
5888 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5889 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5890 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5891 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5894 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5896 @kindex may-write-registers
5897 @item set may-write-registers on
5898 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5899 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5900 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5901 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5903 @item show may-write-registers
5904 Show the current permission to write registers.
5906 @kindex may-write-memory
5907 @item set may-write-memory on
5908 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5909 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5910 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5911 defaults to @code{on}.
5913 @item show may-write-memory
5914 Show the current permission to write memory.
5916 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5917 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5918 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5919 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5920 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5921 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5923 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5924 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5926 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5927 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5928 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5929 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5930 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5931 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5932 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5934 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5935 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5937 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5938 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5939 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5940 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5941 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5942 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5943 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5945 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5946 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5948 @kindex may-interrupt
5949 @item set may-interrupt on
5950 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5951 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5952 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5953 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5954 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5956 @item show may-interrupt
5957 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5961 @node Reverse Execution
5962 @chapter Running programs backward
5963 @cindex reverse execution
5964 @cindex running programs backward
5966 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5967 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5968 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5969 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5971 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5972 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5973 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5974 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5975 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5976 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5978 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5979 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5980 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5981 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5982 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5983 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5984 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5985 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5986 prior values@footnote{
5987 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5988 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5989 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5991 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5992 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5993 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5994 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5995 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5996 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5997 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6000 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6001 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6004 @kindex reverse-continue
6005 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6006 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6007 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6008 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6009 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6010 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6011 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6013 @kindex reverse-step
6014 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6015 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6016 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6017 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6019 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6020 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6021 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6022 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6023 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6024 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6026 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6027 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6029 @kindex reverse-stepi
6030 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6031 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6032 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6033 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6034 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6035 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6036 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6038 @kindex reverse-next
6039 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6040 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6041 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6042 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6043 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6044 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6045 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6046 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6047 line of a function back to its return to its caller
6048 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6050 @kindex reverse-nexti
6051 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6052 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6053 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6054 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6055 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6056 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6057 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6060 @kindex reverse-finish
6061 @item reverse-finish
6062 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6063 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6064 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6065 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6067 @kindex set exec-direction
6068 @item set exec-direction
6069 Set the direction of target execution.
6070 @item set exec-direction reverse
6071 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
6072 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6073 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6074 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6075 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6076 @item set exec-direction forward
6077 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6078 This is the default.
6082 @node Process Record and Replay
6083 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6084 @cindex process record and replay
6085 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6087 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6088 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6089 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6092 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6093 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6094 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6095 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6096 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6097 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6098 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6099 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6103 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6104 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6105 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6108 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6109 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6110 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6111 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6112 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6113 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6115 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6116 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6117 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6118 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6120 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6121 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6124 @kindex target record
6125 @kindex target record-full
6126 @kindex target record-btrace
6129 @kindex record btrace
6133 @item record @var{method}
6134 This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6135 recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6136 the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6137 recording methods are available:
6141 Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6142 replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6146 Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not allow
6147 replaying and reverse execution.
6149 This recording method may not be available on all processors.
6152 The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6153 already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6154 the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6155 with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6157 Both @code{record @var{method}} and @code{rec @var{method}} are
6158 aliases of @code{target record-@var{method}}.
6160 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6161 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6162 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6163 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6164 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6166 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6167 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6168 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6169 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6170 all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6171 does not support these two modes.
6176 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6177 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6178 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6180 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6181 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6182 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6183 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6184 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6186 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6187 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6188 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6189 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6190 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6192 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6193 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6196 @item record save @var{filename}
6197 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6198 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6199 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6201 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6203 @kindex record restore
6204 @item record restore @var{filename}
6205 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6206 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6208 @kindex set record full
6209 @item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6210 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6211 recording method. Default value is 200000.
6213 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6214 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6215 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6216 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6217 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6218 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6219 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6220 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6222 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
6223 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
6224 instructions is unlimited in this case.
6226 @kindex show record full
6227 @item show record full insn-number-max
6228 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6231 @item set record full stop-at-limit
6232 Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6233 number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6234 default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6235 first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6236 continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6237 to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6238 oldest one to be deleted.
6240 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6241 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6243 @item show record full stop-at-limit
6244 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6246 @item set record full memory-query
6247 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6248 changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6249 If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6252 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6253 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6254 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6255 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6258 @item show record full memory-query
6259 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6263 Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6268 For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6269 record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6273 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6275 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6277 Highest recorded instruction number.
6279 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6281 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6283 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6287 For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows the number of
6288 instructions that have been recorded and the number of blocks of
6289 sequential control-flow that is formed by the recorded instructions.
6292 @kindex record delete
6295 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6296 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6297 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6298 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6300 @kindex record instruction-history
6301 @kindex rec instruction-history
6302 @item record instruction-history
6303 Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6304 default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6305 the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6306 are printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify
6307 what part of the execution log to disassemble:
6310 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6311 Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6314 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6315 Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6316 @var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6317 @var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6318 @var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6319 instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6321 @item record instruction-history
6322 Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6324 @item record instruction-history -
6325 Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6327 @item record instruction-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6328 Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6329 @var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6330 number @var{end} is not included.
6333 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6336 @item set record instruction-history-size
6337 Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6338 instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6341 @item show record instruction-history-size
6342 Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6343 instruction-history} command.
6345 @kindex record function-call-history
6346 @kindex rec function-call-history
6347 @item record function-call-history
6348 Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6349 line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6350 function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6351 for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6352 specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6353 the @code{/i} modifier is specified).
6356 (@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
6367 (@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /l}
6373 By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6374 @code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6375 printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6379 @item record function-call-history @var{func}
6380 Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6382 @item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6383 Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6384 @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6385 function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6386 prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6388 @item record function-call-history
6389 Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6391 @item record function-call-history -
6392 Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6394 @item record function-call-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6395 Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6396 function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is not
6400 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6402 @item set record function-call-history-size
6403 Define how many lines to print in the
6404 @code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6406 @item show record function-call-history-size
6407 Show how many lines to print in the
6408 @code{record function-call-history} command.
6413 @chapter Examining the Stack
6415 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6416 stopped and how it got there.
6419 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6421 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6422 the arguments of the call,
6423 and the local variables of the function being called.
6424 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6425 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6428 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6429 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6431 @cindex selected frame
6432 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6433 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6434 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6435 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6436 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6437 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6439 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6440 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6441 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6444 * Frames:: Stack frames
6445 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6446 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6447 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6452 @section Stack Frames
6454 @cindex frame, definition
6456 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6457 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6458 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6459 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6460 which the function is executing.
6462 @cindex initial frame
6463 @cindex outermost frame
6464 @cindex innermost frame
6465 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6466 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6467 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6468 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6469 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6470 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6471 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6472 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6474 @cindex frame pointer
6475 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6476 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6477 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6478 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6479 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6480 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6482 @cindex frame number
6483 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6484 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6485 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6486 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6487 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6489 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6490 @c underflow problems.
6491 @cindex frameless execution
6492 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6493 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6495 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6497 generates functions without a frame.)
6498 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6499 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6500 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6501 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6502 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6503 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6504 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6507 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6508 @cindex current stack frame
6509 @item frame @var{args}
6510 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6511 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6512 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6513 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6515 @kindex select-frame
6516 @cindex selecting frame silently
6518 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6519 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6527 @cindex call stack traces
6528 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6529 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6530 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6535 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6538 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6539 frames in the stack.
6541 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6542 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6544 @item backtrace @var{n}
6546 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6548 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6550 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6552 @item backtrace full
6554 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6555 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6556 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6557 number of frames to print, as described above.
6562 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6563 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6565 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6566 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6567 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6568 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6569 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6570 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6571 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6572 multi-threaded program.
6574 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6575 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6576 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6577 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6578 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6581 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6582 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6586 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6588 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6589 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6591 (More stack frames follow...)
6596 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6597 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6598 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6601 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6602 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6603 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6604 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6605 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6607 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6608 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6609 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6610 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6611 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6612 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6613 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6614 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6615 such a backtrace might look like:
6619 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6621 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6622 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6624 (More stack frames follow...)
6629 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6630 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6632 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6633 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6634 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6636 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6637 @cindex program entry point
6638 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6639 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6640 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6641 @code{main}@footnote{
6642 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6643 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6644 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6645 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6646 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6647 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6649 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6650 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6653 @item set backtrace past-main
6654 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6655 @kindex set backtrace
6656 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6658 @item set backtrace past-main off
6659 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6662 @item show backtrace past-main
6663 @kindex show backtrace
6664 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6666 @item set backtrace past-entry
6667 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6668 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6669 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6670 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6672 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6673 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6674 application. This is the default.
6676 @item show backtrace past-entry
6677 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6679 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6680 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6681 @cindex backtrace limit
6682 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6685 @item show backtrace limit
6686 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6689 You can control how file names are displayed.
6692 @item set filename-display
6693 @itemx set filename-display relative
6694 @cindex filename-display
6695 Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
6697 @item set filename-display basename
6698 Display only basename of a filename.
6700 @item set filename-display absolute
6701 Display an absolute filename.
6703 @item show filename-display
6704 Show the current way to display filenames.
6708 @section Selecting a Frame
6710 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6711 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6712 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6713 of the stack frame just selected.
6716 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6717 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6720 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6721 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6722 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6725 @item frame @var{addr}
6727 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6728 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6729 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6730 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6731 switches between them.
6733 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6734 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6736 On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6737 pointer and a program counter.
6739 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6740 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6744 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6745 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6746 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6749 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6751 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6752 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6753 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6754 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6757 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6758 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6759 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6760 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6768 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6770 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6774 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6775 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6776 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6777 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6778 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6782 @kindex down-silently
6784 @item up-silently @var{n}
6785 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6786 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6787 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6788 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6789 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6794 @section Information About a Frame
6796 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6802 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6803 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6804 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6805 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6806 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6809 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6812 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6817 the address of the frame
6819 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6821 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6823 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6825 the address of the frame's arguments
6827 the address of the frame's local variables
6829 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6831 which registers were saved in the frame
6834 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6835 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6836 the usual conventions.
6838 @item info frame @var{addr}
6839 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6840 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6841 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6842 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6843 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6844 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6848 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6852 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6853 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6854 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6860 @chapter Examining Source Files
6862 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6863 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6864 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6865 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6866 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6867 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6868 source files by explicit command.
6870 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6871 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6872 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6875 * List:: Printing source lines
6876 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6877 * Edit:: Editing source files
6878 * Search:: Searching source files
6879 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6880 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6884 @section Printing Source Lines
6887 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6888 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6889 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6890 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6891 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6893 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6896 @item list @var{linenum}
6897 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6898 current source file.
6900 @item list @var{function}
6901 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6905 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6906 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6907 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6908 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6909 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6912 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6915 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6916 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6917 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6920 @kindex set listsize
6921 @item set listsize @var{count}
6922 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6923 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6924 Setting @var{count} to 0 means there's no limit.
6926 @kindex show listsize
6928 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6931 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6932 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6933 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6934 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6935 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6937 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6938 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6939 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6940 to specify some source line.
6942 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6945 @item list @var{linespec}
6946 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6948 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6949 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6950 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6951 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6952 the same source file as the first linespec.
6954 @item list ,@var{last}
6955 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6957 @item list @var{first},
6958 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6961 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6964 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6967 As described in the preceding table.
6970 @node Specify Location
6971 @section Specifying a Location
6972 @cindex specifying location
6975 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6976 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6977 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6978 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6980 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6981 @value{GDBN} understands:
6985 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6988 @itemx +@var{offset}
6989 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6990 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6991 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6992 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6993 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6994 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6995 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6998 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6999 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7000 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7001 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7002 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7003 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7004 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7006 @item @var{function}
7007 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7008 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7010 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
7011 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7013 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7014 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7015 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7016 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7017 functions in different source files.
7020 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
7021 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
7022 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
7023 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
7024 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7026 @item *@var{address}
7027 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
7028 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
7029 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
7030 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7031 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7034 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7035 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7036 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7037 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
7038 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
7042 @item @var{expression}
7043 Any expression valid in the current working language.
7045 @item @var{funcaddr}
7046 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7047 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7048 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7049 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7050 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7051 (although the Pascal form also works).
7053 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7054 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7056 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
7057 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7058 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7059 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7060 functions with identical names in different source files.
7063 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7064 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7065 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7066 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7067 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7068 specifies the location of such a static probe.
7070 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7071 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7072 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7073 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7074 each one of those probes.
7080 @section Editing Source Files
7081 @cindex editing source files
7084 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7085 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7086 The editing program of your choice
7087 is invoked with the current line set to
7088 the active line in the program.
7089 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7090 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7093 @item edit @var{location}
7094 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7095 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7096 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7097 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7098 command most commonly used:
7101 @item edit @var{number}
7102 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7104 @item edit @var{function}
7105 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7110 @subsection Choosing your Editor
7111 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7113 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7114 following command-line syntax:
7116 ex +@var{number} file
7118 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7119 the file where to start editing.}.
7120 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7121 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7122 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7123 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7129 or in the @code{csh} shell,
7131 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7136 @section Searching Source Files
7137 @cindex searching source files
7139 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7144 @kindex forward-search
7145 @kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7146 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
7147 @itemx search @var{regexp}
7148 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7149 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7150 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7151 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7154 @kindex reverse-search
7155 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7156 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7157 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7158 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7159 this command as @code{rev}.
7163 @section Specifying Source Directories
7166 @cindex directories for source files
7167 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7168 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7169 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7170 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7171 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7172 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7173 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7175 For example, suppose an executable references the file
7176 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7177 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7178 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7179 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7180 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7181 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7182 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7183 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7184 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7185 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7187 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7188 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7189 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7190 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7191 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7192 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7194 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7197 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7198 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7199 each line is in the file.
7203 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7204 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7205 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7207 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7208 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7210 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7211 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7212 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7213 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7214 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7215 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7216 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7217 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7218 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7219 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7220 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7221 name to look up the sources.
7223 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7224 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7225 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7226 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7227 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7228 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7229 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7230 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7232 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7233 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7234 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7235 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7236 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7237 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7238 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7240 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7241 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7242 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7243 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7244 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7245 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7246 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7249 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7250 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7251 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7252 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7253 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7254 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7255 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7257 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7258 @cindex default source path substitution
7259 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7260 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7261 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7262 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7263 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7264 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7265 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7266 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7267 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7271 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7272 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7273 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7274 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7275 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7276 part of absolute file names) or
7277 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7278 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7282 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7283 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7284 @cindex compilation directory
7285 @cindex current directory
7286 @cindex working directory
7287 @cindex directory, current
7288 @cindex directory, compilation
7289 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7290 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7291 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7292 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7293 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7294 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7297 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7299 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7300 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7302 @item set directories @var{path-list}
7303 @kindex set directories
7304 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7305 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7307 @item show directories
7308 @kindex show directories
7309 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7311 @anchor{set substitute-path}
7312 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7313 @kindex set substitute-path
7314 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7315 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7316 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7318 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7319 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7322 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7326 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7327 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7328 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7330 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7331 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7332 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7335 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7338 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7339 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7343 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7344 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7345 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7346 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7349 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7350 @kindex unset substitute-path
7351 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7352 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7353 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7355 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7357 @item show substitute-path [path]
7358 @kindex show substitute-path
7359 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7360 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7362 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7367 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7368 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7369 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7373 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7376 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7377 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7378 directories in one command.
7382 @section Source and Machine Code
7383 @cindex source line and its code address
7385 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7386 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7387 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7388 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7389 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7390 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7391 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7396 @item info line @var{linespec}
7397 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7398 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7399 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7402 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7403 the object code for the first line of function
7404 @code{m4_changequote}:
7406 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7407 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7409 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7410 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7414 @cindex code address and its source line
7415 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7416 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7418 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7419 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7422 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7423 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7424 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7425 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7426 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7427 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7428 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7429 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7434 @cindex assembly instructions
7435 @cindex instructions, assembly
7436 @cindex machine instructions
7437 @cindex listing machine instructions
7439 @itemx disassemble /m
7440 @itemx disassemble /r
7441 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7442 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7443 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7444 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7445 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7446 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7447 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7448 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7449 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7450 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7453 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7454 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7455 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7456 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7457 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7461 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7462 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7464 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7465 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7467 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7468 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7471 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7472 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7475 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7476 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7477 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7478 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7479 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7480 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7481 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7482 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7483 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7484 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7485 End of assembler dump.
7488 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7489 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7492 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7493 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7495 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7496 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7497 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7498 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7499 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7501 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7502 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7503 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7507 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7508 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7509 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7511 End of assembler dump.
7514 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7517 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7518 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7519 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7520 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7521 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7522 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7523 End of assembler dump.
7526 Addresses cannot be specified as a linespec (@pxref{Specify Location}).
7527 So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
7528 in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
7529 and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
7531 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7532 mnemonics or other syntax.
7534 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7535 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7536 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7537 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7538 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7541 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7542 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7543 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7544 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7545 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7546 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7548 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7549 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7550 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7551 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7553 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7554 @item show disassembly-flavor
7555 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7559 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7560 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7561 @item set disassemble-next-line
7562 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7563 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7564 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7565 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7566 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7567 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7568 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7569 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7570 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7571 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7572 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7573 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7574 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7575 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7576 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7582 @chapter Examining Data
7584 @cindex printing data
7585 @cindex examining data
7588 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7589 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7590 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7591 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7592 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7593 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7596 @item print @var{expr}
7597 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7598 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7599 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7600 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7601 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7605 @itemx print /@var{f}
7606 @cindex reprint the last value
7607 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7608 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7609 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7612 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7613 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7614 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7616 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7617 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7618 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7621 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7623 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7624 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7625 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7626 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7627 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7628 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7629 embedded in the higher level data types.
7632 @item explore @var{arg}
7633 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7634 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7637 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7638 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7648 struct ComplexStruct
7650 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7656 followed by variable declarations as
7659 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7660 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7664 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7665 @code{explore} command as follows.
7669 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7670 the following fields:
7672 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7673 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7675 Enter the field number of choice:
7679 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7680 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7681 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7682 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7683 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7684 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7685 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7686 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7689 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7690 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7691 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7692 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7694 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7695 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7697 Press enter to return to parent value:
7701 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7702 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7703 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7707 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7708 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7710 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7714 Press enter to return to parent value:
7717 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7718 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7719 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7720 level data structure).
7722 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
7723 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
7724 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
7725 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
7726 same example as above, your can explore the type
7727 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
7728 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
7731 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
7735 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
7736 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
7737 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
7740 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
7741 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
7742 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
7743 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
7744 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
7747 @item explore value @var{expr}
7748 @cindex explore value
7749 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
7750 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
7751 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
7752 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
7753 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
7755 @item explore type @var{arg}
7756 @cindex explore type
7757 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
7758 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
7759 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
7760 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
7761 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
7762 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
7763 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
7764 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
7765 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
7769 * Expressions:: Expressions
7770 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
7771 * Variables:: Program variables
7772 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
7773 * Output Formats:: Output formats
7774 * Memory:: Examining memory
7775 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
7776 * Print Settings:: Print settings
7777 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
7778 * Value History:: Value history
7779 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
7780 * Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
7781 * Registers:: Registers
7782 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
7783 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
7784 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
7785 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
7786 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
7787 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
7788 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
7789 character set than GDB does
7790 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
7791 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
7795 @section Expressions
7798 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
7799 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
7800 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
7801 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
7802 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
7803 you compiled your program to include this information; see
7806 @cindex arrays in expressions
7807 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
7808 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7809 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7810 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7811 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7812 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7814 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7815 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7816 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7819 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7820 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7822 @cindex casts, in expressions
7823 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7824 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7825 at that address in memory.
7826 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7828 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7829 to programming languages:
7833 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7834 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7837 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7838 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7840 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7841 @cindex type casting memory
7842 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7843 @cindex casts, to view memory
7844 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7845 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7846 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7847 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7848 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7849 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7852 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7853 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7854 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7856 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7857 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7858 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7859 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7860 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7861 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7862 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7864 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7865 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7866 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7867 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7868 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7871 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7872 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7873 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7874 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7875 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7876 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7877 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7880 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7881 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7882 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7884 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7887 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7890 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7891 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7892 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7893 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7894 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7895 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7897 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7898 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7899 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7900 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7901 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7908 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7909 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7910 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7912 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7915 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7916 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7917 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7918 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7919 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7920 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7921 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7922 in the use of the menu.
7924 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7925 when an ambiguity is detected.
7927 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7928 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7930 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7931 @item show multiple-symbols
7932 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7936 @section Program Variables
7938 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7941 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7942 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7946 global (or file-static)
7953 visible according to the scope rules of the
7954 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7957 @noindent This means that in the function
7972 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7973 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7974 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7975 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7977 @cindex variable name conflict
7978 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7979 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7980 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7981 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7982 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7983 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
7984 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7986 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7988 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7989 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7992 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7993 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7997 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7998 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7999 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8000 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8003 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8006 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8007 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8008 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8009 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8010 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8019 process (a); /* Stop here */
8030 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8031 here is what you might see
8032 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8037 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8040 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8043 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8047 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8048 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
8049 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
8050 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
8051 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
8054 @cindex wrong values
8055 @cindex variable values, wrong
8056 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8057 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8059 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8060 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8061 scope, and just before exit.
8063 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8064 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8065 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8066 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8067 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8068 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8069 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8070 variable definitions may be gone.
8072 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8073 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8076 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8077 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8078 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8079 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8080 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8081 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8082 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8085 No symbol "foo" in current context.
8088 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8089 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8090 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8091 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8092 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8094 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8095 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8096 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8097 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8099 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8100 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8101 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8102 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8103 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8106 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
8112 (gdb) print i@@entry
8116 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8117 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8118 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8119 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8120 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8125 signed char var1[] = "A";
8128 You get during debugging
8133 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8137 @section Artificial Arrays
8139 @cindex artificial array
8141 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
8142 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
8143 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
8144 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
8147 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
8148 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
8149 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
8150 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
8151 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
8152 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
8153 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
8154 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
8155 example. If a program says
8158 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
8162 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
8168 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
8169 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
8170 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
8171 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
8172 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
8174 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
8175 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
8176 The value need not be in memory:
8178 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
8179 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8182 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
8183 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
8184 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
8186 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
8187 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8190 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8191 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8192 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8193 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8194 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8195 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8196 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8197 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8198 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8199 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8209 @node Output Formats
8210 @section Output Formats
8212 @cindex formatted output
8213 @cindex output formats
8214 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8215 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8216 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8217 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8218 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8220 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8221 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8222 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8223 letters supported are:
8227 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8231 Print as integer in signed decimal.
8234 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8237 Print as integer in octal.
8240 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8241 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8242 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8243 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8246 @cindex unknown address, locating
8247 @cindex locate address
8248 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8249 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8250 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8253 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8254 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8258 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8259 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8262 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8263 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8264 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8265 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8267 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8268 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8269 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8273 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8274 using typical floating point syntax.
8277 @cindex printing strings
8278 @cindex printing byte arrays
8279 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8280 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8281 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8284 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8285 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8286 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8290 @cindex raw printing
8291 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8292 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8293 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8294 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8295 pretty-printer which might exist.
8298 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8305 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8306 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8308 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8309 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8310 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8313 @section Examining Memory
8315 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8316 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8318 @cindex examining memory
8320 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8321 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8324 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8327 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8328 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8329 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8330 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8331 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8334 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8335 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8336 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8337 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8340 @item @var{f}, the display format
8341 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8342 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8343 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8344 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8345 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8347 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8348 The unit size is any of
8354 Halfwords (two bytes).
8356 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8358 Giant words (eight bytes).
8361 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8362 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8363 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8364 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8365 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8366 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8367 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8368 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8369 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8370 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8373 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8374 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8375 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8376 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8377 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8378 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8379 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8380 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8381 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8382 a value from memory).
8385 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8386 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8387 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8388 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8389 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8391 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8392 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8393 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8394 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8395 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8397 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8398 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8399 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8400 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8401 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8402 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8403 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8404 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8405 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8407 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8408 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8409 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8410 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8411 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8412 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8413 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8415 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8416 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8419 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8420 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8421 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8422 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8423 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8424 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8427 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8428 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8429 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8430 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8431 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8432 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8433 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8434 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8435 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8437 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8438 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8439 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8441 @cindex remote memory comparison
8442 @cindex verify remote memory image
8443 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8444 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8445 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8446 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8450 @kindex compare-sections
8451 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8452 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8453 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8454 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8455 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8456 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8461 @section Automatic Display
8462 @cindex automatic display
8463 @cindex display of expressions
8465 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8466 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8467 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8468 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8469 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8470 The automatic display looks like this:
8474 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8478 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8479 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8480 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8481 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8482 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8483 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8487 @item display @var{expr}
8488 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8489 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8491 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8493 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8494 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8495 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8496 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8497 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8499 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8500 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8501 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8502 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8503 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8506 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8507 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8508 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8511 @kindex delete display
8513 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8514 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8515 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8516 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8517 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8518 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8519 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8521 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8522 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8524 @kindex disable display
8525 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8526 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8527 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8528 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8529 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8530 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8531 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8532 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8534 @kindex enable display
8535 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8536 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8537 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8538 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8539 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8540 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8541 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8544 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8545 done when your program stops.
8547 @kindex info display
8549 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8550 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8551 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8552 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8553 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8556 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8557 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8558 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8559 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8560 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8561 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8562 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8563 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8564 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8565 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8566 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8568 @node Print Settings
8569 @section Print Settings
8571 @cindex format options
8572 @cindex print settings
8573 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8574 and symbols are printed.
8577 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8581 @item set print address
8582 @itemx set print address on
8583 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8584 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8585 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8586 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8587 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8588 @code{set print address on}:
8593 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8595 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8599 @item set print address off
8600 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8601 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8605 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8607 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8608 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8612 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8613 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8614 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8615 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8618 @item show print address
8619 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8622 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8623 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8624 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8625 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8626 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8627 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8628 it prints a symbolic address:
8631 @item set print symbol-filename on
8632 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8633 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8634 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8635 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8637 @item set print symbol-filename off
8638 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8641 @item show print symbol-filename
8642 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8643 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8646 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8647 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8648 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8650 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8651 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8654 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8655 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8656 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8657 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8658 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
8659 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
8661 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8662 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8666 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8667 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8668 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8669 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8670 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8671 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8672 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8673 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8676 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8677 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8678 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8682 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8683 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8684 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8687 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
8688 @samp{set print symbol on}:
8691 @item set print symbol on
8692 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
8695 @item set print symbol off
8696 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
8697 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
8698 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
8700 @item show print symbol
8701 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
8705 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8708 @item set print array
8709 @itemx set print array on
8710 @cindex pretty print arrays
8711 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8712 but uses more space. The default is off.
8714 @item set print array off
8715 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8717 @item show print array
8718 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8721 @cindex print array indexes
8722 @item set print array-indexes
8723 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8724 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8725 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8726 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8728 @item set print array-indexes off
8729 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8731 @item show print array-indexes
8732 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8735 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8736 @cindex number of array elements to print
8737 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8738 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8739 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8740 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8741 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8742 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8743 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
8745 @item show print elements
8746 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8747 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8749 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8750 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8751 @cindex printing frame argument values
8752 @cindex print all frame argument values
8753 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8754 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8755 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8756 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8761 The values of all arguments are printed.
8764 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
8765 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
8766 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
8767 only scalar arguments are shown:
8770 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
8775 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
8776 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
8779 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
8784 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
8785 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
8786 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
8787 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
8788 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
8789 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
8790 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
8791 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
8792 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
8793 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
8795 @item show print frame-arguments
8796 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
8798 @anchor{set print entry-values}
8799 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
8800 @kindex set print entry-values
8801 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
8802 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
8803 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
8804 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
8805 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
8807 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
8808 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
8809 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
8812 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
8813 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
8814 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
8817 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
8821 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
8825 #0 different (val=6)
8826 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
8828 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8832 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
8833 values are never printed.
8835 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8836 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8837 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8838 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8839 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8843 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
8844 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
8845 value for such parameter.
8847 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8848 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8849 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8851 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8855 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
8856 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
8860 #0 different (val=6)
8861 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8863 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8867 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
8868 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
8871 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
8872 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8873 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8874 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8875 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8879 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
8880 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
8881 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
8882 values are known and identical, print the shortened
8883 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8885 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8886 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8887 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8889 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8893 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
8894 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
8895 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
8896 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8898 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8899 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8900 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8902 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8906 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
8907 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
8909 @item show print entry-values
8910 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
8913 @item set print repeats
8914 @cindex repeated array elements
8915 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
8916 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
8917 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
8918 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
8919 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
8920 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
8921 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
8923 @item show print repeats
8924 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
8927 @item set print null-stop
8928 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
8929 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
8930 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
8931 contain only short strings.
8934 @item show print null-stop
8935 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
8936 @sc{null} character.
8938 @item set print pretty on
8939 @cindex print structures in indented form
8940 @cindex indentation in structure display
8941 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
8942 per line, like this:
8957 @item set print pretty off
8958 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
8962 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
8963 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
8968 This is the default format.
8970 @item show print pretty
8971 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
8973 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
8974 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
8975 @cindex octal escapes in strings
8976 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
8977 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
8978 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
8979 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
8980 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
8982 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
8983 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
8984 international character sets, and is the default.
8986 @item show print sevenbit-strings
8987 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
8989 @item set print union on
8990 @cindex unions in structures, printing
8991 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
8992 and other unions. This is the default setting.
8994 @item set print union off
8995 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
8996 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
8999 @item show print union
9000 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9001 structures and other unions.
9003 For example, given the declarations
9006 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9007 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9008 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9019 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9023 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9026 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9030 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9033 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9037 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9043 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9046 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9047 @item set print demangle
9048 @itemx set print demangle on
9049 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9050 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9051 linkage. The default is on.
9053 @item show print demangle
9054 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9056 @item set print asm-demangle
9057 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
9058 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9059 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9062 @item show print asm-demangle
9063 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9066 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9067 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9068 @kindex set demangle-style
9069 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
9070 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9071 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9075 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9076 This is the default.
9079 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9082 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9085 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9088 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9089 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9090 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9091 require further enhancement to permit that.
9094 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9096 @item show demangle-style
9097 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
9099 @item set print object
9100 @itemx set print object on
9101 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
9102 @cindex display derived types
9103 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
9104 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
9105 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
9106 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
9107 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
9108 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
9109 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
9111 @item set print object off
9112 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
9113 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
9115 @item show print object
9116 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
9118 @item set print static-members
9119 @itemx set print static-members on
9120 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
9121 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
9123 @item set print static-members off
9124 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
9126 @item show print static-members
9127 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
9129 @item set print pascal_static-members
9130 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
9131 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
9132 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
9133 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
9135 @item set print pascal_static-members off
9136 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
9138 @item show print pascal_static-members
9139 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
9141 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
9142 @item set print vtbl
9143 @itemx set print vtbl on
9144 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
9145 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
9146 @cindex VTBL display
9147 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
9148 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9149 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9151 @item set print vtbl off
9152 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
9154 @item show print vtbl
9155 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
9158 @node Pretty Printing
9159 @section Pretty Printing
9161 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
9162 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
9163 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
9166 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
9167 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
9168 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
9171 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
9172 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
9174 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
9175 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
9176 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
9178 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
9179 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
9180 pretty-printers with their names.
9181 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
9182 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
9183 Each such subprinter has its own name.
9184 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
9186 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
9187 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
9188 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
9189 do anything special.
9191 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9195 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9199 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9200 when debugging that program.
9201 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9204 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9205 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9206 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9209 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9210 pretty-printers are selected,
9212 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9215 @node Pretty-Printer Example
9216 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9218 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9221 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9223 static npos = 4294967295,
9225 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9226 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9227 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9229 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9230 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9231 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9236 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9239 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9243 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
9244 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9245 @cindex pretty-printer commands
9248 @kindex info pretty-printer
9249 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9250 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9251 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9253 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9254 whose pretty-printers to list.
9255 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9256 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9257 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9258 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9259 looks up a printer from these three objects.
9261 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9264 @kindex disable pretty-printer
9265 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9266 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9267 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9269 @kindex enable pretty-printer
9270 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9271 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9276 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9277 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9278 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9279 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9282 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9289 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9294 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
9296 2 of 3 printers enabled
9297 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9304 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
9306 1 of 3 printers enabled
9307 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9314 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
9316 0 of 3 printers enabled
9317 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9326 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9327 as can each individual subprinter.
9330 @section Value History
9332 @cindex value history
9333 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9334 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9335 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9336 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9337 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9338 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9339 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9344 @cindex history number
9345 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9346 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9347 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9348 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9351 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9352 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9353 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9354 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9355 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9356 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9357 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9359 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9360 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9366 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9367 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9374 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9375 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9377 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9378 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9386 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9387 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9392 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9393 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9394 values} does not change the history.
9396 @item show values @var{n}
9397 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9400 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9401 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9404 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9405 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9407 @node Convenience Vars
9408 @section Convenience Variables
9410 @cindex convenience variables
9411 @cindex user-defined variables
9412 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9413 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9414 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9415 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9416 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9418 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9419 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9420 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9421 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9422 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9424 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9425 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9429 set $foo = *object_ptr
9433 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9436 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9437 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9438 value with another assignment at any time.
9440 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9441 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9442 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9443 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9446 @kindex show convenience
9447 @cindex show all user variables and functions
9448 @item show convenience
9449 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9450 as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9451 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9453 @kindex init-if-undefined
9454 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9455 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9456 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9457 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9458 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9459 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9460 override default values used in a command script.
9462 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9463 any side-effects do not occur.
9466 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9467 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9468 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9472 print bar[$i++]->contents
9476 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9478 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9479 values likely to be useful.
9482 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9484 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9485 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9486 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9487 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9488 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9489 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9490 to the type of @code{$__}.
9492 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9494 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9495 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9496 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9499 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9500 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
9501 the program being debugged terminates.
9504 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9505 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9508 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9509 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9510 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9511 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9512 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9515 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9516 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9517 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9518 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9519 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9522 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9523 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9524 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9525 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9526 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9527 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9531 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9532 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9533 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9535 @node Convenience Funs
9536 @section Convenience Functions
9538 @cindex convenience functions
9539 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9540 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9541 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9542 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9545 These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9546 @code{Python} support.
9550 @item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
9551 @findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
9552 Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
9553 @var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
9554 Otherwise it returns zero.
9556 @item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
9557 @findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
9558 Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
9559 @var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
9560 The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
9561 regular expression support.
9563 @item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
9564 @findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
9565 Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
9566 Otherwise it returns zero.
9568 @item $_strlen(@var{str})
9569 @findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
9570 Returns the length of string @var{str}.
9574 @value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
9575 convenience functions.
9579 @kindex help function
9580 @cindex show all convenience functions
9581 Print a list of all convenience functions.
9588 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
9589 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
9590 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
9594 @kindex info registers
9595 @item info registers
9596 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
9597 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9599 @kindex info all-registers
9600 @cindex floating point registers
9601 @item info all-registers
9602 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
9603 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9605 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
9606 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
9607 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
9608 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
9609 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
9612 @cindex stack pointer register
9613 @cindex program counter register
9614 @cindex process status register
9615 @cindex frame pointer register
9616 @cindex standard registers
9617 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
9618 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
9619 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
9620 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
9621 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
9622 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
9623 register that contains the processor status. For example,
9624 you could print the program counter in hex with
9631 or print the instruction to be executed next with
9638 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
9639 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
9640 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
9641 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
9642 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
9643 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
9644 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
9650 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
9651 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
9652 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
9653 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
9654 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
9655 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
9656 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
9658 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
9659 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
9660 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
9661 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
9662 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
9663 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
9664 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
9666 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
9667 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
9668 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
9669 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
9670 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
9671 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
9672 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
9673 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
9674 prints the data in both formats.
9676 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
9677 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
9678 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
9679 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
9680 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
9681 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
9682 registers in @code{struct} notation:
9685 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
9687 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
9688 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
9689 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
9690 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
9691 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
9692 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
9693 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
9698 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
9699 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
9700 value to a @code{struct} member:
9703 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
9706 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
9707 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
9708 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
9709 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
9710 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
9711 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
9713 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
9714 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
9715 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9716 frame makes no difference.
9718 @node Floating Point Hardware
9719 @section Floating Point Hardware
9720 @cindex floating point
9722 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
9723 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
9728 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
9729 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
9730 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
9731 the ARM and x86 machines.
9735 @section Vector Unit
9738 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9739 more information about the status of the vector unit.
9744 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
9745 layout vary depending on the hardware.
9748 @node OS Information
9749 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
9750 @cindex OS information
9752 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
9753 you debug your program.
9755 @cindex auxiliary vector
9756 @cindex vector, auxiliary
9757 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9758 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
9759 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
9760 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
9761 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
9762 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
9763 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
9764 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
9765 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
9766 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
9767 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
9772 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
9773 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
9774 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
9775 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
9776 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
9777 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
9778 an unrecognized tag.
9781 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
9782 information and show it to you. The types of information available
9783 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
9784 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
9785 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
9786 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
9787 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
9791 @item info os @var{infotype}
9793 Display OS information of the requested type.
9795 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
9797 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
9799 @kindex info os processes
9801 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
9802 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
9803 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
9804 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
9805 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
9806 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
9808 @kindex info os procgroups
9810 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
9811 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
9812 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
9813 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
9814 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
9815 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
9816 and the process group leader is listed first.
9818 @kindex info os threads
9820 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
9821 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
9822 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
9823 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
9824 process is not listed.
9826 @kindex info os files
9828 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
9829 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
9830 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
9831 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
9833 @kindex info os sockets
9835 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
9836 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
9837 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
9838 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
9843 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
9844 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
9845 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
9846 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
9847 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
9848 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
9849 attached to, detach from, and changed.
9851 @kindex info os semaphores
9853 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
9854 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
9855 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
9856 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
9857 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
9861 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
9862 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
9863 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
9864 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
9865 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
9866 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
9867 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
9868 the message queue was last changed.
9870 @kindex info os modules
9872 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
9873 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
9874 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
9875 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
9880 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
9881 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
9882 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
9883 types, this command will report an error.
9886 @node Memory Region Attributes
9887 @section Memory Region Attributes
9888 @cindex memory region attributes
9890 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
9891 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
9892 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
9893 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
9894 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
9895 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
9896 user can override the fetched regions.
9898 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
9899 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
9900 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
9901 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
9904 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
9905 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
9909 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
9910 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
9911 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
9912 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
9913 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
9914 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
9917 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
9918 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
9921 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9922 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
9923 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
9926 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9927 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9928 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
9929 It may be enabled again later.
9932 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9933 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9937 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
9941 @item Memory Region Number
9942 @item Enabled or Disabled.
9943 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
9944 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
9947 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
9950 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
9953 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
9958 @subsection Attributes
9960 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
9961 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
9962 write accesses to a memory region.
9964 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
9965 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
9966 etc.@: from accessing memory.
9970 Memory is read only.
9972 Memory is write only.
9974 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
9977 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
9978 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
9979 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
9980 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
9981 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
9985 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
9987 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
9989 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
9991 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
9994 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
9995 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9996 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
9997 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
10001 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
10002 @c @item swbreak (default)
10005 @subsubsection Data Cache
10006 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
10007 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
10008 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
10009 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
10014 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
10016 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
10019 @subsection Memory Access Checking
10020 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
10021 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
10022 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
10023 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
10026 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
10027 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
10028 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
10029 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
10030 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
10031 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
10032 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
10033 The default value is @code{on}.
10034 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
10035 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
10036 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
10040 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
10041 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10042 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
10046 @c @item noverify (default)
10049 @node Dump/Restore Files
10050 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
10051 @cindex dump/restore files
10052 @cindex append data to a file
10053 @cindex dump data to a file
10054 @cindex restore data from a file
10056 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
10057 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
10058 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
10059 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
10060 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
10061 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
10067 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10068 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10069 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10070 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
10072 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
10079 Motorola S-record format.
10081 Tektronix Hex format.
10084 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
10085 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
10086 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
10090 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10091 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10092 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10093 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
10094 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
10097 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
10098 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
10099 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
10100 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
10101 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
10103 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
10104 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
10105 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
10106 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
10107 from that location.
10109 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
10110 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
10111 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
10112 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
10116 @node Core File Generation
10117 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
10118 @cindex dump core from inferior
10120 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
10121 image of a running process and its process status (register values
10122 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
10123 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
10124 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
10125 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
10126 the post-mortem debugging mode.
10128 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
10129 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
10130 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
10134 @kindex generate-core-file
10135 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
10136 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
10137 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
10138 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
10139 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
10140 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
10142 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
10143 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
10146 @node Character Sets
10147 @section Character Sets
10148 @cindex character sets
10150 @cindex translating between character sets
10151 @cindex host character set
10152 @cindex target character set
10154 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
10155 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
10156 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
10157 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
10158 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
10159 @dfn{target character set}.
10161 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
10162 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
10163 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
10164 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
10165 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
10166 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
10167 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
10168 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
10169 character and string literals in expressions.
10171 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10172 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10173 target-charset} command, described below.
10175 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10179 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
10180 @kindex set target-charset
10181 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10182 list of supported target character sets, type
10183 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10185 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
10186 @kindex set host-charset
10187 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10189 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10190 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10191 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10192 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10193 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10195 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10196 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10197 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10199 @item set charset @var{charset}
10200 @kindex set charset
10201 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10202 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10203 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10204 for both host and target.
10207 @kindex show charset
10208 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10210 @item show host-charset
10211 @kindex show host-charset
10212 Show the name of the current host character set.
10214 @item show target-charset
10215 @kindex show target-charset
10216 Show the name of the current target character set.
10218 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10219 @kindex set target-wide-charset
10220 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10221 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10222 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10223 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10225 @item show target-wide-charset
10226 @kindex show target-wide-charset
10227 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10230 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10231 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10232 @file{charset-test.c}:
10238 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10239 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10240 char ibm1047_hello[]
10241 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10242 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10246 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10250 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10251 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10252 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10254 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10257 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10258 $ gdb -nw charset-test
10259 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10260 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10265 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10266 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10270 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10271 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10275 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10276 initial character set:
10278 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10279 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10280 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10284 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10285 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10286 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10287 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10288 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10291 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10292 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10293 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10298 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10299 literals you use in expressions:
10302 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10307 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10310 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10311 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10312 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10315 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10316 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10317 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10322 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10323 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10326 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10327 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10328 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10331 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10332 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10333 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10334 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10335 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10338 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10339 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10340 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10341 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10342 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10343 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10344 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10346 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10347 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10348 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10353 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10354 string literals you use in expressions:
10357 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10362 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10365 @node Caching Remote Data
10366 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
10367 @cindex caching data of remote targets
10369 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
10370 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
10371 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
10372 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
10373 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
10374 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
10375 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
10376 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
10377 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10378 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10379 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10380 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10381 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10382 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10383 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10386 @kindex set remotecache
10387 @item set remotecache on
10388 @itemx set remotecache off
10389 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10392 @kindex show remotecache
10393 @item show remotecache
10394 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10396 @kindex set stack-cache
10397 @item set stack-cache on
10398 @itemx set stack-cache off
10399 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
10400 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
10402 @kindex show stack-cache
10403 @item show stack-cache
10404 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10406 @kindex info dcache
10407 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10408 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
10409 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
10410 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
10411 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
10414 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10417 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10418 @cindex dcache size
10419 @kindex set dcache size
10420 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10422 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10423 @cindex dcache line-size
10424 @kindex set dcache line-size
10425 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10426 Must be a power of 2.
10428 @item show dcache size
10429 @kindex show dcache size
10430 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10432 @item show dcache line-size
10433 @kindex show dcache line-size
10434 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10438 @node Searching Memory
10439 @section Search Memory
10440 @cindex searching memory
10442 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10443 @code{find} command.
10447 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10448 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10449 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10450 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10451 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10454 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10455 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10458 @item @var{s}, search query size
10459 The size of each search query value.
10465 halfwords (two bytes)
10469 giant words (eight bytes)
10472 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10473 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10474 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10476 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10477 value's type in the current language.
10478 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10479 pattern as a mixture of types.
10480 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10481 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10482 which is typically four bytes.
10484 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10485 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10488 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10490 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10491 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10493 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10494 number of matches found.
10496 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10498 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10500 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10506 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10507 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10508 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10509 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10510 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10515 you get during debugging:
10518 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
10519 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10521 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
10522 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10523 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10525 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
10526 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10528 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
10529 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
10531 (gdb) print $numfound
10534 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
10537 @node Optimized Code
10538 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
10539 @cindex optimized code, debugging
10540 @cindex debugging optimized code
10542 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
10543 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
10544 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
10545 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
10546 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
10547 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
10548 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
10550 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
10551 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
10552 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
10553 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
10555 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
10556 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
10557 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
10558 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
10559 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
10560 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
10562 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
10563 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
10564 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
10565 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
10566 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
10569 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
10570 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
10573 @node Inline Functions
10574 @section Inline Functions
10575 @cindex inline functions, debugging
10577 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
10578 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
10579 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
10580 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
10581 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
10582 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
10583 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
10584 @code{info frame} command.
10586 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
10587 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
10588 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
10589 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
10590 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
10591 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
10592 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
10593 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
10594 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
10595 local variables in the caller.
10597 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
10598 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
10599 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
10600 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
10601 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
10602 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
10603 instructions are executed.
10605 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
10606 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
10607 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
10608 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
10610 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
10611 function calls are the same as normal calls:
10615 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
10616 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
10617 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
10618 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
10619 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
10620 or inside the inlined function instead.
10623 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
10624 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
10625 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
10626 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
10630 @node Tail Call Frames
10631 @section Tail Call Frames
10632 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
10634 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
10635 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
10636 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
10637 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
10638 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
10640 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
10641 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
10642 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
10643 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
10644 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
10645 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
10646 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
10648 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
10649 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
10650 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
10653 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
10654 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
10658 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
10660 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
10661 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
10662 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
10663 source language c++.
10664 Arglist at unknown address.
10665 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
10668 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
10669 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
10670 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
10671 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
10672 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
10673 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
10676 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
10677 @item set debug entry-values
10678 @kindex set debug entry-values
10679 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
10680 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
10681 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
10682 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
10685 @item show debug entry-values
10686 @kindex show debug entry-values
10687 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
10688 values at function entry and tail calls.
10691 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
10692 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
10693 reference by variable @code{x}):
10696 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
10697 void (*x) (void) = c;
10698 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10699 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
10700 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
10702 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
10703 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
10705 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10708 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
10711 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
10715 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
10716 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
10717 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
10718 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
10719 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
10720 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
10721 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
10722 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
10724 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
10725 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
10726 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
10729 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
10730 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
10733 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
10734 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
10736 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
10737 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10738 @set ARROW @click{}
10739 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
10740 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
10742 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10744 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
10745 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
10748 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
10749 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
10750 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
10752 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
10753 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
10754 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
10755 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
10756 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
10757 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
10759 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
10760 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
10761 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
10762 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
10765 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
10770 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
10771 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
10772 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
10773 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
10774 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
10775 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
10778 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
10779 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
10780 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
10781 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
10782 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
10785 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
10786 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
10787 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
10788 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
10789 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
10792 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
10794 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
10795 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
10796 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
10797 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
10798 where it was defined.
10800 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
10801 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
10802 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
10803 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
10805 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
10806 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
10807 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
10808 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
10809 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
10810 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
10813 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
10814 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
10815 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
10819 @kindex macro expand
10820 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
10821 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
10822 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
10823 @item macro expand @var{expression}
10824 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
10825 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
10826 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
10827 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
10828 it can be any string of tokens.
10831 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
10832 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
10833 @cindex expand macro once
10834 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
10835 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
10836 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
10837 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
10838 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
10839 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
10840 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
10841 can be any string of tokens.
10844 @cindex macro definition, showing
10845 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
10846 @cindex macros, from debug info
10847 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
10848 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
10849 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
10850 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
10851 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
10852 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
10854 @kindex info macros
10855 @item info macros @var{linespec}
10856 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
10857 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
10858 command-line where those definitions were established.
10860 @kindex macro define
10861 @cindex user-defined macros
10862 @cindex defining macros interactively
10863 @cindex macros, user-defined
10864 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
10865 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
10866 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
10867 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
10868 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
10869 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
10870 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
10873 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
10874 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
10875 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
10876 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
10877 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
10879 @kindex macro undef
10880 @item macro undef @var{macro}
10881 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
10882 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
10883 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
10884 in the program being debugged.
10888 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
10891 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
10892 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
10893 show our source files:
10898 #include "sample.h"
10901 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10906 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10908 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10910 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10917 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
10918 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
10919 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
10920 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
10921 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
10922 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
10926 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
10930 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
10934 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
10935 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10936 GDB is free software, @dots{}
10940 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
10941 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
10942 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
10945 (@value{GDBP}) list main
10948 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10953 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10955 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10956 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
10957 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
10958 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10959 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
10960 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
10961 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
10963 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
10964 expands to: (42 + 1)
10965 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
10966 expands to: once (M + 1)
10970 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
10971 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
10972 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
10973 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
10975 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
10976 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
10979 (@value{GDBP}) break main
10980 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
10982 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
10984 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
10985 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10989 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
10992 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10993 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
10995 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10996 expands to: 28 < 42
10997 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11002 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
11003 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
11004 thereof) in force at each point:
11007 (@value{GDBP}) next
11009 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11010 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11011 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
11012 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
11013 (@value{GDBP}) next
11015 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11016 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11017 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
11019 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11020 expands to: 1729 < 42
11021 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11026 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
11027 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
11028 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
11029 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
11032 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
11033 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
11040 @chapter Tracepoints
11041 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
11042 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
11044 @cindex tracepoints
11045 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
11046 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
11047 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
11048 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
11049 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
11050 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
11051 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
11053 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
11054 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
11055 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
11056 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
11057 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
11058 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
11059 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
11060 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
11061 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
11062 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
11063 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
11065 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
11066 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
11067 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
11068 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
11069 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
11070 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
11073 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
11074 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
11075 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
11077 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
11080 * Set Tracepoints::
11081 * Analyze Collected Data::
11082 * Tracepoint Variables::
11086 @node Set Tracepoints
11087 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
11089 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
11090 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
11091 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
11092 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
11093 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
11094 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
11095 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
11097 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
11098 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
11099 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
11100 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
11101 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
11102 tracepoint was hit.
11104 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
11105 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
11106 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
11109 @cindex fast tracepoints
11110 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
11111 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
11112 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
11114 @cindex static tracepoints
11115 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
11116 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
11117 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
11118 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
11119 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
11120 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
11121 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
11122 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
11123 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
11124 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
11125 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
11126 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
11127 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
11128 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
11129 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
11130 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
11131 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
11132 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
11133 static tracepoint marker.
11135 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
11136 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
11138 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
11139 conditions and actions.
11142 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
11143 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
11144 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
11145 * Tracepoint Conditions::
11146 * Trace State Variables::
11147 * Tracepoint Actions::
11148 * Listing Tracepoints::
11149 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
11150 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
11151 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
11154 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
11155 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
11158 @cindex set tracepoint
11160 @item trace @var{location}
11161 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
11162 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
11163 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
11164 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
11165 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
11166 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
11167 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
11168 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
11170 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
11171 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11172 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11173 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11174 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11175 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11176 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11177 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11178 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11179 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11180 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11181 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11183 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11186 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11188 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11190 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11192 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11194 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11198 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11200 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11201 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11202 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11203 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11204 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11205 information on tracepoint conditions.
11207 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11208 @cindex set fast tracepoint
11209 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11211 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11212 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11213 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11214 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11215 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11216 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11219 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11222 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11223 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11224 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11225 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11226 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11227 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11228 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11229 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11232 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11236 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11237 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11239 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11240 @cindex set static tracepoint
11241 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
11242 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11244 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11245 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11246 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11247 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11248 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11250 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11251 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11252 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11253 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11254 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11255 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11256 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11257 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11258 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11264 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11269 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11270 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11273 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11274 Cnt Enb ID Address What
11275 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11281 so you may probe the marker above with:
11284 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11287 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11288 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11289 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11290 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11291 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11292 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11293 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11294 the @samp{Data:} field.
11296 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11297 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11298 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11301 @cindex last tracepoint number
11302 @cindex recent tracepoint number
11303 @cindex tracepoint number
11304 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11305 of the most recently set tracepoint.
11307 @kindex delete tracepoint
11308 @cindex tracepoint deletion
11309 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11310 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11311 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11312 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11317 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11319 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11323 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11326 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11327 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11329 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11332 @kindex disable tracepoint
11333 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11334 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11335 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11336 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11337 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11338 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11339 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11340 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11341 next trace experiment.
11343 @kindex enable tracepoint
11344 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11345 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11346 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11347 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11348 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11349 next time a trace experiment is run.
11352 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
11353 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11357 @cindex tracepoint pass count
11358 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11359 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11360 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11361 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11362 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11363 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11364 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11365 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11371 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11372 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11374 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11375 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11376 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11377 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11378 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11379 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11380 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11381 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11382 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11383 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11384 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11388 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11389 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11390 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11391 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11393 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11394 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11395 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11396 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11397 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11398 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11401 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11402 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11403 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11404 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11405 just as with breakpoints.
11407 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11408 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11409 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11410 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11411 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11412 accesses, and so forth.
11414 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11415 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11416 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11417 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11418 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11419 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11423 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11426 @node Trace State Variables
11427 @subsection Trace State Variables
11428 @cindex trace state variables
11430 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11431 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11432 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11433 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11434 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11437 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11438 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11439 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11440 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11442 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11443 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11444 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11445 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11446 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11447 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11448 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11449 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11450 variable with the same name.
11454 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11456 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11457 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11458 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11459 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11460 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11461 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11462 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11463 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11464 value. The default initial value is 0.
11466 @item info tvariables
11467 @kindex info tvariables
11468 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11469 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11472 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11473 @kindex delete tvariable
11474 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11479 @node Tracepoint Actions
11480 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11484 @cindex tracepoint actions
11485 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11486 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11487 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11488 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11489 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11490 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11491 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11492 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11493 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11494 @code{while-stepping}.
11496 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11497 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11498 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11500 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11501 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11502 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11505 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11507 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11509 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11512 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11513 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11514 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11515 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11516 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11517 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11518 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11519 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11522 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11523 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11524 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11527 > while-stepping 12
11528 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11533 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11534 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11535 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
11536 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
11537 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
11538 special arguments are supported:
11542 Collect all registers.
11545 Collect all function arguments.
11548 Collect all local variables.
11551 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
11555 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
11556 tracepoint is located.
11557 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11559 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
11560 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
11561 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
11562 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11565 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
11566 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
11567 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
11568 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
11569 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
11570 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
11571 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
11572 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
11573 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
11576 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
11577 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
11580 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
11581 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
11582 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
11586 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
11587 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
11588 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
11590 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
11591 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
11592 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
11593 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
11594 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
11595 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
11596 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
11599 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
11600 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
11602 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
11603 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11604 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
11605 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
11606 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
11607 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
11608 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
11611 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
11612 @item while-stepping @var{n}
11613 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
11614 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
11615 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
11616 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
11619 > while-stepping 12
11620 > collect $regs, myglobal
11626 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
11627 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
11628 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
11631 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11632 @kindex set default-collect
11633 @cindex default collection action
11634 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
11635 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
11636 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
11637 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
11638 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
11639 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
11641 @item show default-collect
11642 @kindex show default-collect
11643 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
11648 @node Listing Tracepoints
11649 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
11652 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11653 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11654 @cindex information about tracepoints
11655 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
11656 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
11657 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
11658 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
11659 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
11660 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
11662 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
11667 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
11670 the state about installed on target of each location
11674 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
11675 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
11676 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
11678 collect globfoo, $regs
11683 2 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
11685 2.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
11686 installed on target
11687 2.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
11688 installed on target
11689 2.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
11690 3 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
11691 not installed on target
11696 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
11699 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11700 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11703 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
11704 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
11705 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
11706 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
11709 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
11713 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
11716 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
11717 @item Enabled or Disabled
11718 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
11719 that are not enabled.
11721 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
11723 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
11724 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
11725 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
11726 will be left blank.
11730 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
11734 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
11735 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
11737 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
11738 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
11742 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11743 Cnt ID Enb Address What
11744 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
11745 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
11746 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
11747 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
11753 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11754 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11757 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
11758 @cindex start a new trace experiment
11759 @cindex collected data discarded
11761 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
11762 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
11763 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
11764 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
11765 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
11766 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
11767 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
11768 information, and so forth.
11770 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
11771 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
11773 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
11774 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
11775 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
11776 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
11777 needs to be stopped quickly.
11779 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
11780 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
11781 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
11784 @cindex status of trace data collection
11785 @cindex trace experiment, status of
11787 This command displays the status of the current trace data
11791 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
11794 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
11795 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11796 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
11797 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
11798 > while-stepping 11
11802 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11803 [time passes @dots{}]
11804 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
11807 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
11808 @cindex disconnected tracing
11809 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
11810 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
11811 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
11812 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
11813 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
11814 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
11815 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
11816 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
11819 @item set disconnected-tracing on
11820 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
11821 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
11822 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
11823 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
11824 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
11825 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
11826 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
11828 @item show disconnected-tracing
11829 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
11830 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
11834 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
11835 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
11836 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
11837 it will continue after reconnection.
11839 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
11840 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
11841 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
11842 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
11843 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
11844 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
11845 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
11846 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
11847 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
11848 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
11850 @cindex circular trace buffer
11851 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
11852 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
11853 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
11854 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
11855 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
11856 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
11857 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
11858 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
11859 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
11860 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
11864 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
11865 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
11866 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
11867 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
11868 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
11869 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
11870 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
11872 @item show circular-trace-buffer
11873 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
11874 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
11875 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
11876 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
11877 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
11882 @item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
11883 @kindex set trace-buffer-size
11884 Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
11885 targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
11886 the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
11887 @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it likes. This is also
11890 @item show trace-buffer-size
11891 @kindex show trace-buffer-size
11892 Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
11893 will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
11894 and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
11895 target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
11896 not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
11897 to get a report of the actual buffer size.
11901 @item set trace-user @var{text}
11902 @kindex set trace-user
11904 @item show trace-user
11905 @kindex show trace-user
11907 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
11908 @kindex set trace-notes
11909 Set the trace run's notes.
11911 @item show trace-notes
11912 @kindex show trace-notes
11913 Show the trace run's notes.
11915 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
11916 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
11917 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
11918 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
11919 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
11921 @item show trace-stop-notes
11922 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
11923 Show the trace run's stop notes.
11927 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
11928 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
11930 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
11931 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
11932 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
11933 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
11934 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
11935 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
11936 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
11937 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
11943 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
11944 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
11945 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
11946 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
11947 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
11948 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
11949 cannot be collected either.
11952 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
11953 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
11954 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
11955 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
11956 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
11957 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
11958 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
11959 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
11960 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
11961 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
11964 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
11965 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
11966 in a misleading way.
11969 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
11970 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
11971 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
11972 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
11973 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
11974 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
11975 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
11979 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
11980 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
11981 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
11982 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
11983 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
11984 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
11985 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
11986 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
11987 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
11988 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
11992 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
11993 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
11994 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
11995 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
11996 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
11997 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
11998 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
12003 @node Analyze Collected Data
12004 @section Using the Collected Data
12006 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
12007 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
12008 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
12009 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
12010 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
12011 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
12012 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
12013 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
12014 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
12015 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
12016 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
12017 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
12018 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
12019 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
12020 the buffer will fail.
12023 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
12024 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
12025 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
12029 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
12032 @cindex select trace snapshot
12033 @cindex find trace snapshot
12034 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
12035 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
12036 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
12037 snapshot is selected.
12039 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
12043 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
12044 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
12047 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
12050 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
12053 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
12056 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
12057 retracing earlier steps.
12059 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
12060 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
12061 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
12062 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
12063 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
12065 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
12066 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
12067 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
12068 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
12069 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
12071 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12072 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
12073 addresses (exclusive).
12075 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12076 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
12077 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
12079 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
12080 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
12081 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
12082 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
12083 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
12084 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
12085 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
12086 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
12089 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
12090 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
12091 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
12092 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
12093 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
12094 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
12095 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
12096 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
12097 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
12098 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
12099 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
12100 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
12101 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
12102 tracepoint as the current one.
12104 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
12105 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
12106 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
12107 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
12108 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
12111 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12112 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12113 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
12114 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
12118 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
12119 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
12120 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
12121 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
12122 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
12123 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
12124 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
12125 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
12126 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
12127 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
12128 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
12131 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
12135 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12136 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12137 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
12147 @subsection @code{tdump}
12149 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
12150 @cindex tracepoint data, display
12152 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
12153 the current trace snapshot.
12156 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
12157 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12158 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
12159 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
12162 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12164 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
12165 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
12167 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
12169 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
12170 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
12171 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
12175 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
12178 d7 0x380035 3670069
12179 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
12180 a1 0x3000668 50333288
12182 a3 0x322000 3284992
12183 a4 0x3000698 50333336
12184 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
12185 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
12186 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
12188 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
12192 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
12199 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
12204 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12205 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12206 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12207 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12209 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12210 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12211 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12212 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12213 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12214 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12215 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12216 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12217 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12218 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12220 @node save tracepoints
12221 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12222 @kindex save tracepoints
12223 @kindex save-tracepoints
12224 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12226 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12227 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12228 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12229 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12230 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12231 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12233 @node Tracepoint Variables
12234 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12235 @cindex tracepoint variables
12236 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12239 @vindex $trace_frame
12240 @item (int) $trace_frame
12241 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12242 snapshot is selected.
12244 @vindex $tracepoint
12245 @item (int) $tracepoint
12246 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12248 @vindex $trace_line
12249 @item (int) $trace_line
12250 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12252 @vindex $trace_file
12253 @item (char []) $trace_file
12254 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12256 @vindex $trace_func
12257 @item (char []) $trace_func
12258 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12261 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12262 use @code{output} instead.
12264 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12265 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12266 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12267 which are managed by the target.
12270 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12272 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12273 > output $trace_file
12274 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12280 @section Using Trace Files
12281 @cindex trace files
12283 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
12284 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
12285 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
12286 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
12287 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
12292 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
12293 @itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
12294 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
12295 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
12296 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
12297 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12298 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12299 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12300 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12301 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12302 By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
12303 You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
12304 format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
12305 that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
12306 @indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
12308 @kindex target tfile
12310 @item target tfile @var{filename}
12311 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
12312 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
12313 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
12314 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
12315 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
12316 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
12321 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12324 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12325 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12326 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12330 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12331 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12332 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12333 mapped by asking the inferior.
12334 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12337 @node How Overlays Work
12338 @section How Overlays Work
12339 @cindex mapped overlays
12340 @cindex unmapped overlays
12341 @cindex load address, overlay's
12342 @cindex mapped address
12343 @cindex overlay area
12345 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12346 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12347 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12348 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12349 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12351 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12352 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12353 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12354 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12355 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12356 largest overlay as well.
12358 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12359 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12360 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12363 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12364 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12365 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12369 Data Instruction Larger
12370 Address Space Address Space Address Space
12371 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12373 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12374 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12375 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
12376 | and heap | | | | | |
12377 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12378 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
12379 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12381 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12382 address | | | | | |
12383 | overlay | <-' | | |
12384 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12385 | | <---. | | load address
12386 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12393 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12397 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12398 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12399 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12400 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12401 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12402 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12403 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12404 program and the overlay area.
12406 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12407 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12408 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12409 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12410 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12411 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12412 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12414 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12415 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12416 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12421 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12422 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12423 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12424 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12427 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12428 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12429 your program's performance.
12432 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12433 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12434 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12435 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12436 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12437 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12438 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12441 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12442 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12443 instruction and data spaces.
12447 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12448 improved in many ways:
12453 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12454 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12455 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12456 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12457 area in the usual way.
12460 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12461 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12464 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12465 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12466 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12467 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12468 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12469 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12470 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12475 @node Overlay Commands
12476 @section Overlay Commands
12478 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12479 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12480 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12481 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12482 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12483 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12485 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12486 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12491 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12492 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12493 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12494 overlay support is disabled.
12496 @item overlay manual
12497 @cindex manual overlay debugging
12498 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12499 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12500 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12501 commands described below.
12503 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12504 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12505 @cindex map an overlay
12506 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12507 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12508 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12509 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12510 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12511 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12513 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12514 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
12515 @cindex unmap an overlay
12516 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
12517 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
12518 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
12519 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
12522 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12523 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
12524 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
12525 Overlay Debugging}.
12527 @item overlay load-target
12528 @itemx overlay load
12529 @cindex reloading the overlay table
12530 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
12531 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
12532 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
12533 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
12534 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
12536 @item overlay list-overlays
12537 @itemx overlay list
12538 @cindex listing mapped overlays
12539 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
12540 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
12544 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
12545 of the function the address falls in:
12548 (@value{GDBP}) print main
12549 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
12552 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
12553 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
12554 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
12555 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
12558 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12559 No sections are mapped.
12560 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12561 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
12564 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
12568 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12569 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
12570 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
12571 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12572 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
12575 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
12576 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
12577 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
12578 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
12579 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
12583 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
12584 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
12585 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
12586 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
12588 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
12589 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
12590 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
12591 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
12592 breakpoints properly.
12596 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
12597 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
12598 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
12600 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
12601 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
12602 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
12603 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
12604 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
12605 current state of the overlays.
12607 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
12608 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
12612 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
12613 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
12618 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
12621 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
12622 unsigned long size;
12624 /* The overlay's load address. */
12627 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
12629 unsigned long mapped;
12633 @item @code{_novlys}:
12634 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
12635 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
12639 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
12640 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
12641 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
12642 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
12643 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
12646 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
12647 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
12648 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
12649 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
12650 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
12651 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
12652 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
12653 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
12654 are not being executed.
12656 @node Overlay Sample Program
12657 @section Overlay Sample Program
12658 @cindex overlay example program
12660 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
12661 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
12662 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
12663 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
12664 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
12665 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
12666 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
12668 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
12669 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
12670 suite. The program consists of the following files from
12671 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
12675 The main program file.
12677 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
12682 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
12685 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
12686 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
12689 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
12690 cross-compiler like this:
12693 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
12694 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
12695 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
12696 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
12697 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
12698 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
12699 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
12700 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
12703 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
12704 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
12705 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
12709 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
12712 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
12713 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
12714 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
12715 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
12716 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
12717 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
12719 @cindex working language
12720 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
12721 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
12722 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
12723 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
12724 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
12728 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
12729 * Show:: Displaying the language
12730 * Checks:: Type and range checks
12731 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
12732 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
12736 @section Switching Between Source Languages
12738 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
12739 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
12740 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
12741 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
12742 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
12745 In addition to the working language, every source file that
12746 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
12747 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
12748 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
12749 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
12750 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
12751 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
12752 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
12753 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
12754 Displaying the Language}.
12756 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
12757 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
12758 another language. In that case, make the
12759 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
12760 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
12761 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
12764 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
12765 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
12766 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
12770 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
12772 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
12773 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
12791 C@t{++} source file
12797 Objective-C source file
12801 Fortran source file
12804 Modula-2 source file
12808 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
12809 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
12812 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
12813 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
12816 @subsection Setting the Working Language
12818 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
12819 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
12822 @kindex set language
12823 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
12824 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
12825 a language, such as
12826 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
12827 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
12829 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
12830 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
12831 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
12832 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
12833 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
12834 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
12842 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
12843 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
12844 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
12845 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
12847 @node Automatically
12848 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
12850 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
12851 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
12852 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
12853 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
12854 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
12855 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
12856 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
12857 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
12858 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
12860 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
12861 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
12862 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
12863 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
12864 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
12867 @section Displaying the Language
12869 The following commands help you find out which language is the
12870 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
12873 @item show language
12874 @kindex show language
12875 Display the current working language. This is the
12876 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
12877 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
12880 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
12881 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
12882 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
12883 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
12884 information listed here.
12887 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
12888 Display the source language of this source file.
12889 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
12890 information listed here.
12893 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
12894 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
12895 with a language explicitly:
12898 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
12899 @kindex set extension-language
12900 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
12901 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
12903 @item info extensions
12904 @kindex info extensions
12905 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
12909 @section Type and Range Checking
12911 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
12912 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
12913 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
12914 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
12915 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
12916 by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
12917 errors when your program is running.
12919 By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
12920 rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
12921 the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
12922 into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
12925 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
12926 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
12929 @cindex type checking
12930 @cindex checks, type
12931 @node Type Checking
12932 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
12934 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
12935 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
12936 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
12937 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
12940 int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
12942 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
12945 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
12946 Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
12949 The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
12950 @samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
12952 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12953 @value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
12954 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
12955 When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
12956 expressions like the second example above.
12958 Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
12959 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
12960 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
12961 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
12962 with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
12963 little sense to evaluate anyway.
12965 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
12967 @kindex set check type
12968 @kindex show check type
12970 @item set check type on
12971 @itemx set check type off
12972 Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
12973 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
12974 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
12976 @item show check type
12977 Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
12978 is enforcing strict type checking rules.
12981 @cindex range checking
12982 @cindex checks, range
12983 @node Range Checking
12984 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
12986 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
12987 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
12988 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
12989 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
12990 not exceed the bounds of the array.
12992 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12993 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
12994 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
12995 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
12997 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
12998 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
12999 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
13000 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
13001 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
13002 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
13005 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
13008 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
13009 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
13010 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
13012 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
13014 @kindex set check range
13015 @kindex show check range
13017 @item set check range auto
13018 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
13019 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
13022 @item set check range on
13023 @itemx set check range off
13024 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
13025 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
13026 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
13027 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
13029 @item set check range warn
13030 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
13031 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
13032 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
13033 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
13037 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
13038 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
13041 @node Supported Languages
13042 @section Supported Languages
13044 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
13045 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
13046 @c This is false ...
13047 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
13048 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
13049 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
13050 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
13053 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
13054 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
13055 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
13056 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
13057 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
13058 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
13059 language reference or tutorial.
13062 * C:: C and C@t{++}
13065 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
13066 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
13067 * Fortran:: Fortran
13069 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
13074 @subsection C and C@t{++}
13076 @cindex C and C@t{++}
13077 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
13079 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
13080 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
13084 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
13085 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
13086 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
13087 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
13088 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
13089 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
13090 compiler (@code{aCC}).
13093 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
13094 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
13095 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
13096 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
13097 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
13098 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
13099 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
13100 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
13104 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
13106 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
13108 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13109 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13110 often defined on groups of types.
13112 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
13117 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
13118 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
13121 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
13122 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
13125 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
13128 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
13133 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
13134 in order of increasing precedence:
13138 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
13139 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
13140 expression being the last expression evaluated.
13143 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
13144 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
13147 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
13148 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
13149 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
13150 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
13151 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
13154 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
13155 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
13159 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13162 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13165 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13168 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13171 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13174 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
13175 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
13177 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
13178 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
13179 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
13180 and non-zero for true.
13183 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
13186 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13189 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
13192 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
13193 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
13194 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
13198 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
13199 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
13200 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
13201 operation takes place.
13204 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
13208 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13210 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13211 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13212 to examine the address
13213 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13217 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13218 precedence as @code{++}.
13221 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13225 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13230 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13231 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13232 pointer based on the stored type information.
13233 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13236 Dereferences of pointers to members.
13239 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13240 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13243 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13246 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13247 and @code{class} types.
13250 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13251 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13255 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
13256 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
13257 predefined meaning.
13260 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
13262 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
13264 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
13269 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
13270 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
13271 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
13272 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
13276 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13277 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13278 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13279 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13280 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13281 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13282 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13283 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13284 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13288 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13289 integral equivalents.
13292 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13293 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13294 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13295 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13296 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13297 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13298 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13299 @samp{\n} for newline.
13301 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13302 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13303 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13304 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13307 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13308 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13309 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13310 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13313 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13314 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13315 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13318 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13319 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13322 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13323 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13324 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13325 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13328 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
13329 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13331 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13332 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13334 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13335 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
13336 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13337 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13339 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13340 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13341 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13342 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13343 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13344 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13345 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13346 code. @xref{Compilation}.
13351 @cindex member functions
13353 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13356 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13359 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13360 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13362 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13363 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13364 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13365 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13366 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13368 @cindex call overloaded functions
13369 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
13370 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13372 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13373 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13374 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13375 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13376 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13379 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13380 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13381 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13382 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13383 number of function arguments.
13385 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13386 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13387 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13389 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13390 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13392 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13395 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13396 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13398 @cindex reference declarations
13400 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13401 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13404 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13405 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13406 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13407 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13408 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13411 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13412 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13413 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13414 necessary, for example in an expression like
13415 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13416 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13417 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13420 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13425 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13427 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13429 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
13430 defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13431 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13432 selects the working language.
13434 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13435 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13436 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13437 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13438 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13439 for further details.
13442 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13444 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13446 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
13447 checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
13448 will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
13449 constants to pointers.
13451 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13452 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13453 that is not itself an array.
13456 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13458 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13459 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13460 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13461 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13463 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13464 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13467 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13468 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13470 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13472 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13473 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13476 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13477 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13478 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13479 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13480 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13481 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13483 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13484 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13485 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13486 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13488 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13490 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13493 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13494 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13496 @cindex inheritance
13497 @item ptype @var{typename}
13498 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13500 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13502 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13503 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13504 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13505 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13506 multiple inheritance is in use.
13508 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13509 @item set print demangle
13510 @itemx show print demangle
13511 @itemx set print asm-demangle
13512 @itemx show print asm-demangle
13513 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
13514 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
13515 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13517 @item set print object
13518 @itemx show print object
13519 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
13520 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13522 @item set print vtbl
13523 @itemx show print vtbl
13524 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
13525 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13526 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
13527 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
13529 @kindex set overload-resolution
13530 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
13531 @item set overload-resolution on
13532 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
13533 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
13534 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
13535 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
13536 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
13537 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
13539 @item set overload-resolution off
13540 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
13541 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13542 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
13543 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
13544 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13545 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
13548 @kindex show overload-resolution
13549 @item show overload-resolution
13550 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
13552 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
13553 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
13554 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
13555 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
13556 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
13557 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
13558 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
13561 @node Decimal Floating Point
13562 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
13563 @cindex decimal floating point format
13565 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
13566 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
13567 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
13568 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
13570 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
13571 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
13572 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
13575 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
13576 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
13577 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
13579 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
13580 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
13581 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
13583 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
13584 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
13585 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
13591 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
13592 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
13593 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
13598 @cindex Go (programming language)
13599 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
13600 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
13602 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
13605 @cindex current Go package
13606 @item The current Go package
13607 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
13608 specifying global variables and functions.
13610 For example, given the program:
13614 var myglob = "Shall we?"
13620 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
13624 (gdb) p main.myglob
13627 @cindex builtin Go types
13628 @item Builtin Go types
13629 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
13632 @cindex builtin Go functions
13633 @item Builtin Go functions
13634 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
13635 function and handles it internally.
13637 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
13638 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
13639 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
13640 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
13641 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
13645 @subsection Objective-C
13647 @cindex Objective-C
13648 This section provides information about some commands and command
13649 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
13650 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
13651 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
13654 * Method Names in Commands::
13655 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
13658 @node Method Names in Commands
13659 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
13661 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
13662 names as line specifications:
13664 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
13665 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
13666 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
13667 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
13668 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
13672 @item @code{info line}
13677 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
13680 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
13683 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
13684 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
13685 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
13686 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
13687 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
13688 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
13692 break -[Fruit create]
13695 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
13699 list +[NSText initialize]
13702 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
13703 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
13704 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
13705 is also possible to specify just a method name:
13711 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
13712 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
13713 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
13714 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
13717 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
13718 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
13721 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
13724 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
13725 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
13726 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
13727 @kindex print-object
13728 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
13730 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
13733 print -[@var{object} hash]
13736 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
13737 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
13739 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
13740 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
13741 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
13742 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
13743 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
13744 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
13747 @subsection OpenCL C
13750 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
13753 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
13754 * OpenCL C Expressions::
13755 * OpenCL C Operators::
13758 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
13759 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
13761 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
13762 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
13763 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
13764 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
13765 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
13767 @node OpenCL C Expressions
13768 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
13770 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
13771 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
13772 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
13773 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
13775 @node OpenCL C Operators
13776 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
13778 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
13779 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
13783 @subsection Fortran
13784 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
13786 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
13787 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
13789 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
13790 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
13791 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
13792 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
13793 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
13797 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
13798 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
13799 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
13802 @node Fortran Operators
13803 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
13805 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
13807 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13808 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
13809 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
13813 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
13817 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
13818 represent a section of array.
13821 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
13822 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
13823 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
13827 @node Fortran Defaults
13828 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
13830 @cindex Fortran Defaults
13832 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
13833 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
13834 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
13835 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
13837 @node Special Fortran Commands
13838 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
13840 @cindex Special Fortran commands
13842 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
13843 such as displaying common blocks.
13846 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
13847 @kindex info common
13848 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
13849 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
13850 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
13851 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
13858 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
13859 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
13860 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
13861 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
13864 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
13865 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
13866 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
13869 @subsection Modula-2
13871 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
13873 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
13874 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
13875 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
13876 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13877 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
13880 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
13882 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
13883 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
13884 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
13885 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
13886 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
13887 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
13888 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
13889 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13890 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13894 @subsubsection Operators
13895 @cindex Modula-2 operators
13897 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13898 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13899 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
13900 following definitions hold:
13905 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
13909 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
13912 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
13915 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
13919 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
13922 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
13925 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
13929 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
13930 increasing precedence:
13934 Function argument or array index separator.
13937 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
13941 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
13945 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
13946 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
13947 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
13949 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
13950 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
13951 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
13952 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
13956 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
13957 Same precedence as @code{<}.
13960 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13963 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13966 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13969 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
13970 and difference on set types.
13973 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
13977 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
13978 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
13981 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
13982 precedence as @code{*}.
13985 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
13988 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
13991 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
13995 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
13996 precedence as @code{^}.
13999 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
14002 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
14006 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
14010 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
14011 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
14012 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
14013 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
14017 @node Built-In Func/Proc
14018 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
14019 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
14021 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
14022 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
14027 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
14030 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
14033 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
14036 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
14037 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
14038 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
14041 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
14044 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
14050 represents a variable.
14053 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
14054 explanation of the function for details.
14057 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
14061 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
14064 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
14065 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
14068 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14071 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14073 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
14074 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14077 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14078 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
14081 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
14082 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
14084 @item HIGH(@var{a})
14085 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
14088 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14090 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
14091 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14094 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14095 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
14096 there. Returns the new set.
14099 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
14102 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
14105 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
14108 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
14109 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
14110 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
14111 integral, character and enumerated types.
14113 @item SIZE(@var{x})
14114 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14116 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
14117 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
14119 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
14120 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14122 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
14123 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14127 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
14128 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
14132 @cindex Modula-2 constants
14134 @subsubsection Constants
14136 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
14142 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
14143 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
14144 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
14145 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
14148 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
14149 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
14150 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
14151 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
14152 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
14156 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
14157 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
14158 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
14159 followed by a @samp{C}.
14162 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
14163 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
14164 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
14165 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
14169 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
14172 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
14176 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
14179 Set constants are not yet supported.
14183 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
14184 @cindex Modula-2 types
14186 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
14187 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
14188 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
14189 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
14190 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
14191 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
14193 The first example contains the following section of code:
14202 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
14203 @code{r} and @code{s}.
14206 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14208 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14210 (@value{GDBP}) print r
14212 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14217 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14221 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14225 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14228 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14229 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14233 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14234 expressions using the debugger.
14236 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14237 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14241 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14245 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14246 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14249 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
14250 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
14251 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14254 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14258 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14259 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14267 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14268 and value of a variable.
14271 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14273 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14274 type = [blue..yellow]
14278 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14279 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14280 their @code{C} counterparts.
14284 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14290 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14291 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14292 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14293 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14296 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14297 pointer types as shown in this example:
14301 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14308 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14311 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14312 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14315 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14316 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14327 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14328 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14330 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14334 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14338 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14339 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14342 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14347 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14348 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
14350 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14351 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14352 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14353 selected the working language.
14355 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14356 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14357 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14358 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14361 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14362 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14364 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14365 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14369 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14370 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14371 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14372 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14373 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14374 returned a pointer.)
14377 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14378 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14379 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14380 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14383 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14387 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14391 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14392 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14395 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14398 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14400 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14404 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14405 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14408 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14409 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14412 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14413 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14415 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14416 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14419 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14421 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14422 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14424 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14425 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14428 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14431 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14432 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14437 @var{module} . @var{id}
14438 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14442 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14443 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14444 identifier within your program, except another module.
14446 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14447 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14448 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14449 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14451 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14452 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14453 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14454 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14455 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14459 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14461 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14462 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14463 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14464 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14465 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14466 analogue in Modula-2.
14468 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14469 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14470 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14471 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14472 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14473 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14475 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14476 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14477 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14483 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14484 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14485 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14486 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14490 @cindex expressions in Ada
14492 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14493 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14495 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14496 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14497 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14498 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14499 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14500 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14502 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14505 @node Ada Mode Intro
14506 @subsubsection Introduction
14507 @cindex Ada mode, general
14509 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14510 syntax, with some extensions.
14511 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
14515 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
14516 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
14517 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
14518 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
14521 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
14522 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14525 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14528 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
14529 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
14530 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
14531 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
14532 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
14534 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
14535 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
14536 was translated from an Ada source file.
14538 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
14539 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
14540 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
14541 middle (to allow based literals).
14543 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
14544 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
14545 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
14546 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
14547 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
14548 functions to procedures elsewhere.
14550 @node Omissions from Ada
14551 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
14552 @cindex Ada, omissions from
14554 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
14558 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
14562 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
14563 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
14566 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
14569 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
14575 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
14576 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
14579 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
14580 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
14588 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
14589 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
14590 not currently available.
14593 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
14594 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
14595 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
14596 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
14597 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
14598 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
14599 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
14600 indeterminate values.
14603 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
14604 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
14605 are not implemented.
14608 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
14609 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
14610 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
14611 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
14612 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
14615 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
14616 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
14617 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
14618 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
14619 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
14620 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
14624 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
14625 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
14626 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
14627 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
14628 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
14629 declared to have a type such as:
14632 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
14634 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
14638 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
14642 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
14643 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
14646 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
14647 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
14648 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
14649 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
14650 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
14651 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
14652 redundant component associations, although which component values are
14653 assigned in such cases is not defined.
14656 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
14659 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
14660 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
14661 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
14662 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
14663 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
14664 the proper resolution.
14667 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
14670 Entry calls are not implemented.
14673 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
14674 formats are not supported.
14677 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
14680 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
14681 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
14683 Should your program
14684 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
14685 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
14688 @node Additions to Ada
14689 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
14690 @cindex Ada, deviations from
14692 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
14693 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
14697 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
14698 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
14699 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
14700 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
14701 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
14702 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
14703 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
14704 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
14707 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
14708 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
14709 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
14712 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
14713 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
14716 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
14717 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
14720 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
14721 additions specific to Ada:
14725 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
14726 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
14729 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
14730 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
14734 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
14735 the value of its right-hand operand.
14736 This allows, for example,
14737 complex conditional breaks:
14740 (@value{GDBP}) break f
14741 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
14745 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
14746 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
14747 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
14748 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
14749 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
14750 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
14751 in strings. For example,
14753 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
14756 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
14760 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
14761 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
14765 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
14769 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
14770 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
14771 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
14772 of 3 might print as
14779 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
14783 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
14784 multi-character subsequence of
14785 their names (an exact match gets preference).
14786 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
14787 in place of @t{a'length}.
14790 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
14791 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
14792 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
14793 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
14794 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
14795 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
14798 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
14802 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
14803 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
14804 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
14805 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
14810 @node Stopping Before Main Program
14811 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
14813 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
14814 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
14815 before reaching the main procedure.
14816 As defined in the Ada Reference
14817 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
14818 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
14819 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
14820 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
14823 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
14824 @cindex Ada, tasking
14826 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
14827 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
14832 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
14839 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14840 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14841 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14842 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
14843 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
14844 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
14849 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
14850 task currently being inspected.
14854 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
14860 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
14863 The base priority of the task.
14866 Current state of the task.
14870 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
14874 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
14875 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
14878 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
14879 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
14880 terminated themselves.
14882 @item Child Activation Wait
14883 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
14885 @item Accept Statement
14886 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
14888 @item Waiting on entry call
14889 The task is waiting on an entry call.
14891 @item Async Select Wait
14892 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
14896 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
14899 @item Child Termination Wait
14900 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
14901 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
14902 waiting on a terminate Phase.
14904 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
14905 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
14906 finish terminating.
14908 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
14909 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
14913 Name of the task in the program.
14917 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
14918 @item info task @var{taskno}
14919 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
14920 the following example:
14925 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14926 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14927 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14928 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
14929 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
14930 Ada Task: 0x807c468
14933 Parent: 1 (main_task)
14939 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
14940 @cindex current Ada task ID
14941 This command prints the ID of the current task.
14947 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14948 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14949 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14950 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14951 (@value{GDBP}) task
14952 [Current task is 2]
14955 @item task @var{taskno}
14956 @cindex Ada task switching
14957 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
14958 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
14959 from the current task to the given task.
14965 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14966 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14967 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14968 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14969 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
14970 [Switching to task 1]
14971 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14973 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14974 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
14975 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
14976 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
14977 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
14980 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
14981 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
14982 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
14983 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
14984 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
14985 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
14986 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
14987 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
14988 in @ref{Specify Location}.
14990 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
14991 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
14992 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
14993 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
14994 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
14996 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
14997 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
15000 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
15001 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
15002 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
15010 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15011 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15012 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15013 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
15014 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15015 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
15016 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
15017 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
15018 (@value{GDBP}) cont
15023 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
15025 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15026 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15027 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15028 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
15029 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15030 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
15034 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
15035 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15036 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
15038 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
15039 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
15040 the platform being used.
15041 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
15042 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
15045 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
15046 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
15047 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
15048 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
15049 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
15050 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
15052 @node Ravenscar Profile
15053 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
15054 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
15056 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
15057 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
15061 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
15062 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
15063 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
15064 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15065 Profile. This is the default.
15067 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
15068 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
15069 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15070 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
15071 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
15072 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
15073 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
15075 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
15076 @item show ravenscar task-switching
15077 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
15078 using the Ravenscar Profile.
15083 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
15084 @cindex Ada, problems
15086 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
15087 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
15089 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
15090 and the GNU Ada compiler.
15094 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
15095 storage are invisible to the debugger.
15098 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
15099 argument lists are treated as positional).
15102 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
15105 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
15106 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
15110 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
15111 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
15112 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
15113 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
15114 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
15115 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
15116 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
15117 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
15118 you can usually resolve the confusion
15119 by qualifying the problematic names with package
15120 @code{Standard} explicitly.
15123 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
15124 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
15125 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
15126 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
15127 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
15130 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15131 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15134 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
15135 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
15136 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
15137 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
15138 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
15139 This is the default.
15141 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
15142 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
15143 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
15144 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
15145 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
15146 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
15147 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
15151 @node Unsupported Languages
15152 @section Unsupported Languages
15154 @cindex unsupported languages
15155 @cindex minimal language
15156 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
15157 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
15158 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
15159 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
15160 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
15161 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
15163 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
15164 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
15168 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
15170 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
15171 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
15172 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
15173 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
15174 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
15175 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
15176 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15178 @cindex symbol names
15179 @cindex names of symbols
15180 @cindex quoting names
15181 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
15182 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
15183 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
15184 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
15185 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
15186 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
15187 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
15188 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
15195 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
15198 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
15199 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
15200 @kindex set case-sensitive
15201 @item set case-sensitive on
15202 @itemx set case-sensitive off
15203 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
15204 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
15205 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
15206 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
15207 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
15208 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
15209 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
15210 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
15211 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
15212 case-insensitive matches.
15214 @kindex show case-sensitive
15215 @item show case-sensitive
15216 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
15219 @kindex set print type methods
15220 @item set print type methods
15221 @itemx set print type methods on
15222 @itemx set print type methods off
15223 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
15224 declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15225 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15226 print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15227 display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
15228 cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
15230 @kindex show print type methods
15231 @item show print type methods
15232 This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
15235 @kindex set print type typedefs
15236 @item set print type typedefs
15237 @itemx set print type typedefs on
15238 @itemx set print type typedefs off
15240 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
15241 defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15242 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15243 print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15244 display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
15245 @code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
15246 Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
15247 printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
15250 @kindex show print type typedefs
15251 @item show print type typedefs
15252 This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
15255 @kindex info address
15256 @cindex address of a symbol
15257 @item info address @var{symbol}
15258 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
15259 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
15260 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
15263 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
15264 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
15265 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
15267 @kindex info symbol
15268 @cindex symbol from address
15269 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
15270 @item info symbol @var{addr}
15271 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
15272 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
15273 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
15276 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
15277 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
15281 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
15282 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
15284 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
15285 library containing the symbol is also printed:
15288 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15289 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15290 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15291 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15295 @item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15296 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15297 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15298 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15300 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15301 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15302 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15304 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15305 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15306 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15307 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15308 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15309 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15310 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15311 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15312 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15314 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15315 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15316 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15317 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15318 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15321 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15322 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15323 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15325 @var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
15326 Available flags are:
15330 Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
15331 parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
15332 members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
15335 Do not print methods defined in the class.
15338 Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15339 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
15342 Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
15343 whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
15344 names are substituted when printing other types.
15347 Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15348 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
15352 @item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15353 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15354 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15355 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15357 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15358 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15359 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15360 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15361 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15362 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15363 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15364 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15366 For example, for this variable declaration:
15369 typedef double real_t;
15370 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15371 typedef struct complex complex_t;
15373 real_t *real_pointer_var;
15377 the two commands give this output:
15381 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15383 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15384 type = struct complex @{
15388 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15389 type = struct complex
15390 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15391 type = struct complex
15392 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15393 type = struct complex @{
15397 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15399 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15405 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15406 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15408 @cindex incomplete type
15409 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15410 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15411 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15412 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15413 given these declarations:
15417 struct foo *fooptr;
15421 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15424 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15425 $1 = <incomplete type>
15429 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15430 completely specified.
15433 @item info types @var{regexp}
15435 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15436 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15437 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15438 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15439 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15440 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15441 name is @code{value}.
15443 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15444 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15445 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15447 @kindex info type-printers
15448 @item info type-printers
15449 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
15450 have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
15451 @command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
15452 is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
15455 @code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
15457 @kindex enable type-printer
15458 @kindex disable type-printer
15459 @item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15460 @item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15461 These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
15464 @cindex local variables
15465 @item info scope @var{location}
15466 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15467 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15468 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15469 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15470 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15473 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15474 Scope for command_line_handler:
15475 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
15476 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
15477 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
15478 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
15479 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
15480 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
15481 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
15485 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
15486 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
15489 @kindex info source
15491 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
15492 the function containing the current point of execution:
15495 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
15497 the directory it was compiled in,
15499 its length, in lines,
15501 which programming language it is written in,
15503 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
15504 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
15506 whether the debugging information includes information about
15507 preprocessor macros.
15511 @kindex info sources
15513 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
15514 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
15515 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
15517 @kindex info functions
15518 @item info functions
15519 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
15521 @item info functions @var{regexp}
15522 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
15523 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
15524 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
15525 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
15526 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
15527 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
15528 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
15530 @kindex info variables
15531 @item info variables
15532 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
15533 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
15535 @item info variables @var{regexp}
15536 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
15537 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
15540 @kindex info classes
15541 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
15543 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
15544 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
15545 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15548 @kindex info selectors
15549 @item info selectors
15550 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
15551 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
15552 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15556 This was never implemented.
15557 @kindex info methods
15559 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
15560 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
15561 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
15562 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
15563 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
15564 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
15565 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
15566 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
15569 @cindex opaque data types
15570 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
15571 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
15572 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
15573 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
15574 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
15575 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
15576 another source file. The default is on.
15578 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
15579 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
15581 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
15582 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
15583 is printed as follows:
15585 @{<no data fields>@}
15588 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
15589 @item show opaque-type-resolution
15590 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
15592 @kindex maint print symbols
15593 @cindex symbol dump
15594 @kindex maint print psymbols
15595 @cindex partial symbol dump
15596 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
15597 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
15598 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
15599 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
15600 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
15601 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
15602 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
15603 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
15604 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
15605 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
15606 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
15607 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
15608 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
15609 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
15610 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
15611 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
15612 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
15614 @kindex maint info symtabs
15615 @kindex maint info psymtabs
15616 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
15617 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15618 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15619 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15620 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15621 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15623 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
15624 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
15625 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
15626 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
15627 structure in more detail. For example:
15630 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
15631 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15632 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15633 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15634 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
15637 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
15638 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
15639 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
15640 dependencies (none)
15643 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15647 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
15648 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
15649 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
15650 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
15651 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
15654 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
15655 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
15657 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15658 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15659 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15660 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15661 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
15664 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
15665 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
15666 debugformat DWARF 2
15675 @chapter Altering Execution
15677 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
15678 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
15679 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
15680 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
15683 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
15684 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
15685 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
15688 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
15689 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
15690 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
15691 * Returning:: Returning from a function
15692 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
15693 * Patching:: Patching your program
15697 @section Assignment to Variables
15700 @cindex setting variables
15701 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
15702 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
15709 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
15710 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
15711 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
15712 information on operators in supported languages.
15714 @kindex set variable
15715 @cindex variables, setting
15716 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
15717 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
15718 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
15719 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
15720 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
15722 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
15723 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
15724 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
15725 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
15726 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
15727 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
15728 command @code{set width}:
15731 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
15733 (@value{GDBP}) p width
15735 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
15736 Invalid syntax in expression.
15740 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
15741 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
15744 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
15747 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
15748 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
15749 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
15750 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
15751 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
15752 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
15756 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
15760 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
15764 The program being debugged has been started already.
15765 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
15766 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
15767 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
15768 Invalid bfd target.
15769 (@value{GDBP}) show g
15770 The current BFD target is "=4".
15775 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
15776 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
15780 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
15783 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
15784 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
15785 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
15786 same length or shorter.
15787 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
15788 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
15790 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
15791 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
15792 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
15793 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
15794 and representation in memory), and
15797 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
15801 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
15804 @section Continuing at a Different Address
15806 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
15807 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
15808 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
15812 @kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
15813 @item jump @var{linespec}
15814 @itemx j @var{linespec}
15815 @itemx jump @var{location}
15816 @itemx j @var{location}
15817 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
15818 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
15819 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
15820 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
15821 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
15822 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
15824 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
15825 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
15826 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
15827 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
15828 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
15829 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
15830 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
15831 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
15832 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
15835 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
15836 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
15837 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
15838 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
15839 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
15847 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
15848 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
15849 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
15851 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
15852 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
15853 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
15858 @section Giving your Program a Signal
15859 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
15863 @item signal @var{signal}
15864 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
15865 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
15866 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
15867 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
15869 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
15870 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
15871 a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
15872 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
15875 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
15876 after executing the command.
15880 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
15881 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
15882 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
15883 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
15884 passes the signal directly to your program.
15888 @section Returning from a Function
15891 @cindex returning from a function
15894 @itemx return @var{expression}
15895 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
15896 command. If you give an
15897 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
15901 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
15902 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
15903 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
15904 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
15906 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
15907 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
15908 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
15909 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
15912 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
15913 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
15914 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
15915 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
15916 selected stack frame returns naturally.
15918 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
15919 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
15920 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
15921 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
15922 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
15923 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
15924 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
15925 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
15926 assignment into the right register(s).
15928 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
15929 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
15930 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
15931 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
15932 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
15933 into a @code{long long int}:
15936 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
15938 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15939 Make func return now? (y or n) y
15940 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
15941 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
15945 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
15946 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
15947 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
15948 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
15949 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
15950 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
15951 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
15952 an appropriate cast explicitly:
15955 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
15956 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15957 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
15958 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
15959 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
15960 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
15961 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
15966 @section Calling Program Functions
15969 @cindex calling functions
15970 @cindex inferior functions, calling
15971 @item print @var{expr}
15972 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
15973 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
15977 @item call @var{expr}
15978 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
15981 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
15982 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
15983 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
15984 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
15985 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
15989 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
15990 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
15991 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
15992 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
15994 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
15995 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
15996 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
15997 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
15998 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
15999 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
16000 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
16001 in that case is controlled by the
16002 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
16005 @item set unwindonsignal
16006 @kindex set unwindonsignal
16007 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
16008 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
16009 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
16010 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
16011 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
16012 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
16013 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
16016 @item show unwindonsignal
16017 @kindex show unwindonsignal
16018 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16021 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16022 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16023 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
16024 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
16025 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
16026 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
16027 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
16028 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
16029 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
16030 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
16032 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16033 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16034 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16039 @cindex weak alias functions
16040 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
16041 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
16042 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
16043 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
16044 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
16045 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
16049 @section Patching Programs
16051 @cindex patching binaries
16052 @cindex writing into executables
16053 @cindex writing into corefiles
16055 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
16056 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
16057 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
16058 patching your program's binary.
16060 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
16061 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
16062 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
16068 @itemx set write off
16069 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
16070 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
16071 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
16073 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
16074 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
16075 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
16079 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
16080 as well as reading.
16084 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
16086 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
16087 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
16088 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
16089 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
16092 * Files:: Commands to specify files
16093 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
16094 * MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
16095 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
16096 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
16097 * Data Files:: GDB data files
16101 @section Commands to Specify Files
16103 @cindex symbol table
16104 @cindex core dump file
16106 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
16107 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
16108 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
16109 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
16111 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
16112 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
16113 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
16114 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
16115 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
16116 new files are useful.
16119 @cindex executable file
16121 @item file @var{filename}
16122 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
16123 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
16124 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
16125 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
16126 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
16127 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
16128 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
16129 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
16131 @cindex unlinked object files
16132 @cindex patching object files
16133 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
16134 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
16135 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
16136 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
16137 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
16138 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
16139 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
16140 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
16143 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
16144 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
16147 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16148 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
16149 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
16150 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
16151 discard information on the executable file.
16153 @kindex symbol-file
16154 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16155 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
16156 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
16157 table and program to run from the same file.
16159 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
16160 program's symbol table.
16162 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
16163 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
16164 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
16165 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
16168 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
16171 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
16172 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
16173 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
16174 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
16175 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
16176 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
16179 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
16180 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
16181 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
16182 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
16183 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
16185 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
16186 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
16187 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
16188 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
16189 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
16190 Warnings and Messages}.)
16192 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
16193 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
16194 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
16195 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
16199 @cindex reading symbols immediately
16200 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
16201 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16202 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16203 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
16204 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
16205 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
16206 entire symbol table available.
16208 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
16209 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
16210 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
16211 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
16212 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
16213 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
16217 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
16219 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
16220 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
16221 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
16222 executable file itself for other parts.
16224 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
16227 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
16228 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
16229 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
16230 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
16231 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
16233 @kindex add-symbol-file
16234 @cindex dynamic linking
16235 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
16236 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
16237 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
16238 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
16239 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
16240 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
16241 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
16242 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
16243 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
16244 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
16245 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
16246 @var{address} as an expression.
16248 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
16249 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
16250 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
16251 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
16252 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
16254 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
16255 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
16256 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
16257 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
16258 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
16259 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
16260 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
16261 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
16262 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
16266 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
16267 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
16269 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
16270 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
16272 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
16273 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16277 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
16278 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
16279 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
16280 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
16281 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
16282 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
16283 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
16284 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
16285 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
16288 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16290 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
16291 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
16292 @cindex load symbols from memory
16293 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
16294 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
16295 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
16296 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
16297 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
16298 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
16299 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
16300 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
16301 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
16303 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
16305 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
16306 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
16307 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
16308 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
16309 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
16310 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
16311 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
16312 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
16313 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
16314 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
16317 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
16318 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
16319 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
16320 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
16321 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
16322 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
16323 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
16327 @kindex info target
16330 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
16331 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
16332 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
16333 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16334 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16337 @kindex maint info sections
16338 @item maint info sections
16339 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16340 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16341 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16342 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16343 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16344 may be arbitrarily combined):
16348 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16349 @item @var{sections}
16350 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16351 @item @var{section-flags}
16352 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16353 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16356 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16357 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16359 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16360 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16362 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16364 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16366 Section contains executable code only.
16368 Section contains data only (no executable code).
16370 Section will reside in ROM.
16372 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16374 Section is not empty.
16376 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16377 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16378 A notification to the linker that the section contains
16379 COFF shared library information.
16381 Section contains common symbols.
16384 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16385 @cindex read-only sections
16386 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
16387 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16388 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16389 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16390 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16391 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16392 enhancement to debugging performance.
16394 The default is off.
16396 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
16397 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16398 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16399 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16401 @item show trust-readonly-sections
16402 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16405 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16406 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16407 name and remembers it that way.
16409 @cindex shared libraries
16410 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
16411 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16412 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16414 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16415 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16417 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16418 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16419 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16420 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16421 debugging a core file).
16423 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
16424 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
16426 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
16427 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
16428 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
16430 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
16431 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
16432 particularly large or there are many of them.
16434 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16438 @kindex set auto-solib-add
16439 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16440 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16441 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16442 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16443 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16444 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16445 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16447 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
16448 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16449 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16450 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16451 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
16452 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
16453 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
16454 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
16455 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
16457 @kindex show auto-solib-add
16458 @item show auto-solib-add
16459 Display the current autoloading mode.
16462 @cindex load shared library
16463 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
16467 @kindex info sharedlibrary
16469 @item info share @var{regex}
16470 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16471 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
16472 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
16473 all shared libraries that are loaded.
16475 @kindex sharedlibrary
16477 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16478 @itemx share @var{regex}
16479 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
16480 Unix regular expression.
16481 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
16482 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
16483 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
16486 @item nosharedlibrary
16487 @kindex nosharedlibrary
16488 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
16489 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
16490 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
16491 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
16495 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
16496 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
16497 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
16500 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
16501 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
16502 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
16503 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
16506 @item set stop-on-solib-events
16507 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
16508 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
16509 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
16510 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
16513 @item show stop-on-solib-events
16514 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
16515 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
16516 library events happen.
16519 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
16520 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
16521 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
16522 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
16523 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
16524 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
16525 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
16528 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
16529 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
16530 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
16531 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
16532 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
16535 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
16536 @cindex system root, alternate
16537 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
16538 @kindex set sysroot
16539 @item set sysroot @var{path}
16540 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
16541 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
16542 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
16543 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
16544 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
16545 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
16548 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
16549 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
16550 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
16551 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
16552 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
16553 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
16554 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
16555 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
16556 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
16558 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
16559 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
16560 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
16561 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
16562 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
16565 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
16568 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
16569 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
16573 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
16576 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
16577 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
16578 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
16582 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
16585 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
16586 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
16587 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
16591 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
16592 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16593 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16597 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
16598 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
16599 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
16601 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
16602 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
16605 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
16608 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
16609 if you don't want or need to.
16611 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
16614 @cindex default system root
16615 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
16616 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
16617 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
16618 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16619 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
16620 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16623 @kindex show sysroot
16625 Display the current shared library prefix.
16627 @kindex set solib-search-path
16628 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
16629 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16630 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
16631 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
16632 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
16633 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
16634 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
16635 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
16636 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
16637 of shared library symbols.
16639 @kindex show solib-search-path
16640 @item show solib-search-path
16641 Display the current shared library search path.
16643 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
16644 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
16645 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
16646 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
16647 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
16649 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
16650 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
16651 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
16652 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
16653 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
16654 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
16655 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
16656 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
16657 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
16658 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
16659 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
16660 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
16661 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
16662 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
16663 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
16664 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
16665 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
16666 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
16667 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
16668 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
16669 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
16670 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
16674 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
16675 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
16676 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
16680 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
16681 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
16682 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
16683 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
16684 considered directory separators.
16687 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
16688 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
16689 This is the default.
16693 @cindex file name canonicalization
16694 @cindex base name differences
16695 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
16696 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
16697 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
16698 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
16699 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
16700 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
16701 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
16702 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
16703 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
16704 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
16705 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
16706 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
16707 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
16708 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
16709 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
16712 @item set basenames-may-differ
16713 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
16714 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16716 @item show basenames-may-differ
16717 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
16718 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16721 @node Separate Debug Files
16722 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
16723 @cindex separate debugging information files
16724 @cindex debugging information in separate files
16725 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
16726 @cindex debugging information directory, global
16727 @cindex global debugging information directories
16728 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
16729 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
16731 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
16732 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
16733 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
16734 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
16735 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
16736 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
16737 install only when they need to debug a problem.
16739 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
16744 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
16745 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
16746 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
16747 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
16748 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
16749 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
16750 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
16751 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
16754 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
16755 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
16756 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
16757 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
16758 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
16759 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
16760 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
16761 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
16765 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
16766 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
16770 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
16771 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
16772 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
16773 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
16774 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
16777 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
16778 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
16779 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
16780 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
16781 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
16782 hex characters, not 10.)
16785 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
16786 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
16787 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
16788 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
16789 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
16790 debug information files, in the indicated order:
16794 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
16796 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
16798 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
16800 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
16803 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
16804 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
16805 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
16806 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
16807 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
16811 @kindex set debug-file-directory
16812 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
16813 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16814 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
16815 concatenating them by a path separator.
16817 @kindex show debug-file-directory
16818 @item show debug-file-directory
16819 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16824 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
16825 @cindex debug link sections
16826 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
16827 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
16831 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
16834 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
16835 boundary within the section, and
16837 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
16838 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
16839 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
16840 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
16843 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
16844 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
16847 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
16848 @cindex build ID sections
16849 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
16850 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
16851 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
16852 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
16853 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
16854 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
16855 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
16856 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
16857 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
16859 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
16860 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
16861 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
16862 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
16863 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
16864 in an ordinary executable.
16866 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
16867 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
16868 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
16869 following commands:
16872 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
16877 These commands remove the debugging
16878 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
16879 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
16884 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
16885 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
16888 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
16891 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
16892 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
16893 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
16894 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
16897 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
16898 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
16899 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
16900 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
16905 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
16906 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
16907 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
16909 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
16910 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
16911 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
16916 <em>x</em><sup>32</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>26</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>23</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>22</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>16</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>12</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>11</sup>
16917 + <em>x</em><sup>10</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>8</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>7</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>5</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>4</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>2</sup> + <em>x</em> + 1
16923 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
16924 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
16928 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
16929 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
16930 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
16931 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
16934 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
16935 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
16936 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
16937 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
16938 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
16939 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
16941 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
16942 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
16943 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
16944 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
16947 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
16950 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
16951 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
16953 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
16955 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
16956 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
16957 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
16958 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
16959 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
16960 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
16961 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
16962 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
16963 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
16964 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
16965 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
16966 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
16967 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
16968 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
16969 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
16970 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
16971 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
16972 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
16973 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
16974 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
16975 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
16976 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
16977 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
16978 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
16979 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
16980 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
16981 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
16982 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
16983 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
16984 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
16985 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
16986 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
16987 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
16988 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
16989 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
16990 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
16991 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
16992 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
16993 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
16994 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
16995 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
16996 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
16997 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
16998 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
16999 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
17000 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
17001 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
17002 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
17003 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
17004 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
17005 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
17008 unsigned char *end;
17010 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17011 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
17012 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
17013 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17018 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
17020 @node MiniDebugInfo
17021 @section Debugging information in a special section
17022 @cindex separate debug sections
17023 @cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
17025 Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
17026 special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
17027 @dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
17028 is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
17030 The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
17031 information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
17032 replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
17033 Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
17034 @value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
17035 debugging information might be included in the section.
17037 @value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
17038 then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
17039 can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
17041 This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
17042 standard utilities:
17045 # Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
17046 # to also have these in the normal symbol table
17047 nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17048 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
17050 # Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo .
17051 nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17052 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t") print $1 @}' \
17055 # Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
17057 comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
17059 # Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
17060 # removing some unnecessary sections.
17061 objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
17062 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols @var{binary} mini_debuginfo
17064 # Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
17067 objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
17071 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
17072 @cindex index files
17073 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
17075 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
17076 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
17077 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
17078 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
17079 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
17082 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
17083 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
17084 using @command{objcopy}.
17086 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
17089 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
17090 @kindex save gdb-index
17091 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
17092 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
17093 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
17097 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
17098 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
17101 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
17102 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
17105 @value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
17106 sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
17107 they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
17108 To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
17109 specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
17110 The default is @code{off}.
17111 This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
17112 @xref{Index Section Format}.
17114 @emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
17115 must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
17118 $ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17121 Instead you must do, for example,
17124 $ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17127 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
17128 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
17129 currently work for programs using Ada.
17131 @node Symbol Errors
17132 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
17134 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
17135 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
17136 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
17137 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
17138 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
17139 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
17140 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
17141 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
17142 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
17143 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17146 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
17149 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
17151 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
17152 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
17153 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
17154 in its outer scope blocks.
17156 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
17157 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
17158 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
17161 @item block at @var{address} out of order
17163 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
17164 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
17167 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
17168 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
17169 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
17170 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17173 @item bad block start address patched
17175 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
17176 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
17177 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
17179 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
17180 starting on the previous source line.
17182 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
17185 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
17186 larger than the size of the string table.
17188 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
17189 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
17192 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
17194 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
17195 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
17196 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
17198 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
17199 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
17200 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
17201 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
17202 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
17203 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
17205 @item stub type has NULL name
17207 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
17209 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
17210 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
17211 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
17214 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
17216 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
17221 @section GDB Data Files
17223 @cindex prefix for data files
17224 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
17225 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
17227 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
17228 is currently using.
17231 @kindex set data-directory
17232 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
17233 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
17234 to @var{directory}.
17236 @kindex show data-directory
17237 @item show data-directory
17238 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
17241 @cindex default data directory
17242 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
17243 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
17244 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
17245 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17246 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
17247 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17250 The data directory may also be specified with the
17251 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
17252 @xref{Mode Options}.
17255 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
17257 @cindex debugging target
17258 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
17260 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
17261 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
17262 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
17263 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
17264 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
17265 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
17266 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
17267 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
17269 @cindex target architecture
17270 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
17271 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
17272 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
17276 @kindex set architecture
17277 @kindex show architecture
17278 @item set architecture @var{arch}
17279 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
17280 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
17281 supported architectures.
17283 @item show architecture
17284 Show the current target architecture.
17286 @item set processor
17288 @kindex set processor
17289 @kindex show processor
17290 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
17291 and @code{show architecture}.
17295 * Active Targets:: Active targets
17296 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
17297 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
17300 @node Active Targets
17301 @section Active Targets
17303 @cindex stacking targets
17304 @cindex active targets
17305 @cindex multiple targets
17307 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
17308 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
17309 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
17310 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
17311 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
17312 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
17313 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
17314 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
17315 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
17317 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
17318 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
17319 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
17320 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
17322 @node Target Commands
17323 @section Commands for Managing Targets
17326 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
17327 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
17328 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
17329 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
17330 protocol of the target machine.
17332 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
17333 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
17334 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
17336 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
17337 after executing the command.
17339 @kindex help target
17341 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
17342 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
17343 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17345 @item help target @var{name}
17346 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
17349 @kindex set gnutarget
17350 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
17351 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
17352 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
17353 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
17354 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
17355 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
17358 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
17359 you must know the actual BFD name.
17363 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
17365 @kindex show gnutarget
17366 @item show gnutarget
17367 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
17368 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
17369 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
17370 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
17373 @cindex common targets
17374 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
17379 @item target exec @var{program}
17380 @cindex executable file target
17381 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
17382 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
17384 @item target core @var{filename}
17385 @cindex core dump file target
17386 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
17387 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
17389 @item target remote @var{medium}
17390 @cindex remote target
17391 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
17392 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
17393 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
17395 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
17396 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
17399 target remote /dev/ttya
17402 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
17403 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
17404 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
17405 clobbered by the download.
17407 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17408 @cindex built-in simulator target
17409 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
17417 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
17418 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
17419 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
17420 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
17425 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
17429 @item target nrom @var{dev}
17430 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
17431 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
17435 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
17436 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
17438 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
17439 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
17440 various aspects of this process.
17445 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17446 @cindex hash mark while downloading
17447 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
17448 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
17449 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
17453 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17454 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
17456 @item set debug monitor
17457 @kindex set debug monitor
17458 @cindex display remote monitor communications
17459 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
17460 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17462 @item show debug monitor
17463 @kindex show debug monitor
17464 Show the current status of displaying communications between
17465 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17470 @kindex load @var{filename}
17471 @item load @var{filename}
17473 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
17474 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
17475 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
17476 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
17477 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
17478 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
17480 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
17481 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
17482 target is @dots{}}''
17484 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
17485 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
17486 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
17487 specifies a fixed address.
17488 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
17490 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
17491 load programs into flash memory.
17493 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
17497 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
17499 @cindex choosing target byte order
17500 @cindex target byte order
17502 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
17503 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
17504 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
17505 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
17506 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
17507 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
17511 @item set endian big
17512 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
17514 @item set endian little
17515 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
17517 @item set endian auto
17518 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
17522 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
17526 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
17527 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
17531 @node Remote Debugging
17532 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
17533 @cindex remote debugging
17535 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
17536 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
17537 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
17538 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
17539 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
17541 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
17542 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
17543 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
17544 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
17545 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
17546 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
17548 Other remote targets may be available in your
17549 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
17552 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
17553 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
17554 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
17555 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
17556 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
17560 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
17562 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
17563 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
17564 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
17565 program as the first argument.
17567 @cindex @code{target remote}
17568 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
17569 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
17570 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
17571 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
17572 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
17573 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
17577 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
17578 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
17579 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
17580 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
17583 target remote /dev/ttyb
17586 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
17587 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
17588 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
17589 @code{target} command.
17591 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
17592 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17593 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
17594 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
17595 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
17596 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
17597 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
17598 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
17601 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
17605 target remote manyfarms:2828
17608 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
17609 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
17610 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
17611 port 1234 on your local machine:
17614 target remote :1234
17618 Note that the colon is still required here.
17620 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17621 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
17622 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
17623 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
17626 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
17629 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
17630 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
17631 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
17632 cause havoc with your debugging session.
17634 @item target remote | @var{command}
17635 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
17636 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
17637 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
17638 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
17639 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
17640 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
17641 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
17642 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
17644 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
17645 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
17646 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
17650 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
17651 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
17652 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
17653 need to use @kbd{run}.
17655 @cindex interrupting remote programs
17656 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
17657 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
17658 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
17659 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
17660 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
17661 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
17664 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
17665 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
17668 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
17669 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
17670 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
17671 goes back to waiting.
17674 @kindex detach (remote)
17676 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
17677 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
17678 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
17679 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
17680 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
17684 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
17685 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
17686 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
17687 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
17690 @cindex send command to remote monitor
17691 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
17692 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
17694 @item monitor @var{cmd}
17695 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
17696 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
17697 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
17698 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
17702 @node File Transfer
17703 @section Sending files to a remote system
17704 @cindex remote target, file transfer
17705 @cindex file transfer
17706 @cindex sending files to remote systems
17708 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
17709 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
17710 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
17711 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
17712 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
17713 the only way to upload or download files.
17715 Not all remote targets support these commands.
17719 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
17720 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
17721 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
17724 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
17725 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
17726 on the host system.
17728 @kindex remote delete
17729 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
17730 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
17735 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
17738 @cindex remote connection without stubs
17739 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
17740 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
17741 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
17743 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
17744 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
17745 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
17746 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
17747 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
17748 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
17749 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
17750 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
17751 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
17752 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
17753 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
17754 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
17755 choice for debugging.
17757 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
17758 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
17762 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
17763 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
17764 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
17765 target system with the same privileges as the user running
17769 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
17770 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
17771 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
17773 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
17774 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
17775 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
17776 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
17777 system does all the symbol handling.
17779 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
17780 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
17784 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
17787 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
17788 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
17789 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
17790 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
17791 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
17795 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
17798 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
17801 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
17804 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
17807 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
17808 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
17809 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
17810 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
17811 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
17812 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
17813 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
17814 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
17815 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
17816 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
17817 @code{target remote} command.
17819 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
17823 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
17826 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
17827 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
17828 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
17829 You could elide it if you want to.
17831 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
17832 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
17833 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
17834 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
17836 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
17837 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
17838 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
17840 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
17841 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
17844 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
17847 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
17848 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
17851 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
17852 @code{pidof} utility:
17855 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
17858 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
17859 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
17860 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
17862 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
17863 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
17864 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
17866 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
17867 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
17868 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
17869 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
17871 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
17872 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
17873 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
17874 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
17875 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
17876 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
17877 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
17878 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
17879 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
17881 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
17882 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
17883 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
17884 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
17885 the program you want to debug.
17887 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
17888 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
17889 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
17890 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
17891 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
17892 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
17894 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
17896 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
17898 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
17899 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
17900 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
17901 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
17902 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
17903 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
17904 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
17905 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
17907 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
17908 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
17909 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
17911 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
17912 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
17913 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
17914 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
17915 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
17916 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
17917 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
17918 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
17919 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
17920 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
17921 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
17922 instance closes its port after the first connection.
17924 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
17926 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17927 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
17928 status information about the debugging process.
17929 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17930 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
17931 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
17932 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
17934 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
17935 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
17936 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
17937 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
17938 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
17940 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
17941 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
17942 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
17943 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
17945 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
17946 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
17947 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
17948 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
17950 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
17951 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
17955 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
17958 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
17960 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
17962 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
17963 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
17964 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
17965 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
17967 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
17968 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
17969 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
17970 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
17971 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
17972 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
17975 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17976 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
17977 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
17978 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
17979 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
17980 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
17981 already on the target.
17983 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
17984 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
17985 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
17987 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
17988 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
17989 Here are the available commands.
17993 List the available monitor commands.
17995 @item monitor set debug 0
17996 @itemx monitor set debug 1
17997 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
17999 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
18000 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
18001 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
18002 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
18004 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
18005 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
18006 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18007 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
18008 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
18009 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
18011 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
18012 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
18015 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
18016 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
18017 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
18018 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
18019 of a multi-process mode debug session.
18023 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18024 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18026 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
18027 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
18029 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
18030 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
18031 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
18032 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
18033 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
18034 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
18035 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
18036 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
18037 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
18038 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
18039 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
18040 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
18042 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
18045 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
18047 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
18048 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
18049 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
18051 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
18053 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
18054 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
18055 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
18056 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
18057 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
18058 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
18060 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
18062 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
18063 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
18064 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
18065 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
18066 command for that. For example:
18069 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
18072 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
18073 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
18076 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
18077 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
18078 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
18079 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
18080 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
18081 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
18082 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
18083 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
18084 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
18085 @code{gdbserver} like so:
18088 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
18091 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
18095 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
18096 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
18097 (@value{GDBP}) b main
18098 (@value{GDBP}) continue
18101 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
18102 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
18103 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
18104 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
18105 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
18108 @node Remote Configuration
18109 @section Remote Configuration
18112 @kindex show remote
18113 This section documents the configuration options available when
18114 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
18115 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
18116 system-call-allowed}.
18119 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
18120 @cindex address size for remote targets
18121 @cindex bits in remote address
18122 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
18123 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
18124 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
18125 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
18127 @item show remoteaddresssize
18128 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
18130 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
18131 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
18132 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
18133 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
18136 @item show remotebaud
18137 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
18139 @item set remotebreak
18140 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18141 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
18142 @anchor{set remotebreak}
18143 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
18144 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
18145 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
18146 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
18147 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
18149 @item show remotebreak
18150 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
18151 interrupt the remote program.
18153 @item set remoteflow on
18154 @itemx set remoteflow off
18155 @kindex set remoteflow
18156 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
18157 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
18159 @item show remoteflow
18160 @kindex show remoteflow
18161 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
18163 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
18164 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
18165 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
18166 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
18169 @item show remotelogbase
18170 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
18173 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
18174 @cindex record serial communications on file
18175 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
18176 default is not to record at all.
18178 @item show remotelogfile.
18179 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
18180 serial communications.
18182 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
18183 @cindex timeout for serial communications
18184 @cindex remote timeout
18185 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
18186 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
18188 @item show remotetimeout
18189 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
18192 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
18193 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
18194 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
18195 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
18196 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
18197 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
18198 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
18199 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
18201 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
18202 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
18203 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
18204 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
18205 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
18206 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
18209 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
18210 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
18211 a remote hardware watchpoint.
18213 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
18214 @itemx show remote exec-file
18215 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
18216 @cindex executable file, for remote target
18217 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
18218 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
18219 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
18220 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
18222 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
18223 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18224 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
18225 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
18226 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
18227 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
18228 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
18229 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
18230 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
18231 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
18233 @item show interrupt-sequence
18234 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
18235 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
18236 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
18237 also known as Magic SysRq g.
18239 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
18240 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
18241 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
18242 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
18243 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
18244 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
18246 @item show interrupt-on-connect
18247 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
18248 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
18252 @item set tcp auto-retry on
18253 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
18254 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
18255 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
18256 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
18257 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
18258 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
18259 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
18260 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
18262 @item set tcp auto-retry off
18263 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
18265 @item show tcp auto-retry
18266 Show the current auto-retry setting.
18268 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
18269 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
18270 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
18271 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
18272 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
18273 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
18274 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
18277 @item show tcp connect-timeout
18278 Show the current connection timeout setting.
18281 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
18282 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
18283 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
18284 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
18285 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
18286 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
18287 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
18288 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
18289 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
18291 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
18292 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
18293 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
18294 @value{GDBN} developers.
18296 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
18297 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
18300 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
18303 @tab Related Features
18305 @item @code{fetch-register}
18307 @tab @code{info registers}
18309 @item @code{set-register}
18313 @item @code{binary-download}
18315 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
18317 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
18318 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
18319 @tab @code{info auxv}
18321 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
18322 @tab @code{qSymbol}
18323 @tab Detecting multiple threads
18325 @item @code{attach}
18326 @tab @code{vAttach}
18329 @item @code{verbose-resume}
18331 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
18337 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
18341 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
18345 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
18349 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
18353 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
18357 @item @code{target-features}
18358 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
18359 @tab @code{set architecture}
18361 @item @code{library-info}
18362 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
18363 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
18365 @item @code{memory-map}
18366 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
18367 @tab @code{info mem}
18369 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
18370 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
18371 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
18373 @item @code{read-spu-object}
18374 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
18375 @tab @code{info spu}
18377 @item @code{write-spu-object}
18378 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
18379 @tab @code{info spu}
18381 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
18382 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
18383 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
18385 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
18386 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
18387 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
18389 @item @code{threads}
18390 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
18391 @tab @code{info threads}
18393 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
18394 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
18395 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
18397 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
18398 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
18399 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
18401 @item @code{search-memory}
18402 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
18405 @item @code{supported-packets}
18406 @tab @code{qSupported}
18407 @tab Remote communications parameters
18409 @item @code{pass-signals}
18410 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
18411 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18413 @item @code{program-signals}
18414 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18415 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18417 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18418 @tab @code{vFile:close}
18419 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18421 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18422 @tab @code{vFile:open}
18423 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18425 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
18426 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
18427 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18429 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
18430 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
18431 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18433 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
18434 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
18435 @tab @code{remote delete}
18437 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
18438 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
18441 @item @code{noack-packet}
18442 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
18443 @tab Packet acknowledgment
18445 @item @code{osdata}
18446 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
18447 @tab @code{info os}
18449 @item @code{query-attached}
18450 @tab @code{qAttached}
18451 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
18453 @item @code{trace-buffer-size}
18454 @tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
18455 @tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
18457 @item @code{trace-status}
18458 @tab @code{qTStatus}
18459 @tab @code{tstatus}
18461 @item @code{traceframe-info}
18462 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
18463 @tab Traceframe info
18465 @item @code{install-in-trace}
18466 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
18467 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
18469 @item @code{disable-randomization}
18470 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
18471 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
18473 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
18474 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
18475 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
18479 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
18481 @cindex debugging stub, example
18482 @cindex remote stub, example
18483 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
18484 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
18485 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
18486 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
18487 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
18488 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
18489 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
18490 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
18492 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
18493 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
18494 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
18495 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
18500 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
18501 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
18502 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
18505 A C subroutine library to support your program's
18506 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
18509 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
18510 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
18511 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
18515 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
18516 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
18517 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
18521 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
18522 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
18523 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18525 @item On the target,
18526 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
18527 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
18528 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
18530 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
18531 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
18532 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
18535 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
18536 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
18539 @cindex remote serial stub list
18540 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
18545 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
18548 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
18551 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
18552 @cindex Motorola 680x0
18554 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
18557 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
18560 For Renesas SH architectures.
18563 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
18565 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
18567 @item sparcl-stub.c
18568 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
18571 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
18575 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
18576 recently added stubs.
18579 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
18580 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
18581 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
18584 @node Stub Contents
18585 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
18587 @cindex remote serial stub
18588 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
18592 @item set_debug_traps
18593 @findex set_debug_traps
18594 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
18595 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
18596 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
18597 program's startup code.
18599 @item handle_exception
18600 @findex handle_exception
18601 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
18602 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
18603 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
18604 run when a trap is triggered.
18606 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
18607 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
18608 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
18609 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
18610 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
18611 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
18612 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
18613 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
18614 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
18618 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
18619 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
18620 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
18621 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
18622 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
18623 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
18624 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
18625 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
18626 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
18627 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
18628 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
18630 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
18631 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
18632 start of your debugging session.
18635 @node Bootstrapping
18636 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
18638 @cindex remote stub, support routines
18639 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
18640 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
18641 debugging target machine.
18643 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
18647 @item int getDebugChar()
18648 @findex getDebugChar
18649 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
18650 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
18651 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18653 @item void putDebugChar(int)
18654 @findex putDebugChar
18655 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
18656 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
18657 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18660 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
18661 @cindex interrupting remote targets
18662 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
18663 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
18664 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
18665 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
18666 remote system to stop.
18668 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
18669 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
18670 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
18671 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
18673 Other routines you need to supply are:
18676 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
18677 @findex exceptionHandler
18678 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
18679 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
18680 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
18681 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
18682 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
18683 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
18684 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
18685 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
18686 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
18687 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
18688 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
18689 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
18690 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
18692 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
18693 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
18694 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
18695 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
18696 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
18698 @item void flush_i_cache()
18699 @findex flush_i_cache
18700 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
18701 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
18702 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
18704 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
18705 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
18709 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
18712 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
18714 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
18715 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
18716 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
18717 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
18720 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
18721 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
18722 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
18723 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
18726 @node Debug Session
18727 @subsection Putting it All Together
18729 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
18730 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
18735 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
18736 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
18738 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
18739 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
18743 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
18744 procedure is called:
18751 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
18752 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
18753 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
18754 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
18755 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
18756 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
18760 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
18761 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
18764 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
18768 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
18769 function in your program, that function is called when
18770 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
18771 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
18772 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
18775 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
18776 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
18779 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
18780 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
18783 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
18784 @c document that. FIXME.
18785 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
18786 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
18789 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
18790 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18794 @node Configurations
18795 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
18797 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
18798 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
18799 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
18801 There are three major categories of configurations: native
18802 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
18803 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
18804 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
18805 are quite different from each other.
18810 * Embedded Processors::
18817 This section describes details specific to particular native
18822 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
18823 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
18824 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
18825 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
18826 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
18827 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
18833 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
18834 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
18835 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
18838 @node BSD libkvm Interface
18839 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
18842 @cindex kernel memory image
18843 @cindex kernel crash dump
18845 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
18846 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
18847 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
18848 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
18849 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
18850 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
18851 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
18855 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
18858 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
18862 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
18865 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
18871 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
18874 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
18875 modern FreeBSD systems.
18878 @node SVR4 Process Information
18879 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
18881 @cindex examine process image
18882 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
18884 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
18885 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
18886 process using file-system subroutines.
18888 If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
18889 facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
18890 information about the process running your program, or about any
18891 process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
18892 @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital Unix), Solaris, and Irix, but
18893 not HP-UX, for example.
18895 This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
18896 that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
18902 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
18903 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
18904 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
18905 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
18906 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
18907 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
18908 executable file's absolute file name.
18910 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
18911 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
18912 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
18913 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
18914 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
18915 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
18917 @item info proc cmdline
18918 @cindex info proc cmdline
18919 Show the original command line of the process. This command is
18920 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
18922 @item info proc cwd
18923 @cindex info proc cwd
18924 Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
18925 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
18927 @item info proc exe
18928 @cindex info proc exe
18929 Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
18932 @item info proc mappings
18933 @cindex memory address space mappings
18934 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
18935 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
18936 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
18937 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
18938 memory access rights to that range.
18940 @item info proc stat
18941 @itemx info proc status
18942 @cindex process detailed status information
18943 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
18944 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
18945 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
18946 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
18947 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
18948 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
18949 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
18951 @item info proc all
18952 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
18953 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
18956 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
18957 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
18958 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
18959 @kindex info proc times
18960 @item info proc times
18961 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
18964 @kindex info proc id
18966 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
18967 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
18970 @item set procfs-trace
18971 @kindex set procfs-trace
18972 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
18973 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
18975 @item show procfs-trace
18976 @kindex show procfs-trace
18977 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
18979 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
18980 @kindex set procfs-file
18981 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
18982 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
18983 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
18986 @item show procfs-file
18987 @kindex show procfs-file
18988 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
18990 @item proc-trace-entry
18991 @itemx proc-trace-exit
18992 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
18993 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
18994 @kindex proc-trace-entry
18995 @kindex proc-trace-exit
18996 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
18997 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
18998 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
18999 from the @code{syscall} interface.
19002 @kindex info pidlist
19003 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
19004 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
19005 processes and all the threads within each process.
19008 @kindex info meminfo
19009 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
19010 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
19014 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
19015 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
19016 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
19017 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
19020 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
19021 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
19022 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
19023 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
19025 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
19026 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
19027 subsection describes those commands.
19032 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
19033 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19036 @cindex MS-DOS system info
19037 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
19038 @item info dos sysinfo
19039 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
19040 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
19041 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
19046 @cindex segment descriptor tables
19047 @cindex descriptor tables display
19049 @itemx info dos ldt
19050 @itemx info dos idt
19051 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
19052 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
19053 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
19054 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
19055 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
19056 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
19059 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
19060 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
19061 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
19062 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
19063 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
19065 @cindex garbled pointers
19066 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
19067 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
19068 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
19069 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
19070 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
19071 debugged program's data segment:
19074 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
19075 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
19079 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
19080 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
19082 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
19084 @itemx info dos pte
19085 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
19086 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
19087 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
19088 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
19089 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
19090 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
19091 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
19092 that is currently in use.
19094 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
19095 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
19096 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
19097 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
19098 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
19099 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
19100 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
19102 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
19103 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
19104 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
19107 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
19109 @cindex physical address from linear address
19110 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
19111 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
19112 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
19113 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
19114 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
19115 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
19116 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
19119 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
19120 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
19121 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
19125 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
19126 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
19127 attributes of that page.
19129 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
19130 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
19131 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
19132 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
19133 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
19134 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
19136 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
19140 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
19141 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
19142 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
19146 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
19147 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
19148 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
19149 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
19150 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
19152 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
19155 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
19156 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
19157 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
19158 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
19161 @kindex set com1base
19162 @kindex set com1irq
19163 @kindex set com2base
19164 @kindex set com2irq
19165 @kindex set com3base
19166 @kindex set com3irq
19167 @kindex set com4base
19168 @kindex set com4irq
19169 @item set com1base @var{addr}
19170 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
19173 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
19174 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
19175 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
19177 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
19178 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
19181 @kindex show com1base
19182 @kindex show com1irq
19183 @kindex show com2base
19184 @kindex show com2irq
19185 @kindex show com3base
19186 @kindex show com3irq
19187 @kindex show com4base
19188 @kindex show com4irq
19189 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
19190 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
19191 lines used by the COM ports.
19194 @kindex info serial
19195 @cindex DOS serial port status
19196 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
19197 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
19198 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
19199 counts of various errors encountered so far.
19203 @node Cygwin Native
19204 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
19205 @cindex MS Windows debugging
19206 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
19207 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
19209 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
19210 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
19212 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
19213 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
19214 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
19215 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
19216 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
19217 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
19218 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
19221 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
19222 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
19223 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
19228 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
19229 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19231 @item info w32 selector
19232 This command displays information returned by
19233 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
19234 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
19235 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
19236 Without argument, this command displays information
19237 about the six segment registers.
19239 @item info w32 thread-information-block
19240 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
19241 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
19242 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
19246 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
19248 @kindex dll-symbols
19250 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
19251 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
19253 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
19254 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
19255 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
19256 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
19257 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
19258 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
19259 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
19260 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
19261 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
19262 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
19263 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
19265 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
19266 @item show cygwin-exceptions
19267 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
19268 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
19270 @kindex set new-console
19271 @item set new-console @var{mode}
19272 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
19273 be started in a new console on next start.
19274 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
19275 be started in the same console as the debugger.
19277 @kindex show new-console
19278 @item show new-console
19279 Displays whether a new console is used
19280 when the debuggee is started.
19282 @kindex set new-group
19283 @item set new-group @var{mode}
19284 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
19285 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
19286 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
19289 @kindex show new-group
19290 @item show new-group
19291 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
19293 @kindex set debugevents
19294 @item set debugevents
19295 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
19296 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
19297 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
19298 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
19299 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
19301 @kindex set debugexec
19302 @item set debugexec
19303 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
19304 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
19306 @kindex set debugexceptions
19307 @item set debugexceptions
19308 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
19309 debuggee seen by the debugger.
19311 @kindex set debugmemory
19312 @item set debugmemory
19313 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
19314 and writes by the debugger.
19318 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
19319 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
19323 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
19328 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
19331 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
19332 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
19333 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
19334 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
19336 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
19337 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
19338 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
19339 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
19340 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
19341 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
19342 ``minimal symbols''.
19344 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
19345 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
19346 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
19347 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
19348 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
19349 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
19350 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
19351 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
19352 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
19353 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
19355 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
19357 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
19358 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
19359 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
19360 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
19361 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
19362 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
19363 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
19364 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
19365 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
19367 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
19368 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
19369 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
19370 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
19371 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
19372 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
19375 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
19376 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
19378 Non-debugging symbols:
19379 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
19380 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
19384 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
19385 All functions matching regular expression "!":
19387 Non-debugging symbols:
19388 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
19389 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
19390 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
19394 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
19396 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
19397 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
19398 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
19399 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
19400 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
19401 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
19402 a function within a DLL without a running program.
19404 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
19405 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
19406 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
19407 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
19411 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
19416 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
19417 0x10021610: "\230y\""
19420 And two possible solutions:
19423 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
19424 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19428 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
19429 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
19430 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
19431 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
19432 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
19433 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19436 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
19437 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
19438 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
19439 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
19440 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
19443 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
19444 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
19447 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
19448 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
19452 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
19453 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
19455 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
19456 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
19461 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
19462 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19463 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
19464 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
19465 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
19470 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
19471 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19472 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
19474 @item set signal-thread
19475 @itemx set sigthread
19476 @kindex set signal-thread
19477 @kindex set sigthread
19478 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
19479 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
19480 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
19483 @item show signal-thread
19484 @itemx show sigthread
19485 @kindex show signal-thread
19486 @kindex show sigthread
19487 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
19488 delivered a signal.
19491 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19492 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
19493 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
19494 continued by delivering a signal to it.
19497 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19498 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
19501 @item set exceptions
19502 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19503 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
19504 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
19505 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
19508 @item show exceptions
19509 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19510 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
19512 @item set task pause
19513 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
19514 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19515 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19516 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
19517 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
19518 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
19519 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
19520 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
19521 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
19523 @item show task pause
19524 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
19525 Show the current state of task suspension.
19527 @item set task detach-suspend-count
19528 @cindex task suspend count
19529 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19530 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
19531 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
19533 @item show task detach-suspend-count
19534 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
19536 @item set task exception-port
19537 @itemx set task excp
19538 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19539 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
19540 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
19541 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
19543 @item set noninvasive
19544 @cindex noninvasive task options
19545 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
19546 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
19547 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
19548 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
19550 @item info send-rights
19551 @itemx info receive-rights
19552 @itemx info port-rights
19553 @itemx info port-sets
19554 @itemx info dead-names
19557 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19558 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19559 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19560 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19561 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19562 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
19563 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
19564 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
19565 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
19567 @item set thread pause
19568 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
19569 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19570 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19571 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
19572 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
19573 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
19574 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
19575 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
19576 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
19577 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
19578 only the current thread.
19580 @item show thread pause
19581 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
19582 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
19584 @item set thread run
19585 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19587 @item show thread run
19588 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19590 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
19591 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19592 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19593 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
19594 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
19595 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
19596 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
19598 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
19599 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
19602 @item set thread exception-port
19603 @itemx set thread excp
19604 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
19605 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
19606 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
19608 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
19609 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
19610 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
19611 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
19613 @item set thread default
19614 @itemx show thread default
19615 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19616 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
19617 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
19618 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
19619 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
19620 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
19621 the non-default commands.
19628 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
19631 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
19632 @kindex set debug darwin
19633 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
19634 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
19636 @item show debug darwin
19637 @kindex show debug darwin
19638 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
19640 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
19641 @kindex set debug mach-o
19642 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
19643 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
19644 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
19645 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
19646 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
19649 @item show debug mach-o
19650 @kindex show debug mach-o
19651 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
19653 @item set mach-exceptions on
19654 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
19655 @kindex set mach-exceptions
19656 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
19657 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
19658 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
19659 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
19661 @item show mach-exceptions
19662 @kindex show mach-exceptions
19663 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
19668 @section Embedded Operating Systems
19670 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
19671 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
19675 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19678 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
19679 various real-time operating systems.
19682 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19688 @kindex target vxworks
19689 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
19690 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
19691 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
19695 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
19696 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
19698 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
19699 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
19700 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19701 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
19702 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
19703 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
19704 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
19707 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
19708 @kindex vxworks-timeout
19709 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
19710 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19711 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
19712 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
19713 of a thin network line.
19716 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
19717 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
19720 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
19721 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
19722 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
19723 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
19724 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
19725 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
19726 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
19727 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
19729 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
19731 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
19732 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
19733 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
19734 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
19736 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
19743 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
19744 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
19745 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
19748 @node VxWorks Connection
19749 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
19751 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
19752 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
19755 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
19759 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
19762 Attaching remote machine across net...
19767 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
19768 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
19769 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
19770 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
19771 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
19774 prog.o: No such file or directory.
19777 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
19778 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
19781 @node VxWorks Download
19782 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
19784 @cindex download to VxWorks
19785 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
19786 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
19787 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
19788 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
19789 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
19790 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
19791 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
19792 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
19793 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
19794 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
19795 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
19796 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
19797 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
19798 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
19799 program, type this on VxWorks:
19802 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
19806 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
19809 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
19810 (vxgdb) load prog.o
19813 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
19816 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
19819 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
19820 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
19821 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
19822 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
19823 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
19824 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
19827 @node VxWorks Attach
19828 @subsubsection Running Tasks
19830 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
19831 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
19835 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
19839 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
19840 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
19841 the time of attachment.
19843 @node Embedded Processors
19844 @section Embedded Processors
19846 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
19849 @cindex send command to simulator
19850 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
19851 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
19854 @item sim @var{command}
19855 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
19856 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
19857 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
19858 acceptable commands.
19864 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
19865 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
19866 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
19867 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
19868 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
19869 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
19870 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
19871 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
19872 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
19875 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
19884 @item target rdi @var{dev}
19885 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
19886 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
19887 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
19890 @item target rdp @var{dev}
19895 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
19898 @item set arm disassembler
19900 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
19901 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
19903 @item show arm disassembler
19905 Show the current disassembly style.
19907 @item set arm apcs32
19908 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
19909 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
19911 @item show arm apcs32
19912 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
19914 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
19915 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
19916 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
19920 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
19922 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
19925 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
19927 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
19933 Show the current type of the FPU.
19936 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
19939 Show the currently used ABI.
19941 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19942 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
19943 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
19944 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
19945 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
19946 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
19949 @item show arm fallback-mode
19950 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
19952 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19953 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
19954 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
19955 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
19956 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
19958 @item show arm force-mode
19959 Show the current forced instruction mode.
19961 @item set debug arm
19962 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
19963 target support subsystem.
19965 @item show debug arm
19966 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
19969 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
19970 using the RDI interface:
19973 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19975 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
19976 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
19977 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
19978 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
19981 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
19982 @kindex rdilogenable
19983 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
19984 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
19985 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
19986 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
19987 are logged to a file.
19989 @item set rdiromatzero
19990 @kindex set rdiromatzero
19991 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
19992 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
19993 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
19994 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
19995 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
19997 @item show rdiromatzero
19998 @kindex show rdiromatzero
19999 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
20001 @item set rdiheartbeat
20002 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
20003 @cindex RDI heartbeat
20004 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
20005 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
20006 well as the Angel monitor.
20008 @item show rdiheartbeat
20009 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
20010 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
20014 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
20015 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
20018 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
20019 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
20020 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
20021 The default value is @code{all}.
20034 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
20037 @kindex target m32r
20038 @item target m32r @var{dev}
20039 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
20041 @kindex target m32rsdi
20042 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
20043 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
20046 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
20049 @item set download-path @var{path}
20050 @kindex set download-path
20051 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
20052 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20054 @item show download-path
20055 @kindex show download-path
20056 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20058 @item set board-address @var{addr}
20059 @kindex set board-address
20060 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
20061 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
20063 @item show board-address
20064 @kindex show board-address
20065 Show the current IP address of the target board.
20067 @item set server-address @var{addr}
20068 @kindex set server-address
20069 @cindex download server address (M32R)
20070 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
20073 @item show server-address
20074 @kindex show server-address
20075 Display the IP address of the download server.
20077 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20078 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
20079 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
20080 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
20081 executable file is uploaded.
20083 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20084 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
20085 Test the @code{upload} command.
20088 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
20093 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
20094 This command resets the SDI connection.
20098 This command shows the SDI connection status.
20101 @kindex debug_chaos
20102 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
20103 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
20105 @item use_debug_dma
20106 @kindex use_debug_dma
20107 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
20110 @kindex use_mon_code
20111 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
20114 @kindex use_ib_break
20115 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
20117 @item use_dbt_break
20118 @kindex use_dbt_break
20119 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
20125 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
20126 target command for the following ROM monitor.
20130 @kindex target dbug
20131 @item target dbug @var{dev}
20132 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
20137 @subsection MicroBlaze
20138 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
20139 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
20141 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
20142 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
20143 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
20144 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
20145 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
20146 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
20147 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
20148 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
20149 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
20150 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
20151 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
20153 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
20156 @item target remote :1234
20157 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
20158 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
20160 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
20161 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
20162 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
20165 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
20167 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
20168 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
20170 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
20171 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
20174 @node MIPS Embedded
20175 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
20177 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
20178 @value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
20179 @acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
20180 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
20183 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
20186 @item target mips @var{port}
20187 @kindex target mips @var{port}
20188 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
20189 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
20190 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
20191 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
20192 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
20193 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
20195 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
20196 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
20200 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
20201 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
20202 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
20203 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
20207 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
20208 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
20209 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
20210 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
20211 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
20213 @item target pmon @var{port}
20214 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
20217 @item target ddb @var{port}
20218 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
20219 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
20221 @item target lsi @var{port}
20222 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
20223 LSI variant of PMON.
20225 @kindex target r3900
20226 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
20227 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
20229 @kindex target array
20230 @item target array @var{dev}
20231 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
20237 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
20240 @item set mipsfpu double
20241 @itemx set mipsfpu single
20242 @itemx set mipsfpu none
20243 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
20244 @itemx show mipsfpu
20245 @kindex set mipsfpu
20246 @kindex show mipsfpu
20247 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
20248 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
20249 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
20250 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
20251 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
20252 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
20253 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
20254 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
20255 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
20256 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
20257 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
20258 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
20259 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
20261 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
20262 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
20263 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
20265 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
20266 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
20268 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
20269 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
20270 @itemx show timeout
20271 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
20272 @cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20273 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20274 @kindex set timeout
20275 @kindex show timeout
20276 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
20277 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
20278 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
20279 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
20280 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
20281 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
20282 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
20283 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
20284 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
20285 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
20287 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
20288 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
20289 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
20290 to run before stopping.
20292 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
20293 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20294 @cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
20295 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
20296 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
20297 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
20299 @item show syn-garbage-limit
20300 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20301 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
20302 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
20304 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
20305 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20306 @cindex remote monitor prompt
20307 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
20308 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
20318 @item show monitor-prompt
20319 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20320 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
20323 @item set monitor-warnings
20324 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20325 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
20326 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
20327 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
20328 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
20330 @item show monitor-warnings
20331 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20332 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
20334 @item pmon @var{command}
20335 @kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20336 @cindex send PMON command
20337 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
20338 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
20341 @node PowerPC Embedded
20342 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
20344 @cindex DVC register
20345 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20346 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20349 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20350 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20353 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20354 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20355 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20356 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20357 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20360 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20361 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20362 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20363 watching variables of scalar types.
20365 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20366 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20369 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20370 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20373 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20374 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20376 @cindex ranged breakpoint
20377 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20378 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20379 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20380 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20381 use the @code{break-range} command.
20383 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20386 @kindex break-range
20387 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20388 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20389 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20390 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20391 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20392 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20393 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20394 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20395 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20397 @kindex set powerpc
20398 @item set powerpc soft-float
20399 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
20400 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20401 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20402 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20404 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20405 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20406 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20407 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20408 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20409 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20410 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20411 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20413 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20414 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20415 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20416 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20417 address of its first byte.
20419 @kindex target dink32
20420 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20421 DINK32 ROM monitor.
20423 @kindex target ppcbug
20424 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20425 @kindex target ppcbug1
20426 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20427 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20430 @item target sds @var{dev}
20431 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20434 @cindex SDS protocol
20435 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20439 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20440 @kindex set sdstimeout
20441 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20442 default is 2 seconds.
20444 @item show sdstimeout
20445 @kindex show sdstimeout
20446 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20448 @item sds @var{command}
20449 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
20450 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
20455 @subsection HP PA Embedded
20459 @kindex target op50n
20460 @item target op50n @var{dev}
20461 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
20463 @kindex target w89k
20464 @item target w89k @var{dev}
20465 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
20470 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
20474 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
20475 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
20476 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20477 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
20478 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
20481 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
20482 @kindex remotetimeout
20483 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
20484 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20485 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
20488 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
20489 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
20490 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
20491 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
20492 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
20495 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
20498 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
20501 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
20504 @cindex running, on Sparclet
20506 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20507 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
20508 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
20510 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20517 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
20518 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
20519 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
20520 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
20523 @node Sparclet File
20524 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
20526 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
20529 (gdbslet) file prog
20533 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
20534 @value{GDBN} locates
20535 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
20537 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
20538 files will be searched as well.
20539 @value{GDBN} locates
20540 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
20541 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
20543 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
20546 prog: No such file or directory.
20549 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
20550 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
20551 @code{target} command again.
20553 @node Sparclet Connection
20554 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
20556 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
20557 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
20560 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
20561 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
20562 main () at ../prog.c:3
20566 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20572 @node Sparclet Download
20573 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
20575 @cindex download to Sparclet
20576 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
20577 you can use the @value{GDBN}
20578 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
20579 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
20581 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
20582 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
20583 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
20584 of each of the file's sections.
20585 For instance, if the program
20586 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
20587 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20590 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
20591 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
20594 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
20595 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
20596 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
20598 @node Sparclet Execution
20599 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
20601 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
20602 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
20603 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
20604 manual for the list of commands.
20608 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
20610 Starting program: prog
20611 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
20612 3 char *symarg = 0;
20614 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
20619 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
20623 @kindex target sparclite
20624 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
20625 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
20626 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
20627 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
20633 @subsection Zilog Z8000
20636 @cindex simulator, Z8000
20637 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
20639 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
20642 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
20643 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
20644 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
20645 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
20648 @item target sim @var{args}
20650 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
20651 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
20652 options, specify them via @var{args}.
20656 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
20657 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
20658 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
20659 to run your program, and so on.
20661 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
20662 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
20663 additional items of information as specially named registers:
20668 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
20671 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
20674 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
20678 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
20679 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
20680 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
20681 simulated clock ticks.
20684 @subsection Atmel AVR
20687 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
20688 following AVR-specific commands:
20691 @item info io_registers
20692 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
20693 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
20694 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
20695 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
20702 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
20703 following CRIS-specific commands:
20706 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
20707 @cindex CRIS version
20708 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
20709 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
20710 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
20712 @item show cris-version
20713 Show the current CRIS version.
20715 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
20716 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
20717 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
20718 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
20721 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
20722 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
20724 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
20726 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
20727 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
20728 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
20730 @item show cris-mode
20731 Show the current CRIS mode.
20735 @subsection Renesas Super-H
20738 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
20742 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
20743 @kindex set sh calling-convention
20744 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
20745 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
20746 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
20747 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
20748 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
20749 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
20750 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
20751 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
20752 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
20753 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
20755 @item show sh calling-convention
20756 @kindex show sh calling-convention
20757 Show the current calling convention setting.
20762 @node Architectures
20763 @section Architectures
20765 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
20766 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
20773 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
20774 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20779 @subsection AArch64
20780 @cindex AArch64 support
20782 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
20783 following special commands:
20786 @item set debug aarch64
20787 @kindex set debug aarch64
20788 This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
20789 messages are to be displayed.
20791 @item show debug aarch64
20792 Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
20797 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
20800 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
20801 @kindex set struct-convention
20802 @cindex struct return convention
20803 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
20804 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
20805 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
20806 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
20807 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
20808 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
20809 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
20810 be returned in a register.
20812 @item show struct-convention
20813 @kindex show struct-convention
20814 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
20821 See the following section.
20824 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
20826 @cindex stack on Alpha
20827 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
20828 @cindex Alpha stack
20829 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
20830 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
20831 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
20832 find the beginning of a function.
20834 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
20835 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
20836 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
20837 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
20841 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
20842 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
20843 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
20844 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
20845 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
20846 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
20847 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
20848 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
20850 @item show heuristic-fence-post
20851 Display the current limit.
20855 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
20856 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
20858 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
20862 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
20863 @kindex set mips abi
20864 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
20865 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
20866 values of @var{arg} are:
20870 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
20880 @item show mips abi
20881 @kindex show mips abi
20882 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20884 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
20885 @kindex set mips compression
20886 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
20887 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
20888 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
20889 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
20890 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
20891 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
20892 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
20893 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
20894 provided by the executable.
20896 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
20897 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
20898 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
20899 identified as such.
20901 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
20902 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
20903 implicitly from an executable.
20905 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
20906 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
20907 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
20908 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
20909 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
20911 @item show mips compression
20912 @kindex show mips compression
20913 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
20914 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20917 @itemx show mipsfpu
20918 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
20920 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
20921 @kindex set mips mask-address
20922 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
20923 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
20924 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
20925 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
20926 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
20928 @item show mips mask-address
20929 @kindex show mips mask-address
20930 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
20933 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20934 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20935 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
20936 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
20937 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
20938 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
20940 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20941 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20942 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
20944 @item set debug mips
20945 @kindex set debug mips
20946 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
20947 target code in @value{GDBN}.
20949 @item show debug mips
20950 @kindex show debug mips
20951 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
20957 @cindex HPPA support
20959 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
20960 following special commands:
20963 @item set debug hppa
20964 @kindex set debug hppa
20965 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
20966 messages are to be displayed.
20968 @item show debug hppa
20969 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
20971 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
20972 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
20973 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
20974 given @var{address}.
20980 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20981 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
20984 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
20985 it provides the following special commands:
20988 @item info spu event
20990 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
20991 and pending event status.
20993 @item info spu signal
20994 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
20995 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
20996 notification channels.
20998 @item info spu mailbox
20999 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
21000 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
21001 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
21004 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21005 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21006 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21008 @item info spu proxydma
21009 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21010 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21011 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21015 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
21016 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
21020 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
21022 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
21023 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
21024 function. The default is @code{off}.
21026 @item show spu stop-on-load
21028 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
21030 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
21031 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
21032 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
21033 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
21034 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
21035 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
21037 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
21038 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
21043 @subsection PowerPC
21044 @cindex PowerPC architecture
21046 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
21047 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
21048 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
21049 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
21050 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
21052 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
21053 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
21054 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
21056 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
21057 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
21060 @node Controlling GDB
21061 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
21063 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
21064 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
21065 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
21070 * Editing:: Command editing
21071 * Command History:: Command history
21072 * Screen Size:: Screen size
21073 * Numbers:: Numbers
21074 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
21075 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
21076 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
21077 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
21078 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
21086 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
21087 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
21088 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
21089 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
21090 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
21091 which one you are talking to.
21093 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
21094 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
21095 or a prompt that does not.
21099 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
21100 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
21102 @kindex show prompt
21104 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
21107 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
21108 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
21112 @kindex set extended-prompt
21113 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
21114 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
21115 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
21116 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
21117 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
21123 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
21126 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
21127 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
21129 @kindex show extended-prompt
21130 @item show extended-prompt
21131 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
21132 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
21133 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
21137 @section Command Editing
21139 @cindex command line editing
21141 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
21142 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
21143 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
21144 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
21145 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
21146 debugging sessions.
21148 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
21149 command @code{set}.
21152 @kindex set editing
21155 @itemx set editing on
21156 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
21158 @item set editing off
21159 Disable command line editing.
21161 @kindex show editing
21163 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
21166 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21167 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
21169 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21170 @xref{Command Line Editing},
21172 for more details about the Readline
21173 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
21174 encouraged to read that chapter.
21176 @node Command History
21177 @section Command History
21178 @cindex command history
21180 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
21181 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
21182 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
21185 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
21186 package, to provide the history facility.
21187 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21188 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
21190 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21191 @xref{Using History Interactively},
21193 for the detailed description of the History library.
21195 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
21196 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
21197 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
21198 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
21199 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
21200 pressed on a line by itself.
21202 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
21203 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
21204 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
21205 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
21207 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
21211 @cindex history substitution
21212 @cindex history file
21213 @kindex set history filename
21214 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
21215 @item set history filename @var{fname}
21216 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
21217 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
21218 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
21219 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
21220 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
21221 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
21222 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
21225 @cindex save command history
21226 @kindex set history save
21227 @item set history save
21228 @itemx set history save on
21229 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
21230 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
21232 @item set history save off
21233 Stop recording command history in a file.
21235 @cindex history size
21236 @kindex set history size
21237 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
21238 @item set history size @var{size}
21239 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
21240 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
21241 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
21244 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
21245 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21246 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
21248 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21249 @xref{Event Designators},
21253 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
21254 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
21255 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
21256 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
21257 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
21258 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
21259 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
21260 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
21262 The commands to control history expansion are:
21265 @item set history expansion on
21266 @itemx set history expansion
21267 @kindex set history expansion
21268 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
21270 @item set history expansion off
21271 Disable history expansion.
21274 @kindex show history
21276 @itemx show history filename
21277 @itemx show history save
21278 @itemx show history size
21279 @itemx show history expansion
21280 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
21281 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
21286 @kindex show commands
21287 @cindex show last commands
21288 @cindex display command history
21289 @item show commands
21290 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
21292 @item show commands @var{n}
21293 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
21295 @item show commands +
21296 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
21300 @section Screen Size
21301 @cindex size of screen
21302 @cindex pauses in output
21304 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
21305 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
21306 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
21307 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
21308 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
21309 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
21310 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
21311 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
21313 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
21314 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
21315 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
21316 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
21317 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
21324 @kindex show height
21325 @item set height @var{lpp}
21327 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
21329 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
21330 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
21331 commands display the current settings.
21333 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
21334 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
21335 file or to an editor buffer.
21337 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
21338 from wrapping its output.
21340 @item set pagination on
21341 @itemx set pagination off
21342 @kindex set pagination
21343 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
21344 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
21345 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
21346 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
21348 @item show pagination
21349 @kindex show pagination
21350 Show the current pagination mode.
21355 @cindex number representation
21356 @cindex entering numbers
21358 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21359 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21360 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21361 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21362 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
21363 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21364 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
21365 both input and output with the commands described below.
21368 @kindex set input-radix
21369 @item set input-radix @var{base}
21370 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
21371 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21372 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
21376 set input-radix 012
21377 set input-radix 10.
21378 set input-radix 0xa
21382 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
21383 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
21384 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
21385 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
21386 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
21389 @kindex set output-radix
21390 @item set output-radix @var{base}
21391 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
21392 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21393 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
21395 @kindex show input-radix
21396 @item show input-radix
21397 Display the current default base for numeric input.
21399 @kindex show output-radix
21400 @item show output-radix
21401 Display the current default base for numeric display.
21403 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
21407 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
21408 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
21409 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
21410 default value of 10.
21415 @section Configuring the Current ABI
21417 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
21418 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
21419 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
21425 @cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
21427 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
21428 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
21429 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
21430 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
21431 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
21432 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
21433 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
21436 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
21437 ``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
21438 @code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
21439 The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
21443 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
21446 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
21448 @item set osabi @var{abi}
21449 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
21452 @cindex float promotion
21454 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
21455 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
21456 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
21457 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
21458 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
21459 @code{double} and then passed.
21461 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
21462 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
21463 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
21466 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
21467 @item set coerce-float-to-double
21468 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
21469 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
21470 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
21472 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
21473 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
21476 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
21477 @item show coerce-float-to-double
21478 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
21482 @kindex show cp-abi
21483 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
21484 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
21485 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
21486 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
21487 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
21488 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
21489 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
21490 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
21491 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
21492 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
21497 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
21500 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
21502 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
21503 @itemx set cp-abi auto
21504 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
21508 @section Automatically loading associated files
21509 @cindex auto-loading
21511 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
21512 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
21513 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
21514 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
21515 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
21518 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
21519 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
21520 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21522 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
21523 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
21526 @anchor{set auto-load off}
21527 @kindex set auto-load off
21528 @item set auto-load off
21529 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
21530 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
21531 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
21533 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
21536 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
21537 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
21538 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
21539 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
21540 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
21541 @code{set auto-load no}.
21543 @anchor{show auto-load}
21544 @kindex show auto-load
21545 @item show auto-load
21546 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
21550 (gdb) show auto-load
21551 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
21552 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
21553 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
21555 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
21556 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21557 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21558 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
21559 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21562 @anchor{info auto-load}
21563 @kindex info auto-load
21564 @item info auto-load
21565 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
21569 (gdb) info auto-load
21572 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
21573 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
21574 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
21578 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
21582 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
21586 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21588 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21590 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
21591 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21593 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
21594 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21596 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21599 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
21601 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
21602 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
21603 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
21604 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
21605 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
21606 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
21607 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
21608 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21609 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21610 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21611 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21612 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21613 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21614 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21615 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21616 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
21617 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21618 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
21619 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21620 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21621 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21622 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
21623 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21624 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21625 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
21626 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21627 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
21628 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21629 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
21630 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21631 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
21632 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
21633 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
21634 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
21635 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
21636 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
21637 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
21638 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
21639 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
21640 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
21641 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
21645 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21646 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
21647 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
21648 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
21649 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
21650 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
21653 @node Init File in the Current Directory
21654 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
21655 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
21657 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
21658 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
21659 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
21661 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
21662 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21665 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
21666 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
21667 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
21668 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
21669 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
21671 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
21672 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
21673 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
21674 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21675 current directory is enabled or disabled.
21677 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21678 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
21679 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
21680 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21681 current directory have been auto-loaded.
21684 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
21685 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
21686 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
21688 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
21690 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
21691 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
21693 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
21694 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
21695 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
21696 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
21697 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
21700 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
21701 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21704 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
21705 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
21706 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
21707 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
21709 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
21710 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
21711 @item show auto-load libthread-db
21712 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
21713 enabled or disabled.
21715 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
21716 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
21717 @item info auto-load libthread-db
21718 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
21719 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
21722 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
21723 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
21724 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
21726 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
21727 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
21728 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
21730 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
21731 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21733 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
21734 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
21737 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
21738 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
21739 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
21740 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
21742 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
21743 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
21744 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
21745 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
21748 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
21749 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
21750 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
21751 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
21752 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
21756 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
21757 matching names are printed.
21759 @node Auto-loading safe path
21760 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
21761 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
21763 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
21764 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
21765 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
21766 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
21767 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
21769 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
21774 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
21775 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
21776 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
21777 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
21778 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
21779 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
21780 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
21783 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
21786 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
21787 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
21788 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
21789 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
21790 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
21791 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
21792 directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
21793 (@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
21794 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
21795 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
21797 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
21798 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
21799 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
21801 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
21802 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
21803 @item show auto-load safe-path
21804 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
21807 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
21808 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
21809 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
21810 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
21811 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
21812 host platform path separator in use.
21815 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
21816 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
21817 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21818 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
21819 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
21821 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
21822 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
21823 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
21824 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
21825 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
21826 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
21827 init file in the current directory
21828 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
21830 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
21831 example, you could use one of the following ways:
21834 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
21835 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
21836 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
21837 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
21839 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
21840 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
21841 @value{GDBN} session.
21843 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
21844 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21845 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
21846 from trusted sources.
21848 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
21849 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
21850 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
21854 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
21855 also suppresses any such warning messages:
21858 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
21859 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21861 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
21862 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
21863 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
21864 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
21867 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
21868 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
21869 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
21870 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
21871 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
21872 recommended to be entered.
21874 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
21875 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
21876 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
21878 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
21879 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
21880 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
21881 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
21884 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21885 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
21886 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
21889 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
21890 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
21891 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
21892 for objfile "/tmp/true".
21893 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
21894 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
21895 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
21896 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
21897 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
21901 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
21902 @kindex set debug auto-load
21903 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
21904 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
21906 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
21907 @kindex show debug auto-load
21908 @item show debug auto-load
21909 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
21913 @node Messages/Warnings
21914 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
21916 @cindex verbose operation
21917 @cindex optional warnings
21918 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
21919 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
21920 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
21921 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
21923 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
21924 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
21925 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
21928 @kindex set verbose
21929 @item set verbose on
21930 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
21932 @item set verbose off
21933 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
21935 @kindex show verbose
21937 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
21940 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
21941 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
21942 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
21947 @kindex set complaints
21948 @item set complaints @var{limit}
21949 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
21950 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
21951 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
21952 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
21954 @kindex show complaints
21955 @item show complaints
21956 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
21960 @anchor{confirmation requests}
21961 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
21962 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
21963 you try to run a program which is already running:
21967 The program being debugged has been started already.
21968 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
21971 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
21972 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
21976 @kindex set confirm
21978 @cindex confirmation
21979 @cindex stupid questions
21980 @item set confirm off
21981 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
21982 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
21983 automatically disables confirmation requests.
21985 @item set confirm on
21986 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
21988 @kindex show confirm
21990 Displays state of confirmation requests.
21994 @cindex command tracing
21995 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
21996 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
21997 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
21998 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
22001 @kindex set trace-commands
22002 @cindex command scripts, debugging
22003 @item set trace-commands on
22004 Enable command tracing.
22005 @item set trace-commands off
22006 Disable command tracing.
22007 @item show trace-commands
22008 Display the current state of command tracing.
22011 @node Debugging Output
22012 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
22013 @cindex optional debugging messages
22015 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
22016 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
22017 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
22018 section documents those commands.
22021 @kindex set exec-done-display
22022 @item set exec-done-display
22023 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
22024 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
22025 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
22026 @kindex show exec-done-display
22027 @item show exec-done-display
22028 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
22031 @cindex ARM AArch64
22032 @item set debug aarch64
22033 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
22034 The default is off.
22036 @item show debug aarch64
22037 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22039 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
22040 @cindex architecture debugging info
22041 @item set debug arch
22042 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
22043 @item show debug arch
22044 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
22045 @item set debug aix-thread
22046 @cindex AIX threads
22047 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
22049 @item show debug aix-thread
22050 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
22051 @item set debug check-physname
22053 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
22054 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
22055 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
22056 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
22057 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
22058 both ways and display any discrepancies.
22059 @item show debug check-physname
22060 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
22061 @item set debug coff-pe-read
22062 @cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
22063 Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
22064 exported symbols. The default is off.
22065 @item show debug coff-pe-read
22066 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22067 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22068 @item set debug dwarf2-die
22069 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
22070 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
22071 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
22072 A value of zero turns off the display.
22073 @item show debug dwarf2-die
22074 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
22075 @item set debug dwarf2-read
22076 @cindex DWARF2 Reading
22077 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
22078 DWARF debug info. The default is off.
22079 @item show debug dwarf2-read
22080 Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
22081 @item set debug displaced
22082 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
22083 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
22084 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
22085 @item show debug displaced
22086 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
22087 related to displaced stepping.
22088 @item set debug event
22089 @cindex event debugging info
22090 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
22092 @item show debug event
22093 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
22095 @item set debug expression
22096 @cindex expression debugging info
22097 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
22098 expression parsing. The default is off.
22099 @item show debug expression
22100 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
22101 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
22102 @item set debug frame
22103 @cindex frame debugging info
22104 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
22106 @item show debug frame
22107 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
22109 @item set debug gnu-nat
22110 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
22111 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
22112 @item show debug gnu-nat
22113 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
22114 @item set debug infrun
22115 @cindex inferior debugging info
22116 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
22117 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
22118 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
22119 @item show debug infrun
22120 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
22121 @item set debug jit
22122 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
22123 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
22124 @item show debug jit
22125 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
22126 @item set debug lin-lwp
22127 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
22128 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
22129 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
22130 @item show debug lin-lwp
22131 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
22132 @item set debug mach-o
22133 @cindex Mach-O symbols processing
22134 Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
22135 processing. The default is off.
22136 @item show debug mach-o
22137 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22138 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22139 @item set debug notification
22140 @cindex remote async notification debugging info
22141 Turns on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
22142 The default is off.
22143 @item show debug notification
22144 Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
22145 @item set debug observer
22146 @cindex observer debugging info
22147 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
22148 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
22149 @item show debug observer
22150 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
22151 @item set debug overload
22152 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
22153 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
22154 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
22156 @item show debug overload
22157 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
22159 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
22160 @cindex debug expression parser
22161 @item set debug parser
22162 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
22163 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
22164 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
22165 details. The default is off.
22166 @item show debug parser
22167 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
22168 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
22169 @cindex serial connections, debugging
22170 @cindex debug remote protocol
22171 @cindex remote protocol debugging
22172 @cindex display remote packets
22173 @item set debug remote
22174 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
22175 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
22176 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
22177 @item show debug remote
22178 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
22179 @item set debug serial
22180 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
22182 @item show debug serial
22183 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
22185 @item set debug solib-frv
22186 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
22187 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
22188 @item show debug solib-frv
22189 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
22191 @item set debug symtab-create
22192 @cindex symbol table creation
22193 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
22194 The default is off.
22195 @item show debug symtab-create
22196 Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
22197 @item set debug target
22198 @cindex target debugging info
22199 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
22200 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
22201 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
22202 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
22203 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
22204 @item show debug target
22205 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
22207 @item set debug timestamp
22208 @cindex timestampping debugging info
22209 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
22210 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
22212 @item show debug timestamp
22213 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
22215 @item set debugvarobj
22216 @cindex variable object debugging info
22217 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
22218 info. The default is off.
22219 @item show debugvarobj
22220 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
22222 @item set debug xml
22223 @cindex XML parser debugging
22224 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
22225 @item show debug xml
22226 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
22229 @node Other Misc Settings
22230 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
22231 @cindex miscellaneous settings
22234 @kindex set interactive-mode
22235 @item set interactive-mode
22236 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
22237 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
22238 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
22239 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
22240 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
22241 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
22242 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
22243 is, non-interactively otherwise.
22245 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
22246 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
22247 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
22248 inside a cygwin window.
22250 @kindex show interactive-mode
22251 @item show interactive-mode
22252 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
22255 @node Extending GDB
22256 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
22257 @cindex extending GDB
22259 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
22260 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
22261 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
22264 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
22265 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
22266 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
22267 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
22268 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22269 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
22271 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
22275 @kindex set script-extension
22276 @kindex show script-extension
22277 @item set script-extension off
22278 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22280 @item set script-extension soft
22281 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22282 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
22283 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
22284 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
22286 @item set script-extension strict
22287 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22288 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
22289 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
22291 @item show script-extension
22292 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
22297 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
22298 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22299 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
22303 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
22305 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
22306 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
22307 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
22311 * Define:: How to define your own commands
22312 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
22313 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
22314 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
22318 @subsection User-defined Commands
22320 @cindex user-defined command
22321 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
22322 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
22323 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
22324 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
22325 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
22326 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
22330 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22335 To execute the command use:
22342 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
22343 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
22344 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
22347 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
22348 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
22349 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
22350 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
22355 print $arg0 + $arg1
22358 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22366 @item define @var{commandname}
22367 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
22368 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
22369 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
22370 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
22371 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
22372 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
22374 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
22375 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
22376 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22379 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
22380 @item document @var{commandname}
22381 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
22382 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
22383 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
22384 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
22385 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
22386 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
22388 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
22389 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
22390 does not change the documentation.
22392 @kindex dont-repeat
22393 @cindex don't repeat command
22395 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
22396 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
22397 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
22399 @kindex help user-defined
22400 @item help user-defined
22401 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
22402 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
22407 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
22408 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
22409 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
22410 definitions for all user-defined commands.
22411 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
22413 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
22414 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
22415 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
22416 @item show max-user-call-depth
22417 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
22418 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
22419 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
22420 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
22421 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
22424 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
22425 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
22427 When user-defined commands are executed, the
22428 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
22429 stops execution of the user-defined command.
22431 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
22432 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
22433 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
22434 messages when used in a user-defined command.
22437 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
22438 @cindex command hooks
22439 @cindex hooks, for commands
22440 @cindex hooks, pre-command
22443 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
22444 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
22445 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
22446 before that command.
22448 @cindex hooks, post-command
22450 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
22451 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
22452 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
22453 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
22454 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
22456 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
22457 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
22459 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
22460 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
22462 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
22463 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
22464 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
22465 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
22466 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
22468 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
22469 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
22474 handle SIGALRM nopass
22478 handle SIGALRM pass
22481 define hook-continue
22482 handle SIGALRM pass
22486 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
22487 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
22495 define hookpost-echo
22499 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
22500 <<<---Hello World--->>>
22505 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
22506 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
22507 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
22508 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
22510 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
22511 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
22512 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
22514 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
22515 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
22516 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
22518 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
22519 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
22521 @node Command Files
22522 @subsection Command Files
22524 @cindex command files
22525 @cindex scripting commands
22526 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
22527 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
22528 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
22529 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
22532 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
22533 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
22534 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
22535 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
22536 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
22540 @cindex execute commands from a file
22541 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
22542 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
22545 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
22546 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
22547 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
22548 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
22549 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
22551 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
22552 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
22553 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
22554 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
22555 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
22556 is not relevant to scripts.
22558 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
22559 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
22560 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
22561 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
22562 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22563 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
22564 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
22565 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
22566 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22567 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
22568 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
22569 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
22570 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
22571 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
22573 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
22574 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
22575 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
22577 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
22578 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
22579 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
22580 when called from command files.
22582 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
22583 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
22584 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
22585 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
22589 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
22592 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
22593 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
22594 would be directed to @file{log}.
22596 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
22597 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
22598 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
22599 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
22600 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
22601 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
22602 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
22603 conditionally, etc.
22610 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
22611 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
22612 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
22613 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
22614 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
22615 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
22616 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22620 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
22621 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
22622 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
22623 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
22624 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
22625 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
22629 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
22630 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
22633 @kindex loop_continue
22634 @item loop_continue
22635 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
22636 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
22637 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
22638 the controlling expression.
22640 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
22642 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
22643 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
22648 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
22650 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
22651 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
22652 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
22653 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
22658 @item echo @var{text}
22659 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
22660 @c because it is not in ANSI.
22661 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
22662 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
22663 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
22664 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
22665 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
22666 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
22667 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
22668 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
22669 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
22671 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
22672 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
22675 echo This is some text\n\
22676 which is continued\n\
22677 onto several lines.\n
22680 produces the same output as
22683 echo This is some text\n
22684 echo which is continued\n
22685 echo onto several lines.\n
22689 @item output @var{expression}
22690 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
22691 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
22692 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
22695 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
22696 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
22697 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
22698 Formats}, for more information.
22701 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22702 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22703 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
22704 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
22705 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
22706 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
22707 executing the code below:
22710 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
22713 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
22714 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
22715 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
22716 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
22717 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
22720 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
22723 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
22726 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
22727 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
22728 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
22732 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
22735 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
22739 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
22740 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
22743 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
22747 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
22750 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
22754 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
22755 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
22756 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
22757 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
22759 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
22760 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
22761 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
22762 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
22765 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
22766 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
22767 together with a floating point specifier.
22772 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
22775 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
22778 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
22781 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
22782 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
22783 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
22785 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
22786 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
22788 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
22790 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
22794 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22795 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22796 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
22801 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22802 @cindex python scripting
22803 @cindex scripting with python
22805 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
22806 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
22807 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
22809 @cindex python directory
22810 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
22811 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
22812 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
22813 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
22814 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
22815 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
22817 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
22818 are written in Python and are located in the
22819 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
22820 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
22821 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
22824 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
22825 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
22826 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
22827 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
22830 @node Python Commands
22831 @subsection Python Commands
22832 @cindex python commands
22833 @cindex commands to access python
22835 @value{GDBN} provides two commands for accessing the Python interpreter,
22836 and one related setting:
22839 @kindex python-interactive
22841 @item python-interactive @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22842 @itemx pi @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22843 Without an argument, the @code{python-interactive} command can be used
22844 to start an interactive Python prompt. To return to @value{GDBN},
22845 type the @code{EOF} character (e.g., @kbd{Ctrl-D} on an empty prompt).
22847 Alternatively, a single-line Python command can be given as an
22848 argument and evaluated. If the command is an expression, the result
22849 will be printed; otherwise, nothing will be printed. For example:
22852 (@value{GDBP}) python-interactive 2 + 3
22858 @item python @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22859 @itemx py @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
22860 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
22862 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
22863 argument as a Python command. For example:
22866 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
22870 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
22871 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
22872 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
22873 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
22874 containing @code{end}. For example:
22877 (@value{GDBP}) python
22879 End with a line saying just "end".
22885 @kindex set python print-stack
22886 @item set python print-stack
22887 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
22888 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
22889 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
22890 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
22891 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
22892 the message component of the error is printed.
22895 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
22899 @item source @file{script-name}
22900 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
22901 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
22902 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
22904 @item python execfile ("script-name")
22905 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
22906 and thus is always available.
22910 @subsection Python API
22912 @cindex programming in python
22914 @cindex python stdout
22915 @cindex python pagination
22916 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
22917 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
22918 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
22919 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
22920 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
22923 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
22924 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
22925 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
22926 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
22927 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
22928 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
22929 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
22930 * Type Printing API:: Pretty-printing types.
22931 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
22932 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
22933 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
22934 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
22935 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
22936 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
22937 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
22938 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
22939 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
22940 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
22941 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
22942 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
22943 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
22944 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
22946 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
22947 * Architectures In Python:: Python representation of architectures.
22951 @subsubsection Basic Python
22953 @cindex python functions
22954 @cindex python module
22956 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
22957 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
22958 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
22959 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
22961 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
22962 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
22963 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
22966 @findex gdb.execute
22967 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
22968 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
22969 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
22970 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
22972 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
22973 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
22974 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
22976 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
22977 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
22978 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
22979 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
22980 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
22981 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
22982 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
22985 @findex gdb.breakpoints
22986 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
22987 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
22988 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
22991 @findex gdb.parameter
22992 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
22993 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
22994 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
22995 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
22996 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
22998 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
22999 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
23000 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
23001 type, and returned.
23004 @findex gdb.history
23005 @defun gdb.history (number)
23006 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
23007 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
23008 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
23009 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
23010 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
23011 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
23012 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
23015 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
23016 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
23019 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
23020 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
23021 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
23022 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23023 @var{expression} must be a string.
23025 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
23026 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
23027 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
23028 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
23029 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23032 @findex gdb.find_pc_line
23033 @defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
23034 Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
23035 @var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
23036 value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
23037 @code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
23038 will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
23041 @findex gdb.post_event
23042 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
23043 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
23044 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
23045 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
23046 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
23047 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
23048 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
23050 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
23051 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
23052 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
23056 (@value{GDBP}) python
23060 > def __init__(self, message):
23061 > self.message = message;
23062 > def __call__(self):
23063 > gdb.write(self.message)
23065 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
23067 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
23069 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
23071 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
23073 >MyThread1().start()
23074 >MyThread2().start()
23076 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
23081 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
23082 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
23083 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
23084 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
23091 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23096 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23101 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23104 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23105 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
23110 @defun gdb.flush ()
23111 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
23112 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
23113 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
23114 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
23115 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
23122 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23127 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23132 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23136 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23137 call this function for the relevant stream.
23140 @findex gdb.target_charset
23141 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
23142 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
23143 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
23144 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
23147 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
23148 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
23149 Return the name of the current target wide character set
23150 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
23151 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
23155 @findex gdb.solib_name
23156 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
23157 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
23158 as a string, or @code{None}.
23161 @findex gdb.decode_line
23162 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
23163 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
23164 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
23165 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
23166 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
23167 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
23168 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
23169 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
23170 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
23171 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
23172 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
23175 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
23176 @anchor{prompt_hook}
23178 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
23179 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
23182 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
23183 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
23184 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
23185 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
23186 the current prompt.
23188 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
23189 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
23190 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
23193 @node Exception Handling
23194 @subsubsection Exception Handling
23195 @cindex python exceptions
23196 @cindex exceptions, python
23198 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
23199 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
23200 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
23201 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
23202 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
23203 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
23204 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
23207 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
23208 Traceback (most recent call last):
23209 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
23210 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
23213 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
23214 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
23215 Python exception depends on the error.
23219 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
23220 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
23221 versions of @value{GDBN}.
23223 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
23224 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
23226 @item gdb.MemoryError
23227 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
23228 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
23230 @item KeyboardInterrupt
23231 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
23232 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
23235 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
23236 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
23237 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
23240 @findex gdb.GdbError
23241 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
23242 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
23243 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
23244 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
23245 to handle this case. Example:
23249 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23250 > """Greet the whole world."""
23251 > def __init__ (self):
23252 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
23253 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
23254 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
23255 > if len (argv) != 0:
23256 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
23257 > print "Hello, World!"
23260 (gdb) hello-world 42
23261 hello-world takes no arguments
23264 @node Values From Inferior
23265 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
23266 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
23267 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
23269 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
23270 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
23271 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
23272 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
23273 fetching values when necessary.
23275 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
23276 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
23277 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
23284 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
23285 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
23287 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
23288 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
23289 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
23290 can access its @code{foo} element with:
23293 bar = some_val['foo']
23296 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
23298 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
23299 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
23300 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
23303 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
23304 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
23305 execute this function, call it like so:
23308 result = some_val (10,20)
23311 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
23314 The following attributes are provided:
23316 @defvar Value.address
23317 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
23318 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
23319 this attribute holds @code{None}.
23322 @cindex optimized out value in Python
23323 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
23324 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
23325 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
23329 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
23330 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
23333 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
23334 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
23335 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
23336 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
23337 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
23338 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
23339 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
23340 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
23343 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
23344 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
23345 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
23346 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
23349 @defvar Value.is_lazy
23350 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
23351 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
23352 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
23356 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
23359 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
23360 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
23364 The following methods are provided:
23366 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
23367 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
23368 this object initializer. Specifically:
23371 @item Python boolean
23372 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
23375 @item Python integer
23376 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
23377 current architecture.
23380 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
23381 current architecture.
23384 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
23385 current architecture.
23387 @item Python string
23388 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
23391 @item @code{gdb.Value}
23392 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
23394 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
23395 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
23396 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
23397 its result is used.
23401 @defun Value.cast (type)
23402 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
23403 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
23404 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
23405 reason, this method throws an exception.
23408 @defun Value.dereference ()
23409 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
23410 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
23411 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
23418 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
23419 @code{foo} points to like this:
23422 bar = foo.dereference ()
23425 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
23426 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
23428 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
23429 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
23430 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
23431 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
23432 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
23433 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
23434 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
23435 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
23439 typedef int *intptr;
23443 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
23446 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
23447 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
23448 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
23449 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
23450 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
23451 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
23454 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
23455 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
23456 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
23459 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23460 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
23461 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
23462 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
23463 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
23464 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
23465 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
23466 example). The results are however identical when applied on
23467 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
23468 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
23471 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
23472 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
23473 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
23474 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
23475 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
23476 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
23477 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
23478 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
23479 in your C@t{++} program as
23487 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
23488 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
23489 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
23490 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
23493 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
23494 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
23495 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
23498 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23499 corresponding to @code{val}.
23502 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
23503 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
23504 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23507 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
23508 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
23509 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23512 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
23513 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23514 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
23515 throw an exception.
23517 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
23518 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
23521 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
23522 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
23523 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
23524 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
23525 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
23527 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23528 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
23529 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
23530 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
23531 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
23532 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
23533 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
23534 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
23535 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
23537 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
23538 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
23540 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23541 fetched and converted to the given length.
23544 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
23545 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23546 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
23547 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
23549 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23550 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
23551 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
23552 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
23553 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
23555 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
23556 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
23557 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
23558 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
23559 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
23560 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
23562 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23563 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
23564 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
23565 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
23568 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
23569 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
23570 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
23571 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
23572 will produce a Python exception.
23574 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
23577 This method does not return a value.
23581 @node Types In Python
23582 @subsubsection Types In Python
23583 @cindex types in Python
23584 @cindex Python, working with types
23587 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
23590 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23593 @findex gdb.lookup_type
23594 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
23595 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
23596 type to look up. It must be a string.
23598 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23599 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23601 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
23602 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
23605 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
23606 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
23607 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
23608 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
23611 bar = some_type['foo']
23614 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
23615 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
23616 @code{gdb.Field} class.
23618 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
23621 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
23622 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
23625 @defvar Type.sizeof
23626 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
23627 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
23628 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
23632 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
23633 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
23634 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
23635 @code{None} is returned.
23638 The following methods are provided:
23640 @defun Type.fields ()
23641 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
23642 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
23643 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
23644 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
23645 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
23646 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
23648 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
23651 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
23652 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
23653 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
23654 enumeration member's integer representation.
23657 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
23660 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
23661 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
23662 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
23664 @item is_base_class
23665 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
23666 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
23667 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
23668 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
23671 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
23672 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
23673 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
23676 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
23677 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
23681 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
23682 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
23683 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
23684 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
23685 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
23686 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
23687 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
23690 @defun Type.vector (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
23691 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a vector of this
23692 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
23693 the vector; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
23694 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the vector, and the
23695 second argument is the upper bound of the vector. A vector's length
23696 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
23698 The difference between an @code{array} and a @code{vector} is that
23699 arrays behave like in C: when used in expressions they decay to a pointer
23700 to the first element whereas vectors are treated as first class values.
23703 @defun Type.const ()
23704 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23705 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
23708 @defun Type.volatile ()
23709 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23710 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
23713 @defun Type.unqualified ()
23714 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
23715 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
23719 @defun Type.range ()
23720 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
23721 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
23722 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
23723 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
23726 @defun Type.reference ()
23727 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
23731 @defun Type.pointer ()
23732 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
23736 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
23737 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
23738 after removing all layers of typedefs.
23741 @defun Type.target ()
23742 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
23745 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
23746 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
23747 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
23748 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
23749 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
23750 target type is the aliased type.
23752 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
23756 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
23757 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
23758 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
23759 @var{n}th template argument.
23761 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
23762 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
23764 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23765 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23769 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
23770 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
23771 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23774 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
23775 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23776 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23777 The type is a pointer.
23779 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23780 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23781 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23782 The type is an array.
23784 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23785 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23786 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23787 The type is a structure.
23789 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
23790 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23791 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23792 The type is a union.
23794 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23795 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23796 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23797 The type is an enum.
23799 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23800 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23801 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23802 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
23804 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23805 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23806 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23807 The type is a function.
23809 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
23810 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23811 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23812 The type is an integer type.
23814 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
23815 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23816 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23817 A floating point type.
23819 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
23820 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23821 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23822 The special type @code{void}.
23824 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
23825 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23826 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23829 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23830 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23831 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23832 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
23834 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
23835 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23836 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23837 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
23838 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
23840 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23841 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23842 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23843 A string of bits. It is deprecated.
23845 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23846 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23847 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23848 An unknown or erroneous type.
23850 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23851 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23852 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23853 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
23855 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23856 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23857 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23858 A pointer-to-member-function.
23860 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23861 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23862 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23863 A pointer-to-member.
23865 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
23866 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23867 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23870 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23871 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23872 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23875 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23876 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23877 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23880 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23881 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23882 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23883 A complex float type.
23885 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23886 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23887 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23888 A typedef to some other type.
23890 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23891 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23892 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23893 A C@t{++} namespace.
23895 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23896 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23897 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23898 A decimal floating point type.
23900 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23901 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23902 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23903 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
23904 convenience functions.
23907 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
23908 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
23910 @node Pretty Printing API
23911 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
23913 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
23915 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
23916 specific interface, defined here.
23918 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
23919 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
23920 children of the pretty-printer's value.
23922 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
23923 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
23924 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
23925 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
23926 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
23928 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
23929 as though the value has no children.
23932 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
23933 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
23934 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
23935 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
23938 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
23941 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
23945 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
23946 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
23947 @code{set print array}.
23950 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
23951 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
23955 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
23956 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
23957 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
23958 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
23959 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
23960 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
23964 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
23965 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
23966 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
23968 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
23969 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
23970 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
23971 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
23972 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
23973 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
23974 the result of @code{children}.
23976 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
23978 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
23979 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
23980 another pretty-printer.
23982 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
23983 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
23984 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
23985 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
23986 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
23988 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
23989 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
23991 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
23994 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
23995 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
23997 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
23998 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
23999 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
24000 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
24001 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
24004 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
24005 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
24007 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
24008 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
24009 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
24010 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
24011 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
24012 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
24015 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
24016 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
24017 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
24018 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
24021 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
24022 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
24023 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
24024 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
24025 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
24026 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
24027 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
24028 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
24029 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
24030 object is returned.
24032 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
24033 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
24034 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
24035 object is returned.
24037 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
24038 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
24039 the pretty-printer is out of date.
24041 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
24042 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
24043 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
24044 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
24045 with a broken printer.
24047 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
24048 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
24049 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
24050 the printer is enabled.
24052 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
24053 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
24054 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
24056 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
24057 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
24059 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
24060 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
24064 class StdStringPrinter(object):
24065 "Print a std::string"
24067 def __init__(self, val):
24070 def to_string(self):
24071 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
24073 def display_hint(self):
24077 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
24078 example above might be written.
24081 def str_lookup_function(val):
24082 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
24083 if lookup_tag == None:
24085 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
24086 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
24087 return StdStringPrinter(val)
24091 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
24092 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
24093 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
24094 returns @code{None}.
24096 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
24097 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
24098 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
24099 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
24100 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
24103 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
24104 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
24105 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
24106 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
24107 the current objfile.
24109 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
24110 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
24111 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
24112 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
24113 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
24114 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
24115 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
24116 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
24119 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
24120 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
24123 def register_printers(objfile):
24124 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
24128 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
24131 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
24132 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
24135 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
24136 There are a few things that can be improved on.
24137 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
24138 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
24139 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
24141 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
24142 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
24143 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
24144 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
24145 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
24146 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
24148 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
24149 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
24150 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
24152 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
24155 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
24156 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
24159 Here are the printers:
24163 """Print a foo object."""
24165 def __init__(self, val):
24168 def to_string(self):
24169 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
24170 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
24173 """Print a bar object."""
24175 def __init__(self, val):
24178 def to_string(self):
24179 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
24180 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
24183 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
24184 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
24185 the object that handles the lookup.
24188 import gdb.printing
24190 def build_pretty_printer():
24191 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
24193 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
24194 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
24198 And here is the autoload support:
24201 import gdb.printing
24203 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
24204 gdb.current_objfile(),
24205 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
24208 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
24209 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
24212 (gdb) info pretty-printer
24219 @node Type Printing API
24220 @subsubsection Type Printing API
24221 @cindex type printing API for Python
24223 @value{GDBN} provides a way for Python code to customize type display.
24224 This is mainly useful for substituting canonical typedef names for
24227 @cindex type printer
24228 A @dfn{type printer} is just a Python object conforming to a certain
24229 protocol. A simple base class implementing the protocol is provided;
24230 see @ref{gdb.types}. A type printer must supply at least:
24232 @defivar type_printer enabled
24233 A boolean which is True if the printer is enabled, and False
24234 otherwise. This is manipulated by the @code{enable type-printer}
24235 and @code{disable type-printer} commands.
24238 @defivar type_printer name
24239 The name of the type printer. This must be a string. This is used by
24240 the @code{enable type-printer} and @code{disable type-printer}
24244 @defmethod type_printer instantiate (self)
24245 This is called by @value{GDBN} at the start of type-printing. It is
24246 only called if the type printer is enabled. This method must return a
24247 new object that supplies a @code{recognize} method, as described below.
24251 When displaying a type, say via the @code{ptype} command, @value{GDBN}
24252 will compute a list of type recognizers. This is done by iterating
24253 first over the per-objfile type printers (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}),
24254 followed by the per-progspace type printers (@pxref{Progspaces In
24255 Python}), and finally the global type printers.
24257 @value{GDBN} will call the @code{instantiate} method of each enabled
24258 type printer. If this method returns @code{None}, then the result is
24259 ignored; otherwise, it is appended to the list of recognizers.
24261 Then, when @value{GDBN} is going to display a type name, it iterates
24262 over the list of recognizers. For each one, it calls the recognition
24263 function, stopping if the function returns a non-@code{None} value.
24264 The recognition function is defined as:
24266 @defmethod type_recognizer recognize (self, type)
24267 If @var{type} is not recognized, return @code{None}. Otherwise,
24268 return a string which is to be printed as the name of @var{type}.
24269 @var{type} will be an instance of @code{gdb.Type} (@pxref{Types In
24273 @value{GDBN} uses this two-pass approach so that type printers can
24274 efficiently cache information without holding on to it too long. For
24275 example, it can be convenient to look up type information in a type
24276 printer and hold it for a recognizer's lifetime; if a single pass were
24277 done then type printers would have to make use of the event system in
24278 order to avoid holding information that could become stale as the
24281 @node Inferiors In Python
24282 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
24283 @cindex inferiors in Python
24285 @findex gdb.Inferior
24286 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
24287 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
24288 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
24289 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
24291 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24294 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
24295 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
24298 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
24299 Return an object representing the current inferior.
24302 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
24304 @defvar Inferior.num
24305 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
24308 @defvar Inferior.pid
24309 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
24313 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
24314 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
24315 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
24318 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
24320 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
24321 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
24322 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
24323 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
24324 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
24325 at the time the method is called.
24328 @defun Inferior.threads ()
24329 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
24330 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
24331 return an empty tuple.
24334 @findex Inferior.read_memory
24335 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
24336 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
24337 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
24338 or a string. It can be modified and given to the
24339 @code{Inferior.write_memory} function. In @code{Python} 3, the return
24340 value is a @code{memoryview} object.
24343 @findex Inferior.write_memory
24344 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
24345 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
24346 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
24347 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
24348 object returned from @code{Inferior.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
24349 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
24352 @findex gdb.search_memory
24353 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
24354 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
24355 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
24356 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
24357 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
24358 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
24359 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
24360 the pattern could not be found.
24363 @node Events In Python
24364 @subsubsection Events In Python
24365 @cindex inferior events in Python
24367 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
24368 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
24371 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
24372 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
24373 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
24375 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
24376 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
24377 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
24378 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
24380 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
24381 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
24382 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
24385 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
24386 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
24387 will no longer receive notifications of events.
24390 Here is an example:
24393 def exit_handler (event):
24394 print "event type: exit"
24395 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
24397 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
24400 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
24401 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
24402 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
24403 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
24404 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
24407 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
24408 details of the events they emit:
24413 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
24415 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
24416 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
24417 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
24418 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
24419 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
24420 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
24422 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
24423 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
24424 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
24427 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
24429 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
24430 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
24432 @item events.exited
24433 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
24434 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
24435 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
24436 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
24437 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
24438 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
24439 the attribute does not exist.
24441 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
24442 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
24446 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
24448 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
24449 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
24450 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
24451 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
24453 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
24455 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
24456 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
24458 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
24459 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
24460 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
24461 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
24464 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
24466 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
24467 been hit, and has the following attributes:
24469 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
24470 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
24471 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
24472 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
24474 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
24475 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
24476 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
24477 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
24480 @item events.new_objfile
24481 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
24482 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
24484 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
24485 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
24486 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
24491 @node Threads In Python
24492 @subsubsection Threads In Python
24493 @cindex threads in python
24495 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
24496 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
24497 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
24499 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24502 @findex gdb.selected_thread
24503 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
24504 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
24505 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
24508 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
24510 @defvar InferiorThread.name
24511 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
24512 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
24513 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
24514 returns @code{None}.
24516 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
24517 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
24518 user-specified thread name.
24521 @defvar InferiorThread.num
24522 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
24525 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
24526 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
24527 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
24528 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
24529 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
24530 does not use that identifier.
24533 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
24535 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
24536 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
24537 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
24538 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
24539 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
24540 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24543 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
24544 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
24548 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
24549 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
24552 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
24553 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
24556 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
24557 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
24560 @node Commands In Python
24561 @subsubsection Commands In Python
24563 @cindex commands in python
24564 @cindex python commands
24565 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
24566 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
24567 class, most commonly using a subclass.
24569 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
24570 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
24571 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
24572 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24574 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
24575 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24576 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
24577 an exception is raised.
24579 There is no support for multi-line commands.
24581 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24582 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
24583 new command in the help system.
24585 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
24586 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
24587 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
24588 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
24589 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
24590 error will occur when completion is attempted.
24592 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
24593 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
24596 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
24597 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
24598 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
24599 not documented.'' is used.
24602 @cindex don't repeat Python command
24603 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
24604 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
24605 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
24606 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
24607 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
24610 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
24611 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
24613 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
24614 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
24616 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
24617 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
24618 that the command came from elsewhere.
24620 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
24621 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
24623 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
24624 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
24625 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
24626 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
24627 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
24628 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
24632 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
24633 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
24638 @cindex completion of Python commands
24639 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
24640 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
24641 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
24642 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
24643 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
24646 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
24647 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
24648 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
24649 using a word-breaking heuristic.
24651 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
24654 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
24655 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
24656 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
24657 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
24658 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
24659 sequence are ignored.
24662 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
24663 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
24664 function is invoked, and its result is used.
24667 All other results are treated as though there were no available
24672 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
24673 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
24674 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
24675 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
24676 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
24677 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24680 @findex COMMAND_NONE
24681 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24682 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24683 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
24684 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
24686 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
24687 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24688 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24689 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
24690 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
24691 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24692 commands in this category.
24694 @findex COMMAND_DATA
24695 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24696 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24697 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
24698 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
24699 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
24702 @findex COMMAND_STACK
24703 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24704 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24705 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
24706 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
24707 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
24708 list of commands in this category.
24710 @findex COMMAND_FILES
24711 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24712 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24713 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
24714 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
24715 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24716 commands in this category.
24718 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
24719 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24720 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24721 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
24722 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
24723 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
24724 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
24725 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24726 commands in this category.
24728 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
24729 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24730 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24731 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
24732 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
24733 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
24734 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
24736 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24737 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24738 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24739 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
24740 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24741 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
24744 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24745 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24746 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24747 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
24748 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
24749 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24750 commands in this category.
24752 @findex COMMAND_USER
24753 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
24754 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
24755 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
24756 does not fit in one of the other categories.
24757 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
24758 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
24759 (@pxref{Sequences}).
24761 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
24762 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24763 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24764 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
24765 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
24766 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24767 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
24770 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24771 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24772 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24773 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
24774 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
24775 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24776 commands in this category.
24779 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
24780 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
24781 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
24782 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24785 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
24786 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24787 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24788 This constant means that no completion should be done.
24790 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
24791 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24792 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24793 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
24795 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
24796 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24797 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24798 This constant means that location completion should be done.
24799 @xref{Specify Location}.
24801 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
24802 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24803 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24804 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
24807 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24808 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24809 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24810 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
24814 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
24815 implemented in Python:
24818 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
24819 """Greet the whole world."""
24821 def __init__ (self):
24822 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
24824 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
24825 print "Hello, World!"
24830 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
24831 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
24832 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
24833 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
24835 @node Parameters In Python
24836 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
24838 @cindex parameters in python
24839 @cindex python parameters
24840 @tindex gdb.Parameter
24842 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
24843 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
24846 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
24847 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
24849 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
24850 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
24851 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
24852 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
24853 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
24855 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
24856 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
24857 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
24858 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24860 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
24861 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24862 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
24863 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
24864 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
24865 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
24866 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
24868 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
24869 can be found, an exception is raised.
24871 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24872 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
24873 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
24875 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
24876 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
24877 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
24880 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
24881 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
24882 represent the possible values for the parameter.
24884 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
24885 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
24887 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
24888 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
24889 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
24892 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
24893 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
24894 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
24895 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
24899 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
24900 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
24901 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
24902 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
24906 @defvar Parameter.value
24907 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
24908 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
24909 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
24912 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
24913 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
24915 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
24916 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
24917 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
24918 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
24919 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
24922 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
24923 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
24924 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
24925 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
24926 current value. This method must return a string.
24929 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
24930 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
24934 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
24935 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
24936 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
24937 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
24938 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
24940 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24941 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24942 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24943 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
24944 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
24945 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
24947 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
24948 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
24949 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
24950 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
24951 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
24953 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
24954 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
24955 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
24956 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
24957 to mean ``unlimited''.
24959 @findex PARAM_STRING
24960 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
24961 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
24962 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
24963 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
24964 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
24967 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24968 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24969 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24970 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
24971 passed through untranslated.
24973 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24974 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24975 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24976 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
24978 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
24979 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
24980 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
24981 The value is a filename. This is just like
24982 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
24984 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
24985 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
24986 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
24987 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
24988 is interpreted as itself.
24991 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
24992 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
24993 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
24994 constants provided when the parameter is created.
24997 @node Functions In Python
24998 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
25000 @cindex writing convenience functions
25001 @cindex convenience functions in python
25002 @cindex python convenience functions
25003 @tindex gdb.Function
25005 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
25006 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
25007 class @code{gdb.Function}.
25009 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
25010 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
25011 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
25012 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
25013 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
25014 the given @var{name}.
25016 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
25017 string for the new class.
25020 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
25021 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
25022 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
25023 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
25024 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
25025 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
25026 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
25027 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
25029 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
25030 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
25031 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
25034 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
25035 be implemented in Python:
25038 class Greet (gdb.Function):
25039 """Return string to greet someone.
25040 Takes a name as argument."""
25042 def __init__ (self):
25043 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
25045 def invoke (self, name):
25046 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
25051 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
25052 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
25053 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
25054 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
25056 Now you can use the function in an expression:
25059 (gdb) print $greet("Bob")
25063 @node Progspaces In Python
25064 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
25066 @cindex progspaces in python
25067 @tindex gdb.Progspace
25069 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
25070 of an address space.
25071 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
25072 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
25073 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
25074 about program spaces.
25076 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
25079 @findex gdb.current_progspace
25080 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
25081 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
25082 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
25085 @findex gdb.progspaces
25086 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
25087 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
25090 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
25093 @defvar Progspace.filename
25094 The file name of the progspace as a string.
25097 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
25098 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
25099 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
25100 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
25101 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
25102 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
25106 @defvar Progspace.type_printers
25107 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
25108 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
25111 @node Objfiles In Python
25112 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
25114 @cindex objfiles in python
25115 @tindex gdb.Objfile
25117 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
25118 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
25119 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
25120 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
25121 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
25123 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
25126 @findex gdb.current_objfile
25127 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
25128 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
25129 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
25130 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
25131 this function returns @code{None}.
25134 @findex gdb.objfiles
25135 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
25136 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
25137 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
25140 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
25143 @defvar Objfile.filename
25144 The file name of the objfile as a string.
25147 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
25148 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
25149 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
25150 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
25151 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
25152 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
25156 @defvar Objfile.type_printers
25157 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
25158 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
25161 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
25163 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
25164 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
25165 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
25166 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
25167 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
25168 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25171 @node Frames In Python
25172 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
25174 @cindex frames in python
25175 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
25176 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
25177 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
25178 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
25179 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
25180 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
25182 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
25186 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
25190 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
25192 @findex gdb.selected_frame
25193 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
25194 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
25197 @findex gdb.newest_frame
25198 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
25199 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
25202 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
25203 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
25204 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
25205 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
25208 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
25210 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
25211 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
25212 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
25213 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
25214 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25217 @defun Frame.name ()
25218 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
25222 @defun Frame.architecture ()
25223 Returns the @code{gdb.Architecture} object corresponding to the frame's
25224 architecture. @xref{Architectures In Python}.
25227 @defun Frame.type ()
25228 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
25230 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
25231 An ordinary stack frame.
25233 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
25234 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
25235 inferior function call.
25237 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
25238 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
25239 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
25241 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
25242 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
25244 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
25245 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
25246 it calls into a signal handler.
25248 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
25249 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
25251 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
25252 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
25257 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
25258 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
25259 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
25260 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
25261 function to a string. The value can be one of:
25264 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
25265 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
25267 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
25268 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
25270 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
25271 This frame is the outermost.
25273 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
25274 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
25275 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
25277 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
25278 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
25279 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
25280 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
25282 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
25283 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
25284 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
25285 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
25286 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
25289 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
25290 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
25291 one to unwind further.
25293 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
25294 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
25295 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
25296 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
25297 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
25298 versions. Using it, you could write:
25300 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
25301 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
25302 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
25303 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
25310 Returns the frame's resume address.
25313 @defun Frame.block ()
25314 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25317 @defun Frame.function ()
25318 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
25319 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
25322 @defun Frame.older ()
25323 Return the frame that called this frame.
25326 @defun Frame.newer ()
25327 Return the frame called by this frame.
25330 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
25331 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
25332 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
25335 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
25336 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
25337 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
25338 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
25339 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
25340 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
25341 @code{gdb.Block} object.
25344 @defun Frame.select ()
25345 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
25349 @node Blocks In Python
25350 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
25352 @cindex blocks in python
25355 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
25356 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
25357 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
25358 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
25359 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
25360 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
25363 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
25364 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
25365 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
25366 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
25367 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
25370 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25373 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
25374 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
25375 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
25376 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
25377 will return @code{None}.
25380 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
25382 @defun Block.is_valid ()
25383 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
25384 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
25385 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
25386 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
25387 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
25388 during iteration over symbols of the block.
25391 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
25393 @defvar Block.start
25394 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
25398 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
25401 @defvar Block.function
25402 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
25403 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
25404 attribute is not writable.
25407 @defvar Block.superblock
25408 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
25409 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25412 @defvar Block.global_block
25413 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
25417 @defvar Block.static_block
25418 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
25422 @defvar Block.is_global
25423 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
25424 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
25428 @defvar Block.is_static
25429 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
25430 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
25433 @node Symbols In Python
25434 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
25436 @cindex symbols in python
25439 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
25440 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
25441 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
25442 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
25444 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25447 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
25448 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
25449 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
25450 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
25453 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
25454 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
25455 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
25456 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
25457 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
25458 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
25459 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
25462 The result is a tuple of two elements.
25463 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
25465 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
25466 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
25467 otherwise it is @code{False}.
25468 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
25471 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
25472 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
25473 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
25474 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
25476 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
25477 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
25478 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
25479 module and described later in this chapter.
25481 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
25485 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
25487 @defvar Symbol.type
25488 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
25489 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
25490 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
25493 @defvar Symbol.symtab
25494 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
25495 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
25496 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
25499 @defvar Symbol.line
25500 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
25501 This is an integer.
25504 @defvar Symbol.name
25505 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
25508 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
25509 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
25510 This attribute is not writable.
25513 @defvar Symbol.print_name
25514 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
25515 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
25516 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
25519 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
25520 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
25521 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
25522 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
25525 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
25526 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
25527 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
25528 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
25531 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
25532 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
25535 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
25536 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
25539 @defvar Symbol.is_function
25540 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
25543 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
25544 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
25547 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
25549 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
25550 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
25551 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
25552 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
25553 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
25554 invalid at the time the method is called.
25557 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
25558 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
25559 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
25560 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
25561 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
25562 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
25566 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25567 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25570 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25571 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25572 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25573 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
25574 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
25575 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25576 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25577 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25578 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25579 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
25581 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25582 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25583 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25584 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
25585 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25586 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25587 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25588 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
25589 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25590 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25591 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25592 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
25593 contains everything minus functions and types.
25594 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25595 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25596 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
25597 This domain contains all functions.
25598 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25599 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25600 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25601 This domain contains all types.
25604 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25605 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25608 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25609 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25610 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25611 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
25612 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25613 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25614 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25615 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25616 Value is constant int.
25617 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25618 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25619 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25620 Value is at a fixed address.
25621 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25622 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25623 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25624 Value is in a register.
25625 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25626 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25627 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25628 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
25629 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
25630 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25631 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25632 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25633 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
25634 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
25635 offset, not the value itself.
25636 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25637 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25638 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25639 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
25640 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
25642 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25643 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25644 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25645 Value is a local variable.
25646 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25647 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25648 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25649 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
25651 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25652 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25653 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25655 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25656 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25657 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25658 Value is a byte-sequence.
25659 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25660 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25661 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25662 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
25663 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
25665 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25666 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25667 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25668 The value does not actually exist in the program.
25669 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25670 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25671 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25672 The value's address is a computed location.
25675 @node Symbol Tables In Python
25676 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
25678 @cindex symbol tables in python
25680 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
25682 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
25683 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
25684 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
25685 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
25686 @xref{Frames In Python}.
25688 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
25689 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
25691 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
25693 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
25694 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
25695 This attribute is not writable.
25698 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
25699 Indicates the start of the address range occupied by code for the
25700 current source line. This attribute is not writable.
25703 @defvar Symtab_and_line.last
25704 Indicates the end of the address range occupied by code for the current
25705 source line. This attribute is not writable.
25708 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
25709 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
25710 attribute is not writable.
25713 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
25715 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
25716 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
25717 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
25718 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
25719 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
25720 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
25721 invalid at the time the method is called.
25724 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
25726 @defvar Symtab.filename
25727 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
25730 @defvar Symtab.objfile
25731 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
25732 This attribute is not writable.
25735 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
25737 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
25738 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
25739 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
25740 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
25741 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
25742 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25745 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
25746 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
25749 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
25750 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
25751 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25754 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
25755 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
25756 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25759 @node Breakpoints In Python
25760 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
25762 @cindex breakpoints in python
25763 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
25765 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
25768 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
25769 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
25770 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
25771 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
25772 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
25773 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
25774 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
25775 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
25776 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
25777 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
25778 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
25779 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
25780 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
25781 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
25782 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
25783 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
25786 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
25787 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
25788 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
25789 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
25790 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
25791 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
25792 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
25793 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
25795 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
25796 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
25797 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
25798 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
25799 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
25800 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
25802 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
25803 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
25804 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
25805 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
25808 Example @code{stop} implementation:
25811 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
25813 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
25820 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
25825 @findex gdb.WP_READ
25827 Read only watchpoint.
25830 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
25832 Write only watchpoint.
25835 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
25836 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
25837 Read/Write watchpoint.
25840 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
25841 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
25842 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
25843 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
25844 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
25845 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
25846 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
25849 @defun Breakpoint.delete
25850 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
25851 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
25852 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
25855 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
25856 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
25857 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
25860 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
25861 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
25862 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
25864 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
25865 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
25866 @code{silent} attribute.
25869 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
25870 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
25871 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
25872 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
25875 @defvar Breakpoint.task
25876 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
25877 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
25878 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
25882 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
25883 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
25884 This attribute is writable.
25887 @defvar Breakpoint.number
25888 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
25889 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
25892 @defvar Breakpoint.type
25893 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
25894 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
25898 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
25899 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
25900 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
25901 attribute is not writable.
25904 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
25908 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
25909 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
25910 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
25911 Normal code breakpoint.
25913 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
25914 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
25915 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
25916 Watchpoint breakpoint.
25918 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25919 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25920 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25921 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
25923 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25924 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25925 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25926 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
25928 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25929 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25930 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25931 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
25934 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
25935 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
25936 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
25939 @defvar Breakpoint.location
25940 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
25941 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
25942 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
25943 attribute is not writable.
25946 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
25947 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
25948 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
25949 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
25950 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25953 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
25954 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
25955 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
25956 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
25959 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
25960 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
25961 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
25962 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
25963 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25966 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
25967 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
25969 @cindex python finish breakpoints
25970 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
25972 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
25973 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
25974 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
25975 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
25976 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
25977 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
25980 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
25981 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
25982 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
25983 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
25984 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
25985 details about this argument.
25988 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
25989 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
25990 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
25991 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
25992 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
25994 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
25998 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
26000 print "normal finish"
26003 def out_of_scope ():
26004 print "abnormal finish"
26008 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
26009 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
26010 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
26011 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
26012 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
26013 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
26017 @node Lazy Strings In Python
26018 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
26020 @cindex lazy strings in python
26021 @tindex gdb.LazyString
26023 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
26024 encoded until it is needed.
26026 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
26027 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
26028 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
26029 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
26030 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
26031 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
26032 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
26033 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
26034 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
26036 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
26038 @defun LazyString.value ()
26039 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
26040 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
26041 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
26042 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
26045 @defvar LazyString.address
26046 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
26050 @defvar LazyString.length
26051 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
26052 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
26053 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
26056 @defvar LazyString.encoding
26057 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
26058 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
26059 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
26060 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
26064 @defvar LazyString.type
26065 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
26066 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
26067 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
26068 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
26072 @node Architectures In Python
26073 @subsubsection Python representation of architectures
26074 @cindex Python architectures
26076 @value{GDBN} uses architecture specific parameters and artifacts in a
26077 number of its various computations. An architecture is represented
26078 by an instance of the @code{gdb.Architecture} class.
26080 A @code{gdb.Architecture} class has the following methods:
26082 @defun Architecture.name ()
26083 Return the name (string value) of the architecture.
26086 @defun Architecture.disassemble (@var{start_pc} @r{[}, @var{end_pc} @r{[}, @var{count}@r{]]})
26087 Return a list of disassembled instructions starting from the memory
26088 address @var{start_pc}. The optional arguments @var{end_pc} and
26089 @var{count} determine the number of instructions in the returned list.
26090 If both the optional arguments @var{end_pc} and @var{count} are
26091 specified, then a list of at most @var{count} disassembled instructions
26092 whose start address falls in the closed memory address interval from
26093 @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If @var{end_pc} is not
26094 specified, but @var{count} is specified, then @var{count} number of
26095 instructions starting from the address @var{start_pc} are returned. If
26096 @var{count} is not specified but @var{end_pc} is specified, then all
26097 instructions whose start address falls in the closed memory address
26098 interval from @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If neither
26099 @var{end_pc} nor @var{count} are specified, then a single instruction at
26100 @var{start_pc} is returned. For all of these cases, each element of the
26101 returned list is a Python @code{dict} with the following string keys:
26106 The value corresponding to this key is a Python long integer capturing
26107 the memory address of the instruction.
26110 The value corresponding to this key is a string value which represents
26111 the instruction with assembly language mnemonics. The assembly
26112 language flavor used is the same as that specified by the current CLI
26113 variable @code{disassembly-flavor}. @xref{Machine Code}.
26116 The value corresponding to this key is the length (integer value) of the
26117 instruction in bytes.
26122 @node Python Auto-loading
26123 @subsection Python Auto-loading
26124 @cindex Python auto-loading
26126 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
26127 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
26128 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
26129 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
26130 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
26131 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
26133 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
26134 debugging commands and scripts.
26136 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
26137 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
26140 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
26141 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
26142 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
26143 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
26145 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
26146 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
26147 @item show auto-load python-scripts
26148 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
26150 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
26151 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
26152 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
26153 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
26154 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
26156 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
26157 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
26158 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
26159 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
26160 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
26161 an error message for each one is problematic.
26163 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
26168 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
26170 Yes py-section-script.py
26171 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
26172 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
26176 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
26177 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
26178 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
26179 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
26182 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
26183 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
26184 * Which flavor to choose?::
26187 @node objfile-gdb.py file
26188 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
26189 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
26191 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
26192 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
26193 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
26194 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
26195 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
26196 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
26198 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
26199 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
26201 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
26202 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
26204 For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
26205 scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
26206 found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
26207 its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
26208 is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
26209 between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
26212 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
26213 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
26214 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
26215 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
26216 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
26217 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
26219 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
26220 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
26222 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
26223 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
26224 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
26225 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
26227 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
26228 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
26229 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
26230 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
26231 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
26232 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
26235 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
26236 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
26237 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
26239 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
26240 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
26241 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
26242 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
26245 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
26246 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
26247 @var{objfile} is opened.
26248 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
26249 is evaluated more than once.
26251 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
26252 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
26253 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
26255 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
26256 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
26257 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
26258 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
26260 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
26261 current directory and then along the source search path
26262 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
26263 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
26264 directory is not relevant to scripts.
26266 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
26267 for example, this GCC macro:
26270 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
26271 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
26273 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
26275 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
26281 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
26284 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
26287 The script name may include directories if desired.
26289 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
26290 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
26292 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
26293 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
26295 @node Which flavor to choose?
26296 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
26298 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
26299 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
26301 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
26305 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
26308 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
26310 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
26311 in the source search path.
26312 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
26313 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
26316 Doesn't require source code additions.
26319 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
26323 Works with static linking.
26325 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
26326 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
26327 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
26328 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
26331 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
26333 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
26334 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
26337 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
26339 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
26340 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
26341 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
26342 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
26343 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
26344 top of the source tree to the source search path.
26347 @node Python modules
26348 @subsection Python modules
26349 @cindex python modules
26351 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
26354 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
26355 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
26356 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
26360 @subsubsection gdb.printing
26361 @cindex gdb.printing
26363 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
26367 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
26368 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
26369 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
26370 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
26372 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
26373 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
26374 corresponding API for the subprinters.
26376 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
26377 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
26378 regular expressions.
26379 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
26381 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
26382 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
26383 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
26384 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
26385 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
26386 the @code{enum} type to look up.
26388 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
26389 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
26390 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
26391 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
26392 if a printer with the same name already exists.
26396 @subsubsection gdb.types
26399 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
26400 @code{gdb.Type} objects.
26403 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
26404 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
26405 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
26410 typedef const int const_int;
26412 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
26413 int main () @{ return 0; @}
26420 (gdb) python import gdb.types
26421 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
26422 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
26426 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
26427 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
26428 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
26430 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
26431 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
26433 @item deep_items (@var{type})
26434 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
26435 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
26436 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
26437 union fields. For example:
26451 Then in @value{GDBN}:
26453 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
26454 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
26455 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
26457 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
26458 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
26461 @item get_type_recognizers ()
26462 Return a list of the enabled type recognizers for the current context.
26463 This is called by @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process
26464 (@pxref{Type Printing API}).
26466 @item apply_type_recognizers (recognizers, type_obj)
26467 Apply the type recognizers, @var{recognizers}, to the type object
26468 @var{type_obj}. If any recognizer returns a string, return that
26469 string. Otherwise, return @code{None}. This is called by
26470 @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process (@pxref{Type Printing
26473 @item register_type_printer (locus, printer)
26474 This is a convenience function to register a type printer.
26475 @var{printer} is the type printer to register. It must implement the
26476 type printer protocol. @var{locus} is either a @code{gdb.Objfile}, in
26477 which case the printer is registered with that objfile; a
26478 @code{gdb.Progspace}, in which case the printer is registered with
26479 that progspace; or @code{None}, in which case the printer is
26480 registered globally.
26483 This is a base class that implements the type printer protocol. Type
26484 printers are encouraged, but not required, to derive from this class.
26485 It defines a constructor:
26487 @defmethod TypePrinter __init__ (self, name)
26488 Initialize the type printer with the given name. The new printer
26489 starts in the enabled state.
26495 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
26498 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
26501 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
26502 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
26503 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
26504 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
26506 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
26510 Substitute a backslash.
26512 Substitute an ESC character.
26514 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
26516 Substitute a newline.
26518 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
26520 Substitute a carriage return.
26522 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
26524 Substitute the version of GDB.
26526 Substitute the current working directory.
26528 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
26529 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
26530 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
26531 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
26533 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
26539 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
26540 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
26543 @exdent will return the string:
26546 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
26551 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
26552 @cindex aliases for commands
26554 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
26555 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
26556 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
26557 that involves less typing.
26559 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
26560 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
26561 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
26563 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
26564 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
26565 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
26567 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
26572 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
26576 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
26577 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
26580 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
26581 that is being aliased.
26583 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
26584 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
26585 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
26587 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
26588 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
26590 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
26591 of a command so that there is less to type.
26592 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
26593 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
26594 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
26595 The following will accomplish this.
26598 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
26601 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
26602 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
26603 for it with the @samp{document} command.
26604 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
26606 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
26607 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
26608 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
26612 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
26613 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
26614 (gdb) set p elms 20
26616 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
26619 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
26620 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
26621 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
26623 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
26624 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
26627 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
26630 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
26631 alias for a more complex command.
26632 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
26635 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
26640 @chapter Command Interpreters
26641 @cindex command interpreters
26643 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
26644 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
26645 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
26647 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
26648 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
26649 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
26650 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
26652 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
26653 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
26654 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
26655 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
26659 @cindex console interpreter
26660 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
26661 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
26662 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
26665 @cindex mi interpreter
26666 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
26667 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
26668 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
26672 @cindex mi2 interpreter
26673 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
26676 @cindex mi1 interpreter
26677 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
26681 @cindex invoke another interpreter
26682 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
26683 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
26684 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
26685 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
26686 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
26687 the IDE inoperable!
26689 @kindex interpreter-exec
26690 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
26691 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
26692 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
26693 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
26696 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
26699 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
26700 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
26703 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
26705 @cindex Text User Interface
26708 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
26709 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
26710 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
26711 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
26712 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
26715 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
26716 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
26717 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
26718 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
26719 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
26722 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
26723 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
26724 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
26725 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
26726 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
26729 @section TUI Overview
26731 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
26735 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
26736 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
26737 managed using readline.
26740 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
26741 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
26744 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
26747 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
26748 when their values change.
26751 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
26752 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
26753 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
26754 indicates the breakpoint type:
26758 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26761 Breakpoint which was never hit.
26764 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26767 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
26770 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
26774 Breakpoint is enabled.
26777 Breakpoint is disabled.
26780 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
26781 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
26784 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
26785 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
26796 source and assembly,
26799 source and registers, or
26802 assembly and registers.
26805 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
26809 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
26810 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
26813 Gives the current process or thread number.
26814 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
26817 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
26818 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
26819 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
26820 the string @code{??} is displayed.
26823 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
26824 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
26827 Indicates the current program counter address.
26831 @section TUI Key Bindings
26832 @cindex TUI key bindings
26834 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
26835 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
26836 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
26838 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
26839 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
26841 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
26842 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
26851 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
26852 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
26853 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
26854 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
26855 The screen is then refreshed.
26859 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
26860 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
26861 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
26863 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
26867 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
26868 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
26869 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
26870 previous layout and the new one.
26872 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
26876 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
26877 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
26878 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
26880 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
26884 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
26885 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
26888 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
26893 Scroll the active window one page up.
26897 Scroll the active window one page down.
26901 Scroll the active window one line up.
26905 Scroll the active window one line down.
26909 Scroll the active window one column left.
26913 Scroll the active window one column right.
26917 Refresh the screen.
26920 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
26921 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
26922 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
26923 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
26924 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
26926 @node TUI Single Key Mode
26927 @section TUI Single Key Mode
26928 @cindex TUI single key mode
26930 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
26931 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
26932 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
26935 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26939 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26943 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26947 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26951 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26953 exit the SingleKey mode.
26955 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26959 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26963 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26967 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26971 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26976 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
26977 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
26978 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
26979 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
26980 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
26981 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
26985 @section TUI-specific Commands
26986 @cindex TUI commands
26988 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
26989 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
26990 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
26991 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
26993 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
26994 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
26995 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
26996 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
26997 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
27002 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
27006 Display the next layout.
27009 Display the previous layout.
27012 Display the source window only.
27015 Display the assembly window only.
27018 Display the source and assembly window.
27021 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
27025 Make the next window active for scrolling.
27028 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
27031 Make the source window active for scrolling.
27034 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
27037 Make the register window active for scrolling.
27040 Make the command window active for scrolling.
27044 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
27046 @item tui reg float
27048 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
27050 @item tui reg general
27051 Show the general registers in the register window.
27054 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
27055 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
27056 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
27057 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
27059 @item tui reg system
27060 Show the system registers in the register window.
27064 Update the source window and the current execution point.
27066 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
27067 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
27069 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
27070 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
27073 @item tabset @var{nchars}
27075 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
27078 @node TUI Configuration
27079 @section TUI Configuration Variables
27080 @cindex TUI configuration variables
27082 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
27085 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
27086 @kindex set tui border-kind
27087 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
27088 The possible values are the following:
27091 Use a space character to draw the border.
27094 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
27097 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
27098 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
27101 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
27102 @kindex set tui border-mode
27103 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
27104 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
27105 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
27106 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
27109 Use normal attributes to display the border.
27115 Use reverse video mode.
27118 Use half bright mode.
27120 @item half-standout
27121 Use half bright and standout mode.
27124 Use extra bright or bold mode.
27126 @item bold-standout
27127 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
27132 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
27135 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
27136 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
27137 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
27140 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
27141 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
27142 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
27143 created Emacs buffer.
27144 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
27146 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
27151 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
27154 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
27155 and output done by the program you are debugging.
27157 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
27158 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
27161 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
27162 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
27163 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
27167 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
27169 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
27170 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
27171 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
27172 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
27175 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
27176 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
27179 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
27180 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
27181 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
27182 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
27184 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
27185 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
27186 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
27187 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
27188 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
27189 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
27190 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
27191 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
27192 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
27194 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
27195 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
27196 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
27197 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
27199 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
27200 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
27201 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
27202 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
27205 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
27206 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
27210 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
27213 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
27214 update the display window to show the current file and location.
27217 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
27218 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
27219 to show the current file and location.
27222 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
27223 display window accordingly.
27226 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
27227 @code{finish} command.
27230 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
27234 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
27235 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
27236 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
27239 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
27240 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
27243 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
27244 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
27246 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
27247 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
27248 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
27249 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
27250 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
27251 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
27252 speedbar displays watch expressions.
27254 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
27255 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
27256 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
27257 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
27260 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
27261 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
27262 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
27263 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
27264 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
27265 to correspond properly with the code.
27267 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
27268 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
27272 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
27274 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
27276 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
27277 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
27278 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
27279 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
27280 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
27281 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
27283 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
27284 in the form of a reference manual.
27286 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
27287 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
27288 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
27290 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
27292 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
27293 This chapter uses the following notation:
27297 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
27300 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
27301 it may or may not be given.
27304 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
27305 may repeat zero or more times.
27308 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
27309 may repeat one or more times.
27312 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
27316 @heading Dependencies
27320 * GDB/MI General Design::
27321 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
27322 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
27323 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
27324 * GDB/MI Output Records::
27325 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
27326 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
27327 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
27328 * GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
27329 * GDB/MI Program Context::
27330 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
27331 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
27332 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
27333 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
27334 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
27335 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
27336 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
27337 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
27338 * GDB/MI File Commands::
27340 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
27341 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
27342 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
27344 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
27345 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
27346 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
27349 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27350 @node GDB/MI General Design
27351 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
27352 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
27354 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
27355 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
27356 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
27357 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
27358 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
27359 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
27360 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
27361 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
27362 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
27363 a command and reported as part of that command response.
27365 The important examples of notifications are:
27369 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
27370 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
27371 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
27372 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
27373 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
27374 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
27375 command itself was successfully executed.
27378 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
27379 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
27380 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
27381 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
27382 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
27383 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
27386 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
27387 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
27388 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
27389 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
27390 orthogonal frontend design.
27394 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
27395 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
27396 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
27397 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
27398 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
27399 the user interface.
27403 * Context management::
27404 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
27408 @node Context management
27409 @subsection Context management
27411 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
27412 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
27413 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
27414 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
27415 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
27416 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
27417 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
27418 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
27419 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
27421 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
27422 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
27423 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
27424 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
27425 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
27426 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
27427 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
27428 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
27429 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
27430 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
27431 for thread and frame to operate on.
27433 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
27434 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
27435 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
27436 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
27437 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
27438 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
27439 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
27440 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
27441 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
27442 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
27444 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
27445 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
27446 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
27447 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
27448 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
27449 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
27450 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
27451 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
27452 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
27453 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
27454 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
27455 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
27456 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
27457 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
27458 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
27459 @samp{--frame} options.
27461 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
27462 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
27464 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
27465 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
27466 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
27467 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
27468 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
27469 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
27470 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
27471 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
27472 @code{-list-target-features} command.
27474 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
27475 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
27476 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
27477 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
27478 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
27481 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
27482 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
27483 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
27484 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
27485 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
27486 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
27487 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
27488 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
27489 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
27490 @samp{--thread} option).
27492 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
27493 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
27494 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
27495 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
27497 @node Thread groups
27498 @subsection Thread groups
27499 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
27500 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
27501 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
27502 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
27503 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
27505 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
27506 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
27507 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
27508 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
27509 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
27510 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
27511 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
27514 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
27515 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
27516 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
27517 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
27518 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
27519 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
27520 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
27521 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
27522 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
27523 the members of specific thread group.
27525 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
27526 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
27527 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
27528 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
27529 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
27530 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
27531 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
27532 after attaching to that thread group.
27534 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
27535 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
27536 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
27537 such thread groups.
27539 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27540 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
27541 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
27544 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
27545 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
27548 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
27549 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
27551 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
27552 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
27554 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
27555 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
27557 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
27558 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
27559 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
27561 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
27562 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
27563 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
27565 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27566 "any sequence of digits"
27568 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
27569 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
27571 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
27572 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
27574 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
27575 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
27577 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
27578 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
27579 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
27581 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
27582 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
27584 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27593 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
27594 output is described below.
27597 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
27601 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
27602 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
27603 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
27604 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
27605 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
27612 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
27615 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
27618 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
27619 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
27621 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
27622 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
27623 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
27624 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
27625 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
27626 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
27628 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
27629 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
27633 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
27634 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
27636 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
27637 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
27639 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
27640 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
27642 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
27643 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
27645 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
27646 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
27648 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
27649 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
27651 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
27652 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
27654 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
27655 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
27657 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
27658 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
27660 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
27661 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
27662 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
27664 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
27665 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
27667 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
27668 @code{ @var{string} }
27670 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
27671 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
27673 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
27674 @code{@var{c-string}}
27676 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
27677 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
27679 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
27680 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
27681 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
27683 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
27684 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
27686 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
27687 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
27689 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
27690 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
27692 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
27693 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
27695 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27698 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27699 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
27707 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
27710 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
27711 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
27712 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
27713 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
27714 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
27715 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
27719 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27720 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
27721 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
27722 prefixed by @samp{+}.
27725 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27726 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
27727 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
27731 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27732 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
27733 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
27734 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
27737 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27738 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
27739 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
27740 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
27743 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27744 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
27745 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
27748 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27749 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
27750 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
27751 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
27754 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27755 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
27761 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
27762 details about the various output records.
27764 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27765 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
27766 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
27768 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
27769 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
27771 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
27772 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
27773 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
27774 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
27775 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
27776 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
27778 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
27779 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
27780 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
27782 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27783 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
27784 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
27785 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
27787 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
27788 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
27790 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
27791 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
27792 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
27793 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
27796 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
27797 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
27798 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
27799 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
27803 New MI commands may be added.
27806 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
27809 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
27810 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
27812 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
27813 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
27815 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
27816 @c resolve inconsistencies.
27819 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
27820 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
27821 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
27822 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
27823 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
27825 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
27828 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
27829 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
27830 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
27831 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
27832 @cindex mailing lists
27834 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27835 @node GDB/MI Output Records
27836 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
27839 * GDB/MI Result Records::
27840 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
27841 * GDB/MI Async Records::
27842 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
27843 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
27844 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
27845 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
27848 @node GDB/MI Result Records
27849 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
27851 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27852 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
27853 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
27854 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
27858 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
27859 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
27864 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
27865 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
27866 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
27867 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
27868 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
27869 which threads are resumed.
27873 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
27875 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
27877 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
27882 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
27886 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
27887 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
27889 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
27890 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27891 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
27892 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
27893 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
27895 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
27896 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
27897 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
27898 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
27899 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
27902 @item "~" @var{string-output}
27903 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
27904 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
27906 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
27907 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
27908 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
27909 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
27911 @item "&" @var{string-output}
27912 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
27916 @node GDB/MI Async Records
27917 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
27919 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27920 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
27921 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
27922 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
27923 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
27924 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
27926 The following is the list of possible async records:
27930 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
27931 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
27932 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
27933 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
27934 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
27935 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
27936 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
27937 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
27938 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
27939 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
27941 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
27942 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
27946 @item breakpoint-hit
27947 A breakpoint was reached.
27948 @item watchpoint-trigger
27949 A watchpoint was triggered.
27950 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
27951 A read watchpoint was triggered.
27952 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
27953 An access watchpoint was triggered.
27954 @item function-finished
27955 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27956 @item location-reached
27957 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27958 @item watchpoint-scope
27959 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
27960 @item end-stepping-range
27961 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
27962 similar CLI command was accomplished.
27963 @item exited-signalled
27964 The inferior exited because of a signal.
27966 The inferior exited.
27967 @item exited-normally
27968 The inferior exited normally.
27969 @item signal-received
27970 A signal was received by the inferior.
27972 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
27973 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
27974 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
27975 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
27977 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
27978 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27980 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
27981 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27982 @item syscall-entry
27983 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
27984 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27985 @item syscall-entry
27986 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
27987 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27989 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
27990 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27993 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
27994 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
27995 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
27996 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
27997 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
27998 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
27999 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
28000 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
28001 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
28002 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
28003 if such information is not available.
28005 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
28006 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
28007 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
28008 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
28009 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
28010 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
28011 cannot be used in any way.
28013 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
28014 A thread group became associated with a running program,
28015 either because the program was just started or the thread group
28016 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
28017 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
28018 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
28020 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
28021 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
28022 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
28023 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
28024 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
28025 only when the inferior exited with some code.
28027 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
28028 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
28029 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
28030 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
28031 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
28033 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
28034 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
28035 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
28036 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
28037 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
28038 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
28039 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
28041 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
28042 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
28045 @item =library-loaded,...
28046 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
28047 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
28048 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
28049 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
28050 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
28051 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
28052 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
28053 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
28054 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
28055 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
28056 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
28057 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
28060 @item =library-unloaded,...
28061 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
28062 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
28063 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
28064 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
28065 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
28066 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
28069 @item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
28070 @itemx =traceframe-changed,end
28071 Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
28072 @var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
28073 frame is @var{tpnum}.
28075 @item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
28076 Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
28077 initial value @var{initial}.
28079 @item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
28080 @itemx =tsv-deleted
28081 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
28082 trace state variables are deleted.
28084 @item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
28085 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
28086 the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
28087 trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
28088 value of trace state variable is known.
28090 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
28091 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
28092 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
28093 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
28094 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
28097 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
28098 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
28099 @var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
28101 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
28102 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
28104 @item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
28105 @itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
28106 Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
28107 inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
28108 group corresponding to the affected inferior.
28110 @item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
28111 Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
28112 changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
28113 the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
28114 For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
28115 is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
28117 @item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
28118 Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
28119 written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
28120 thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
28121 @code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
28125 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
28126 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
28128 When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
28129 tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
28134 The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
28135 of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
28139 The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
28140 @samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
28143 If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
28144 indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
28147 This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
28148 the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
28149 meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
28152 This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
28153 value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
28154 Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
28157 The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
28158 giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
28159 breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
28160 multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
28161 be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
28164 If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
28165 If not known, this field is not present.
28168 The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
28169 If not known, this field is not present.
28172 The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
28173 known. If not known, this field is not present.
28176 The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
28177 If not known, this field is not present.
28180 If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
28181 provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
28185 If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
28186 text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
28189 Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
28193 If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
28194 thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
28197 If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
28198 field will hold the task identifier.
28201 If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
28204 The ignore count of the breakpoint.
28207 The enable count of the breakpoint.
28209 @item traceframe-usage
28212 @item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
28213 For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
28216 For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
28219 A tracepoint's pass count.
28221 @item original-location
28222 The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
28223 This field is optional.
28226 The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
28229 This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
28230 meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
28234 Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
28238 For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
28239 (@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
28242 -> -break-insert main
28243 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28244 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
28245 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
28250 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
28251 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
28253 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
28254 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
28259 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
28260 zero. This field is always present.
28263 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
28264 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
28267 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
28270 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
28271 address. This field may be absent.
28274 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
28278 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
28279 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
28283 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
28284 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
28286 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
28287 uses a tuple with the following fields:
28291 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
28295 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
28298 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
28299 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
28300 frontend. This field is optional.
28303 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
28304 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
28307 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
28308 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
28311 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
28312 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
28314 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
28315 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
28316 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
28317 the @code{exception-name} field.
28319 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28320 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
28321 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
28322 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
28324 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
28325 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
28326 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
28327 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
28329 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
28330 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
28332 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
28334 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
28335 information of the breakpoint.
28338 -> -break-insert main
28339 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28340 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
28341 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
28346 @subheading Program Execution
28348 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
28349 reason that execution stopped.
28355 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
28356 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
28357 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
28358 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
28363 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
28367 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
28369 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
28377 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
28378 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
28379 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
28380 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
28381 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
28382 fails to exit in reasonable time.
28384 @subheading A Bad Command
28386 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
28390 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
28395 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28396 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
28397 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
28399 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
28400 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
28402 @subheading Motivation
28404 The motivation for this collection of commands.
28406 @subheading Introduction
28408 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
28410 @subheading Commands
28412 For each command in the block, the following is described:
28414 @subsubheading Synopsis
28417 -command @var{args}@dots{}
28420 @subsubheading Result
28422 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28424 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
28426 @subsubheading Example
28428 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
28429 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
28432 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28433 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
28434 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
28436 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
28437 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
28438 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
28441 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
28442 @findex -break-after
28444 @subsubheading Synopsis
28447 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
28450 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
28451 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
28452 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
28453 @samp{-break-list} command below.
28455 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28457 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
28459 @subsubheading Example
28464 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28465 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
28466 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
28474 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28475 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28476 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28477 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28478 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28479 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28480 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28481 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28482 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28483 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
28488 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
28489 @findex -break-catch
28492 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
28493 @findex -break-commands
28495 @subsubheading Synopsis
28498 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
28501 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
28502 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
28503 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
28504 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
28505 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
28506 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
28508 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28510 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
28512 @subsubheading Example
28517 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28518 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
28519 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
28522 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
28527 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
28528 @findex -break-condition
28530 @subsubheading Synopsis
28533 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
28536 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
28537 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
28538 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
28541 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28543 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
28545 @subsubheading Example
28549 -break-condition 1 1
28553 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28554 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28555 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28556 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28557 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28558 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28559 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28560 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28561 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28562 line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
28566 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
28567 @findex -break-delete
28569 @subsubheading Synopsis
28572 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
28575 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
28576 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
28578 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28580 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
28582 @subsubheading Example
28590 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
28591 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28592 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28593 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28594 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28595 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28596 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28601 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
28602 @findex -break-disable
28604 @subsubheading Synopsis
28607 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
28610 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
28611 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
28613 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28615 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
28617 @subsubheading Example
28625 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28626 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28627 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28628 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28629 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28630 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28631 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28632 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
28633 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28634 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
28638 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
28639 @findex -break-enable
28641 @subsubheading Synopsis
28644 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
28647 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
28649 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28651 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
28653 @subsubheading Example
28661 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28662 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28663 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28664 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28665 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28666 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28667 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28668 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28669 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28670 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
28674 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
28675 @findex -break-info
28677 @subsubheading Synopsis
28680 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
28684 Get information about a single breakpoint.
28686 The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
28687 Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
28690 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28692 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
28694 @subsubheading Example
28697 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
28698 @findex -break-insert
28700 @subsubheading Synopsis
28703 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
28704 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
28705 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
28709 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
28716 @item filename:linenum
28717 @item filename:function
28721 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
28725 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
28727 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
28729 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
28730 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
28731 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
28732 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
28735 Create a disabled breakpoint.
28737 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
28738 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
28739 @item -c @var{condition}
28740 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
28741 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
28742 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
28743 @item -p @var{thread-id}
28744 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
28747 @subsubheading Result
28749 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
28750 resulting breakpoint.
28752 Note: this format is open to change.
28753 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
28755 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28757 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
28758 @samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
28760 @subsubheading Example
28765 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
28766 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
28769 -break-insert -t foo
28770 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
28771 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
28775 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28776 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28777 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28778 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28779 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28780 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28781 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28782 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28783 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
28784 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
28786 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
28787 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
28788 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
28791 @c -break-insert -r foo.*
28792 @c ~int foo(int, int);
28793 @c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
28794 @c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
28799 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
28800 @findex -break-list
28802 @subsubheading Synopsis
28808 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
28812 number of the breakpoint
28814 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
28816 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
28819 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
28821 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
28823 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
28825 @item Thread-groups
28826 list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
28828 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
28831 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
28832 @code{body} field is an empty list.
28834 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28836 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
28838 @subsubheading Example
28843 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28844 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28845 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28846 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28847 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28848 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28849 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28850 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28851 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
28853 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28854 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28855 line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
28859 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
28864 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
28865 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28866 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28867 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28868 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28869 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28870 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28875 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
28876 @findex -break-passcount
28878 @subsubheading Synopsis
28881 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
28884 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
28885 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
28886 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
28887 command @samp{passcount}.
28889 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
28890 @findex -break-watch
28892 @subsubheading Synopsis
28895 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
28898 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
28899 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
28900 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
28901 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
28902 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
28903 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
28904 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
28905 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
28907 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
28908 breakpoints inserted.
28910 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28912 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
28915 @subsubheading Example
28917 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
28922 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
28927 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
28928 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
28929 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
28930 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
28934 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
28935 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
28936 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
28941 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
28946 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
28947 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28948 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28949 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28950 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28955 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
28956 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28957 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28958 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28959 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28963 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
28964 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
28970 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
28973 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28974 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28975 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28976 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28977 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28978 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28979 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28980 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28981 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28982 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28983 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
28985 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28986 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
28991 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
28992 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28993 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28994 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28995 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28998 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28999 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29000 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29001 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29002 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29003 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29004 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29005 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29006 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
29007 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29008 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
29010 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
29011 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
29015 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
29016 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
29017 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
29018 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29019 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
29022 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29023 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29024 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29025 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29026 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29027 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29028 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29029 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29030 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
29031 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29032 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
29033 thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
29038 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29039 @node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
29040 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
29042 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
29045 @subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
29046 @findex -catch-load
29048 @subsubheading Synopsis
29051 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
29054 Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
29055 the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
29056 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
29057 in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
29058 expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
29061 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29063 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
29065 @subsubheading Example
29068 -catch-load -t foo.so
29069 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
29070 what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
29075 @subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
29076 @findex -catch-unload
29078 @subsubheading Synopsis
29081 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
29084 Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
29085 used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
29086 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
29087 created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
29088 expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
29090 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29092 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
29094 @subsubheading Example
29097 -catch-unload -d bar.so
29098 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
29099 what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
29104 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29105 @node GDB/MI Program Context
29106 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
29108 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
29109 @findex -exec-arguments
29112 @subsubheading Synopsis
29115 -exec-arguments @var{args}
29118 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
29121 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29123 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
29125 @subsubheading Example
29129 -exec-arguments -v word
29136 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
29137 @findex -exec-show-arguments
29139 @subsubheading Synopsis
29142 -exec-show-arguments
29145 Print the arguments of the program.
29147 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29149 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
29151 @subsubheading Example
29156 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
29157 @findex -environment-cd
29159 @subsubheading Synopsis
29162 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
29165 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
29167 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29169 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
29171 @subsubheading Example
29175 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
29181 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
29182 @findex -environment-directory
29184 @subsubheading Synopsis
29187 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
29190 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
29191 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
29192 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
29193 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
29195 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
29196 multiple directories in a single command
29197 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
29198 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
29199 If blanks are needed as
29200 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
29201 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
29202 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
29203 character must not be used
29204 in any directory name.
29205 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
29207 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29209 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
29211 @subsubheading Example
29215 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
29216 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
29218 -environment-directory ""
29219 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
29221 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
29222 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
29224 -environment-directory -r
29225 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
29230 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
29231 @findex -environment-path
29233 @subsubheading Synopsis
29236 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
29239 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
29240 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
29241 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
29242 supplied in addition to the
29243 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
29245 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
29246 multiple directories in a single command
29247 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
29248 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
29249 If blanks are needed as
29250 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
29251 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
29252 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
29253 character must not be used
29254 in any directory name.
29255 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
29258 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29260 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
29262 @subsubheading Example
29267 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
29269 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
29270 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
29272 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
29273 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
29278 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
29279 @findex -environment-pwd
29281 @subsubheading Synopsis
29287 Show the current working directory.
29289 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29291 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
29293 @subsubheading Example
29298 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
29302 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29303 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
29304 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
29307 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
29308 @findex -thread-info
29310 @subsubheading Synopsis
29313 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
29316 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
29317 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
29318 threads. When printing information about all threads,
29319 also reports the current thread.
29321 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29323 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
29326 @subsubheading Result
29328 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
29329 defined for a given thread:
29333 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
29336 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
29339 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
29342 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
29346 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
29347 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
29348 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
29349 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
29353 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
29356 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
29361 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
29365 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
29371 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
29372 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
29376 @subsubheading Example
29381 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
29382 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
29383 args=[]@},state="running"@},
29384 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
29385 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
29386 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
29387 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
29388 state="running"@}],
29389 current-thread-id="1"
29393 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
29394 @findex -thread-list-ids
29396 @subsubheading Synopsis
29402 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
29403 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
29405 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
29406 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
29408 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29410 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
29412 @subsubheading Example
29417 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
29418 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
29423 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
29424 @findex -thread-select
29426 @subsubheading Synopsis
29429 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
29432 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
29433 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
29435 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
29436 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
29438 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29440 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
29442 @subsubheading Example
29449 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
29450 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
29454 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
29455 number-of-threads="3"
29458 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
29459 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
29460 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
29461 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
29465 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29466 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
29467 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
29469 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
29470 @findex -ada-task-info
29472 @subsubheading Synopsis
29475 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
29478 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
29479 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
29481 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29483 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
29484 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
29486 @subsubheading Result
29488 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
29489 defined for each Ada task:
29493 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
29496 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
29499 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
29502 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
29504 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
29505 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
29506 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
29509 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
29510 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
29513 The base priority of the task.
29516 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
29517 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
29520 The name of the task.
29524 @subsubheading Example
29528 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
29529 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
29530 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
29531 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
29532 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
29533 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
29534 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
29535 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
29536 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
29537 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
29538 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
29542 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29543 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
29544 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
29546 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
29547 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
29548 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
29551 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
29552 @findex -exec-continue
29554 @subsubheading Synopsis
29557 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
29560 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
29561 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
29562 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
29563 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
29566 breakpoints or watchpoints
29568 signals or exceptions
29570 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
29572 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
29574 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
29575 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
29576 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
29577 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
29578 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
29579 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
29581 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29583 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
29585 @subsubheading Example
29592 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
29593 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
29599 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
29600 @findex -exec-finish
29602 @subsubheading Synopsis
29605 -exec-finish [--reverse]
29608 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
29609 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
29610 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
29611 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
29612 function was called.
29614 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29616 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
29618 @subsubheading Example
29620 Function returning @code{void}.
29627 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
29628 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
29632 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
29633 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
29640 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
29641 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
29642 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29643 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
29648 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
29649 @findex -exec-interrupt
29651 @subsubheading Synopsis
29654 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
29657 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
29658 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
29659 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
29660 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
29661 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
29663 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
29664 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
29665 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
29666 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
29668 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
29669 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
29670 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
29671 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
29673 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29675 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
29677 @subsubheading Example
29688 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
29689 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29690 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
29695 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
29699 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
29702 @subsubheading Synopsis
29705 -exec-jump @var{location}
29708 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
29709 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
29710 different forms of @var{location}.
29712 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29714 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
29716 @subsubheading Example
29719 -exec-jump foo.c:10
29720 *running,thread-id="all"
29725 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
29728 @subsubheading Synopsis
29731 -exec-next [--reverse]
29734 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
29735 of the next source line is reached.
29737 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
29738 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
29739 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
29740 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
29741 source line where the function was called.
29744 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29746 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
29748 @subsubheading Example
29754 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
29759 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
29760 @findex -exec-next-instruction
29762 @subsubheading Synopsis
29765 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
29768 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
29769 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
29770 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
29773 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
29774 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
29775 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
29776 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
29777 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
29779 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29781 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
29783 @subsubheading Example
29787 -exec-next-instruction
29791 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29792 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
29797 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
29798 @findex -exec-return
29800 @subsubheading Synopsis
29806 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
29807 Displays the new current frame.
29809 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29811 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
29813 @subsubheading Example
29817 200-break-insert callee4
29818 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
29819 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29824 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29825 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
29826 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29827 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29833 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
29834 args=[@{name="strarg",
29835 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
29836 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29837 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
29842 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
29845 @subsubheading Synopsis
29848 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
29851 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
29852 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
29853 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
29854 the program has exited exceptionally.
29856 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
29857 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
29858 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
29859 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
29861 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29863 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
29865 @subsubheading Examples
29870 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
29875 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29876 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
29877 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
29882 Program exited normally:
29890 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29895 Program exited exceptionally:
29903 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
29907 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
29908 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
29912 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
29913 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
29917 @c @subheading -exec-signal
29920 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
29923 @subsubheading Synopsis
29926 -exec-step [--reverse]
29929 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
29930 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
29931 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
29932 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
29933 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
29934 previously executed source line.
29936 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29938 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
29940 @subsubheading Example
29942 Stepping into a function:
29948 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29949 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
29950 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
29951 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
29961 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
29966 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
29967 @findex -exec-step-instruction
29969 @subsubheading Synopsis
29972 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
29975 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
29976 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
29977 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
29978 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
29979 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
29980 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
29983 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29985 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
29987 @subsubheading Example
29991 -exec-step-instruction
29995 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29996 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29997 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29999 -exec-step-instruction
30003 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
30004 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
30005 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
30010 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
30011 @findex -exec-until
30013 @subsubheading Synopsis
30016 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
30019 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
30020 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
30021 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
30022 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
30024 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30026 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
30028 @subsubheading Example
30032 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
30036 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
30037 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
30042 @subheading -file-clear
30043 Is this going away????
30046 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30047 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
30048 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
30051 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
30052 @findex -stack-info-frame
30054 @subsubheading Synopsis
30060 Get info on the selected frame.
30062 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30064 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
30065 (without arguments).
30067 @subsubheading Example
30072 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
30073 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30074 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
30078 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
30079 @findex -stack-info-depth
30081 @subsubheading Synopsis
30084 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
30087 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
30088 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
30090 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30092 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
30094 @subsubheading Example
30096 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
30103 -stack-info-depth 4
30106 -stack-info-depth 12
30109 -stack-info-depth 11
30112 -stack-info-depth 13
30117 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
30118 @findex -stack-list-arguments
30120 @subsubheading Synopsis
30123 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
30124 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
30127 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
30128 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
30129 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
30130 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
30131 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
30132 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
30133 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
30134 which case only existing frames will be returned.
30136 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
30137 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
30138 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
30139 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
30140 structures and unions.
30142 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
30143 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
30145 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30147 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
30148 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
30149 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
30151 @subsubheading Example
30158 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30159 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30160 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
30161 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
30162 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30163 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
30164 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
30165 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30166 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
30167 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
30168 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30169 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
30170 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
30171 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30172 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
30174 -stack-list-arguments 0
30177 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
30178 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
30179 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
30180 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
30181 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
30183 -stack-list-arguments 1
30186 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
30188 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
30189 frame=@{level="2",args=[
30190 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
30191 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
30192 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
30193 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
30194 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
30195 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
30196 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
30198 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
30199 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
30201 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
30202 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
30203 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
30204 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
30208 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
30211 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
30212 @findex -stack-list-frames
30214 @subsubheading Synopsis
30217 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
30220 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
30225 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
30227 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
30231 File name of the source file where the function lives.
30232 @item @var{fullname}
30233 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
30235 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
30237 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
30238 if the frame's function is not known.
30241 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
30242 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
30243 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
30244 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
30245 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
30246 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
30247 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
30249 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30251 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
30253 @subsubheading Example
30255 Full stack backtrace:
30261 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
30262 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
30263 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30264 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30265 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30266 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30267 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30268 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30269 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30270 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30271 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30272 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30273 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30274 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30275 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30276 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30277 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30278 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30279 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30280 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30281 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30282 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30283 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
30284 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
30288 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
30292 -stack-list-frames 3 5
30294 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30295 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30296 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30297 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30298 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30299 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
30303 Show a single frame:
30307 -stack-list-frames 3 3
30309 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
30310 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
30315 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
30316 @findex -stack-list-locals
30318 @subsubheading Synopsis
30321 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
30324 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
30325 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
30326 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
30327 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
30328 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
30329 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
30330 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
30331 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
30334 This command is deprecated in favor of the
30335 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
30337 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30339 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
30341 @subsubheading Example
30345 -stack-list-locals 0
30346 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
30348 -stack-list-locals --all-values
30349 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
30350 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
30351 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
30352 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
30353 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
30357 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
30358 @findex -stack-list-variables
30360 @subsubheading Synopsis
30363 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
30366 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
30367 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
30368 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
30369 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
30370 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
30371 structures and unions.
30373 @subsubheading Example
30377 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
30378 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
30383 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
30384 @findex -stack-select-frame
30386 @subsubheading Synopsis
30389 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
30392 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
30395 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
30396 option to every command.
30398 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30400 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
30401 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
30403 @subsubheading Example
30407 -stack-select-frame 2
30412 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30413 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
30414 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
30418 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
30420 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
30421 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
30422 used by @code{Insight}.
30424 The two main reasons for that are:
30428 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
30431 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
30435 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
30436 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
30437 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
30438 hints about their use.
30440 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
30441 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
30442 least, the following operations:
30445 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
30446 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
30447 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
30448 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
30453 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
30455 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
30457 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
30458 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
30459 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
30460 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
30461 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
30462 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
30463 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
30464 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
30465 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
30466 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
30467 object, or to change display format.
30469 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
30470 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
30471 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
30472 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
30473 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
30474 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
30475 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
30476 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
30477 child will be created.
30479 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
30480 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
30481 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
30482 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
30483 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
30485 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
30486 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
30487 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
30488 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
30489 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
30490 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
30491 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
30492 variables that frontend has created.
30494 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
30495 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
30496 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
30497 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
30498 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
30499 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
30500 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
30501 implicitly updated.
30503 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
30504 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
30505 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
30506 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
30507 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
30508 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
30509 frame. Consider this example:
30514 struct work_state state;
30521 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
30522 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
30523 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
30524 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
30525 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
30527 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
30528 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
30529 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
30530 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
30531 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
30532 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
30534 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
30535 access this functionality:
30537 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
30538 @item @strong{Operation}
30539 @tab @strong{Description}
30541 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
30542 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
30543 @item @code{-var-create}
30544 @tab create a variable object
30545 @item @code{-var-delete}
30546 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
30547 @item @code{-var-set-format}
30548 @tab set the display format of this variable
30549 @item @code{-var-show-format}
30550 @tab show the display format of this variable
30551 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
30552 @tab tells how many children this object has
30553 @item @code{-var-list-children}
30554 @tab return a list of the object's children
30555 @item @code{-var-info-type}
30556 @tab show the type of this variable object
30557 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
30558 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
30559 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
30560 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
30561 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
30562 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
30563 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
30564 @tab get the value of this variable
30565 @item @code{-var-assign}
30566 @tab set the value of this variable
30567 @item @code{-var-update}
30568 @tab update the variable and its children
30569 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
30570 @tab set frozeness attribute
30571 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
30572 @tab set range of children to display on update
30575 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
30576 how it can be used.
30578 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
30580 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
30581 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
30584 -enable-pretty-printing
30587 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
30588 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
30589 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
30590 request that this functionality be enabled.
30592 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
30594 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
30595 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
30597 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
30598 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
30600 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
30601 @findex -var-create
30603 @subsubheading Synopsis
30606 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
30607 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
30610 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
30611 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
30614 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
30615 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
30616 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
30617 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
30618 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
30620 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
30621 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
30622 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
30623 object must be created.
30625 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
30626 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
30630 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
30633 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
30636 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
30639 @cindex dynamic varobj
30640 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
30641 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
30642 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
30643 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
30644 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
30645 compatibility for existing clients.
30647 @subsubheading Result
30649 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
30654 The name of the varobj.
30657 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
30658 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
30659 @samp{has_more} attribute.
30662 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
30663 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
30664 will not be interesting.
30667 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
30668 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
30669 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
30670 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
30671 @emph{declared} one.
30674 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
30675 thread's identifier.
30678 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
30679 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
30682 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
30683 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
30684 then this attribute will not be present.
30687 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
30688 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
30689 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
30692 Typical output will look like this:
30695 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
30696 has_more="@var{has_more}"
30700 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
30701 @findex -var-delete
30703 @subsubheading Synopsis
30706 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
30709 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
30710 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
30712 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
30715 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
30716 @findex -var-set-format
30718 @subsubheading Synopsis
30721 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
30724 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
30727 @anchor{-var-set-format}
30728 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
30731 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
30732 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
30735 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
30736 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
30737 for pointers, etc.).
30739 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
30740 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
30742 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
30743 @findex -var-show-format
30745 @subsubheading Synopsis
30748 -var-show-format @var{name}
30751 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
30754 @var{format} @expansion{}
30759 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
30760 @findex -var-info-num-children
30762 @subsubheading Synopsis
30765 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
30768 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
30774 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
30775 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
30779 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
30780 @findex -var-list-children
30782 @subsubheading Synopsis
30785 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
30787 @anchor{-var-list-children}
30789 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
30790 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
30791 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
30792 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
30793 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
30794 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
30795 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
30798 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
30799 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
30800 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
30801 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
30804 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
30805 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
30806 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
30807 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
30808 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
30809 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
30810 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
30811 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
30814 For each child the following results are returned:
30819 Name of the variable object created for this child.
30822 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
30823 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
30825 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
30826 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
30828 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
30829 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
30830 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
30831 type and value are not present.
30833 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
30834 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
30835 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
30838 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
30842 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
30843 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
30844 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
30845 @emph{declared} one.
30848 If values were requested, this is the value.
30851 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
30852 Otherwise this result is not present.
30855 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
30858 The result may have its own attributes:
30862 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
30863 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
30864 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
30867 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
30868 remaining after the end of the selected range.
30871 @subsubheading Example
30875 -var-list-children n
30876 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
30877 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
30879 -var-list-children --all-values n
30880 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
30881 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
30885 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
30886 @findex -var-info-type
30888 @subsubheading Synopsis
30891 -var-info-type @var{name}
30894 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
30895 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
30899 type=@var{typename}
30903 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
30904 @findex -var-info-expression
30906 @subsubheading Synopsis
30909 -var-info-expression @var{name}
30912 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
30913 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
30914 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
30916 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
30917 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
30920 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
30921 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
30925 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
30927 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
30928 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
30931 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
30932 @findex -var-info-path-expression
30934 @subsubheading Synopsis
30937 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
30940 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
30941 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
30942 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
30943 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
30944 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
30945 watchpoint from a variable object.
30947 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
30948 and will give an error when invoked on one.
30950 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
30951 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
30952 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
30953 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
30954 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
30956 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
30957 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
30960 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
30961 @findex -var-show-attributes
30963 @subsubheading Synopsis
30966 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
30969 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
30972 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
30976 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
30978 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
30979 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
30981 @subsubheading Synopsis
30984 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
30987 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
30988 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
30989 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
30990 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
30991 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
30992 the current display format will be used. The current display format
30993 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
30999 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
31000 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
31002 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
31003 @findex -var-assign
31005 @subsubheading Synopsis
31008 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
31011 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
31012 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
31013 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
31014 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
31016 @subsubheading Example
31024 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
31028 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
31029 @findex -var-update
31031 @subsubheading Synopsis
31034 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
31037 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
31038 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
31039 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
31040 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
31041 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
31042 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
31043 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
31044 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
31045 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
31046 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
31047 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
31048 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
31049 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
31051 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
31052 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
31055 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
31056 only the selected range of children will be reported.
31058 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
31061 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
31065 The name of the varobj.
31068 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
31069 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
31072 @anchor{-var-update}
31073 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
31077 The variable object's current value is valid.
31080 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
31081 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
31085 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
31086 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
31087 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
31088 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
31092 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
31093 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
31096 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
31097 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
31100 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
31101 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
31102 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
31103 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
31107 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
31110 @item new_num_children
31111 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
31112 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
31114 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
31115 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
31116 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
31117 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
31118 children which may be available.
31120 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
31121 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
31122 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
31123 only happen at the end of the update range).
31126 The display hint, if any.
31129 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
31130 available outside the varobj's update range.
31133 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
31134 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
31135 then this attribute will not be present.
31138 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
31139 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
31140 be listed in this attribute.
31143 @subsubheading Example
31150 -var-update --all-values var1
31151 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
31152 type_changed="false"@}]
31156 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
31157 @findex -var-set-frozen
31158 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
31160 @subsubheading Synopsis
31163 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
31166 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
31167 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
31168 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
31169 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
31170 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
31171 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
31172 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
31173 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
31174 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
31175 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
31176 @code{-var-update} does.
31178 @subsubheading Example
31182 -var-set-frozen V 1
31187 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
31188 @findex -var-set-update-range
31189 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
31191 @subsubheading Synopsis
31194 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
31197 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
31198 @code{-var-update}.
31200 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
31201 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
31202 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
31203 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
31205 @subsubheading Example
31209 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
31213 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
31214 @findex -var-set-visualizer
31215 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
31217 @subsubheading Synopsis
31220 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
31223 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
31225 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
31226 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
31228 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
31229 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
31230 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
31231 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
31232 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
31233 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
31234 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
31236 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
31237 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
31238 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
31239 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
31241 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
31242 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
31243 can be used to check this.
31245 @subsubheading Example
31247 Resetting the visualizer:
31251 -var-set-visualizer V None
31255 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
31259 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
31263 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
31264 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
31268 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
31272 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31273 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
31274 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
31276 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
31277 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
31278 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
31279 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
31281 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
31282 @c @subheading -data-assign
31283 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
31284 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
31286 @c @subsubheading Example
31289 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
31290 @findex -data-disassemble
31292 @subsubheading Synopsis
31296 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
31297 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
31305 @item @var{start-addr}
31306 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
31307 @item @var{end-addr}
31309 @item @var{filename}
31310 is the name of the file to disassemble
31311 @item @var{linenum}
31312 is the line number to disassemble around
31314 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
31315 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
31316 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
31317 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
31318 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
31319 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
31320 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
31323 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
31324 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
31325 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
31328 @subsubheading Result
31330 The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
31331 @samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
31332 used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
31334 For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
31339 The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
31342 The name of the function this instruction is within.
31345 The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
31348 The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
31351 This field is only present for mode 2. This contains the raw opcode
31352 bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
31356 For modes 1 and 3 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
31357 @samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
31361 The line number within @samp{file}.
31364 The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
31365 file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
31369 Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
31370 using the source file search path
31371 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
31372 and after resolving all the symbolic links.
31374 If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
31375 present in the debug information.
31377 @item line_asm_insn
31378 This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
31379 @samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
31380 @code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
31381 @samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
31386 Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
31387 manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
31390 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31392 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
31394 @subsubheading Example
31396 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
31400 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
31403 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
31404 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31405 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31406 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
31407 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
31408 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
31409 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
31410 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
31411 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
31412 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
31416 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
31420 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
31422 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
31423 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
31424 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
31425 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31426 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31427 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
31429 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
31430 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
31434 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
31438 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
31440 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
31441 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
31442 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
31443 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31444 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31445 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
31449 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
31453 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
31455 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
31456 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31457 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31458 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
31459 func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
31460 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
31461 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31462 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31463 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
31464 func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31465 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31466 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
31471 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
31472 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
31474 @subsubheading Synopsis
31477 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
31480 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
31481 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
31482 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
31484 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31486 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
31487 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
31488 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
31490 @subsubheading Example
31492 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
31493 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
31494 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
31498 211-data-evaluate-expression A
31501 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
31502 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
31504 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
31507 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
31513 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
31514 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
31516 @subsubheading Synopsis
31519 -data-list-changed-registers
31522 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
31524 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31526 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
31527 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
31529 @subsubheading Example
31531 On a PPC MBX board:
31539 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
31540 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
31543 -data-list-changed-registers
31544 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
31545 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
31546 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
31551 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
31552 @findex -data-list-register-names
31554 @subsubheading Synopsis
31557 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
31560 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
31561 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
31562 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
31563 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
31564 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
31565 include empty register names.
31567 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31569 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
31570 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
31571 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
31573 @subsubheading Example
31575 For the PPC MBX board:
31578 -data-list-register-names
31579 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
31580 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
31581 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
31582 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
31583 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
31584 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
31585 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
31587 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
31588 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
31592 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
31593 @findex -data-list-register-values
31595 @subsubheading Synopsis
31598 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
31601 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
31602 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
31603 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
31604 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
31606 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
31623 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31625 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
31626 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
31628 @subsubheading Example
31630 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
31631 don't appear in the actual output):
31635 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
31636 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
31637 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
31639 -data-list-register-values x
31640 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
31641 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
31642 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
31643 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
31644 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
31645 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
31646 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
31647 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
31648 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
31649 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
31650 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
31651 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
31652 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
31653 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
31654 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
31655 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
31656 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
31657 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
31658 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
31659 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
31660 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
31661 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
31662 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
31663 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
31664 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
31665 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
31666 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
31667 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
31668 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
31669 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
31670 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
31671 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
31672 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
31673 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
31674 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
31675 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
31680 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
31681 @findex -data-read-memory
31683 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
31685 @subsubheading Synopsis
31688 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
31689 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
31690 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
31697 @item @var{address}
31698 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31699 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31700 quoted using the C convention.
31702 @item @var{word-format}
31703 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
31704 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
31707 @item @var{word-size}
31708 The size of each memory word in bytes.
31710 @item @var{nr-rows}
31711 The number of rows in the output table.
31713 @item @var{nr-cols}
31714 The number of columns in the output table.
31717 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
31718 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
31719 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
31720 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
31722 @item @var{byte-offset}
31723 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
31726 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
31727 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
31728 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
31729 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
31730 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
31731 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
31732 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
31735 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
31736 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
31739 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31741 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
31742 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
31744 @subsubheading Example
31746 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
31747 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
31748 word. Display each word in hex.
31752 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
31753 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
31754 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
31755 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
31756 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
31757 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
31758 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
31762 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
31763 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
31767 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
31768 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
31769 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
31770 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
31771 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
31775 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
31776 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
31777 used as the non-printable character.
31781 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
31782 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
31783 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
31784 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
31785 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31786 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31787 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31788 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31789 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
31790 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
31791 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
31792 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
31796 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
31797 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
31799 @subsubheading Synopsis
31802 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
31803 @var{address} @var{count}
31810 @item @var{address}
31811 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31812 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31813 quoted using the C convention.
31816 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
31818 @item @var{byte-offset}
31819 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
31820 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
31821 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
31822 perform address arithmetics itself.
31826 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
31827 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
31828 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
31829 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
31830 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
31831 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
31833 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
31834 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
31835 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
31836 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
31837 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
31838 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
31839 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
31840 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
31842 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
31843 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
31844 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
31845 and has the following fields:
31849 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
31852 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
31855 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
31856 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
31859 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
31865 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31867 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
31869 @subsubheading Example
31873 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
31874 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
31876 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
31881 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
31882 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
31884 @subsubheading Synopsis
31887 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
31888 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
31895 @item @var{address}
31896 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31897 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31898 quoted using the C convention.
31900 @item @var{contents}
31901 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
31904 Optional argument indicating the number of bytes to be written. If @var{count}
31905 is greater than @var{contents}' length, @value{GDBN} will repeatedly
31906 write @var{contents} until it fills @var{count} bytes.
31910 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31912 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31914 @subsubheading Example
31918 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
31925 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
31930 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31931 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
31932 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
31934 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
31935 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
31937 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
31938 @findex -trace-find
31940 @subsubheading Synopsis
31943 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
31946 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
31947 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
31948 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
31953 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
31956 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
31959 @item tracepoint-number
31960 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
31961 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
31964 An address is required as parameter. Finds
31965 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
31968 @item pc-inside-range
31969 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
31970 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
31971 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31973 @item pc-outside-range
31974 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
31975 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
31976 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31979 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
31980 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
31981 the specified location.
31985 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
31986 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
31990 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
31991 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
31994 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
31995 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31998 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
31999 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
32002 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
32003 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
32004 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
32008 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32010 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
32012 @subheading -trace-define-variable
32013 @findex -trace-define-variable
32015 @subsubheading Synopsis
32018 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
32021 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
32022 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
32023 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
32024 with the @samp{$} character.
32026 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32028 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
32030 @subheading -trace-list-variables
32031 @findex -trace-list-variables
32033 @subsubheading Synopsis
32036 -trace-list-variables
32039 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
32040 table has the following fields:
32044 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
32047 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
32048 field is always present.
32051 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
32052 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
32053 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
32058 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32060 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
32062 @subsubheading Example
32066 -trace-list-variables
32067 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
32068 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
32069 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
32070 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
32071 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
32072 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
32076 @subheading -trace-save
32077 @findex -trace-save
32079 @subsubheading Synopsis
32082 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
32085 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
32086 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
32087 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
32088 to perform the save.
32090 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32092 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
32095 @subheading -trace-start
32096 @findex -trace-start
32098 @subsubheading Synopsis
32104 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
32107 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32109 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
32111 @subheading -trace-status
32112 @findex -trace-status
32114 @subsubheading Synopsis
32120 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
32121 the following fields:
32126 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
32127 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
32128 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
32129 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
32130 started. This field is always present.
32133 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
32134 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
32135 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
32138 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
32139 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
32140 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
32141 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
32142 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
32143 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
32144 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
32145 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
32146 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
32148 @item stopping-tracepoint
32149 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
32150 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
32154 @itemx frames-created
32155 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
32156 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
32157 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
32158 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
32162 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
32163 remaining space. These fields are optional.
32166 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
32167 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
32168 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
32172 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
32173 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
32174 that the trace run will stop.
32177 The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
32178 optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
32182 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32184 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
32186 @subheading -trace-stop
32187 @findex -trace-stop
32189 @subsubheading Synopsis
32195 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
32196 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
32197 @samp{running} fields are not output.
32199 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32201 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
32204 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32205 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
32206 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
32210 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
32211 @findex -symbol-info-address
32213 @subsubheading Synopsis
32216 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
32219 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
32221 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32223 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
32225 @subsubheading Example
32229 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
32230 @findex -symbol-info-file
32232 @subsubheading Synopsis
32238 Show the file for the symbol.
32240 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32242 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
32243 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
32245 @subsubheading Example
32249 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
32250 @findex -symbol-info-function
32252 @subsubheading Synopsis
32255 -symbol-info-function
32258 Show which function the symbol lives in.
32260 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32262 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
32264 @subsubheading Example
32268 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
32269 @findex -symbol-info-line
32271 @subsubheading Synopsis
32277 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
32279 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32281 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
32282 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
32284 @subsubheading Example
32288 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
32289 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
32291 @subsubheading Synopsis
32294 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
32297 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
32299 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32301 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
32303 @subsubheading Example
32307 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
32308 @findex -symbol-list-functions
32310 @subsubheading Synopsis
32313 -symbol-list-functions
32316 List the functions in the executable.
32318 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32320 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
32321 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
32323 @subsubheading Example
32328 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
32329 @findex -symbol-list-lines
32331 @subsubheading Synopsis
32334 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
32337 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
32338 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
32339 ascending PC order.
32341 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32343 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
32345 @subsubheading Example
32348 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
32349 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
32355 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
32356 @findex -symbol-list-types
32358 @subsubheading Synopsis
32364 List all the type names.
32366 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32368 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
32369 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
32371 @subsubheading Example
32375 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
32376 @findex -symbol-list-variables
32378 @subsubheading Synopsis
32381 -symbol-list-variables
32384 List all the global and static variable names.
32386 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32388 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
32390 @subsubheading Example
32394 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
32395 @findex -symbol-locate
32397 @subsubheading Synopsis
32403 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32405 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
32407 @subsubheading Example
32411 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
32412 @findex -symbol-type
32414 @subsubheading Synopsis
32417 -symbol-type @var{variable}
32420 Show type of @var{variable}.
32422 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32424 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
32425 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
32427 @subsubheading Example
32432 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32433 @node GDB/MI File Commands
32434 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
32436 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
32437 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
32439 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
32440 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
32442 @subsubheading Synopsis
32445 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
32448 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
32449 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
32450 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
32451 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
32452 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
32455 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32457 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
32459 @subsubheading Example
32463 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
32469 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
32470 @findex -file-exec-file
32472 @subsubheading Synopsis
32475 -file-exec-file @var{file}
32478 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
32479 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
32480 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
32481 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
32484 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32486 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
32488 @subsubheading Example
32492 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
32499 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
32500 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
32502 @subsubheading Synopsis
32505 -file-list-exec-sections
32508 List the sections of the current executable file.
32510 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32512 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
32513 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
32514 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
32516 @subsubheading Example
32521 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
32522 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
32524 @subsubheading Synopsis
32527 -file-list-exec-source-file
32530 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
32531 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
32532 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
32533 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
32535 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32537 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
32539 @subsubheading Example
32543 123-file-list-exec-source-file
32544 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
32549 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
32550 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
32552 @subsubheading Synopsis
32555 -file-list-exec-source-files
32558 List the source files for the current executable.
32560 It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
32561 name) of a source file.
32563 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32565 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
32566 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
32568 @subsubheading Example
32571 -file-list-exec-source-files
32573 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
32574 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
32575 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
32580 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
32581 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
32583 @subsubheading Synopsis
32586 -file-list-shared-libraries
32589 List the shared libraries in the program.
32591 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32593 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
32595 @subsubheading Example
32599 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
32600 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
32602 @subsubheading Synopsis
32605 -file-list-symbol-files
32610 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32612 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
32614 @subsubheading Example
32619 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
32620 @findex -file-symbol-file
32622 @subsubheading Synopsis
32625 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
32628 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
32629 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
32630 produced, except for a completion notification.
32632 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32634 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
32636 @subsubheading Example
32640 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
32646 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32647 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
32648 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
32650 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
32652 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
32654 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
32656 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
32658 @c @subheading -overlay-map
32660 @c @subheading -overlay-off
32662 @c @subheading -overlay-on
32664 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
32666 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32667 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
32668 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
32670 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
32672 @c @subheading -signal-handle
32674 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
32676 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
32680 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32681 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
32682 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
32685 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
32686 @findex -target-attach
32688 @subsubheading Synopsis
32691 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
32694 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
32695 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
32696 group, the id previously returned by
32697 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
32699 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32701 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
32703 @subsubheading Example
32707 =thread-created,id="1"
32708 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
32714 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
32715 @findex -target-compare-sections
32717 @subsubheading Synopsis
32720 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
32723 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
32724 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
32726 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32728 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
32730 @subsubheading Example
32735 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
32736 @findex -target-detach
32738 @subsubheading Synopsis
32741 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
32744 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
32745 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
32746 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
32748 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32750 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
32752 @subsubheading Example
32762 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
32763 @findex -target-disconnect
32765 @subsubheading Synopsis
32771 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
32772 generally not resumed.
32774 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32776 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
32778 @subsubheading Example
32788 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
32789 @findex -target-download
32791 @subsubheading Synopsis
32797 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
32798 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
32802 The name of the section.
32804 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
32806 The size of the section.
32808 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
32810 The size of the overall executable to download.
32814 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
32815 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
32817 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
32818 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
32822 The name of the section.
32824 The size of the section.
32826 The size of the overall executable to download.
32830 At the end, a summary is printed.
32832 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32834 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
32836 @subsubheading Example
32838 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
32839 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
32844 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
32845 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
32846 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
32847 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
32848 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
32849 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
32850 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
32851 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
32852 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
32853 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
32854 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
32855 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
32856 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
32857 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
32858 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
32859 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
32860 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
32861 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
32862 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
32863 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
32864 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
32865 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
32866 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
32867 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
32868 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
32869 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
32870 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
32871 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
32872 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
32873 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
32874 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
32875 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
32876 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
32877 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
32878 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
32879 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
32880 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
32881 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
32882 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
32883 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
32884 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
32885 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
32886 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
32893 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
32894 @findex -target-exec-status
32896 @subsubheading Synopsis
32899 -target-exec-status
32902 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
32903 not, for instance).
32905 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32907 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
32909 @subsubheading Example
32913 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
32914 @findex -target-list-available-targets
32916 @subsubheading Synopsis
32919 -target-list-available-targets
32922 List the possible targets to connect to.
32924 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32926 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
32928 @subsubheading Example
32932 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
32933 @findex -target-list-current-targets
32935 @subsubheading Synopsis
32938 -target-list-current-targets
32941 Describe the current target.
32943 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32945 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
32948 @subsubheading Example
32952 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
32953 @findex -target-list-parameters
32955 @subsubheading Synopsis
32958 -target-list-parameters
32964 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32968 @subsubheading Example
32972 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
32973 @findex -target-select
32975 @subsubheading Synopsis
32978 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
32981 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
32985 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
32986 @item @var{parameters}
32987 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
32988 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
32991 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
32992 which the target program is, in the following form:
32995 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
32996 args=[@var{arg list}]
32999 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33001 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
33003 @subsubheading Example
33007 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
33008 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
33012 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33013 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
33014 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
33017 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
33018 @findex -target-file-put
33020 @subsubheading Synopsis
33023 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
33026 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
33027 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
33029 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33031 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
33033 @subsubheading Example
33037 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
33043 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
33044 @findex -target-file-get
33046 @subsubheading Synopsis
33049 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
33052 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
33053 on the host system.
33055 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33057 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
33059 @subsubheading Example
33063 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
33069 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
33070 @findex -target-file-delete
33072 @subsubheading Synopsis
33075 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
33078 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
33080 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33082 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
33084 @subsubheading Example
33088 -target-file-delete remotefile
33094 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33095 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
33096 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
33098 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
33100 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
33103 @subsubheading Synopsis
33109 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
33111 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33113 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
33115 @subsubheading Example
33125 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
33126 @findex -exec-abort
33128 @subsubheading Synopsis
33134 Kill the inferior running program.
33136 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33138 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
33140 @subsubheading Example
33145 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
33148 @subsubheading Synopsis
33154 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
33155 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
33157 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33159 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
33161 @subsubheading Example
33171 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
33174 @subsubheading Synopsis
33180 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
33182 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33184 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
33186 @subsubheading Example
33195 @c @subheading -gdb-source
33198 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
33199 @findex -gdb-version
33201 @subsubheading Synopsis
33207 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
33209 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33211 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
33212 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
33214 @subsubheading Example
33216 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
33222 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
33223 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
33224 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
33225 ~ certain conditions.
33226 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
33227 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
33229 ~This GDB was configured as
33230 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
33235 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
33236 @findex -list-features
33238 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
33239 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
33240 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
33241 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
33242 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
33245 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
33246 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
33247 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
33253 (gdb) -list-features
33254 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
33257 The current list of features is:
33260 @item frozen-varobjs
33261 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
33262 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
33263 of @code{-varobj-create}.
33264 @item pending-breakpoints
33265 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
33268 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
33269 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
33270 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
33272 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
33273 @item data-read-memory-bytes
33274 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
33275 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
33276 @item breakpoint-notifications
33277 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
33278 CLI will be announced via async records.
33279 @item ada-task-info
33280 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
33283 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
33284 @findex -list-target-features
33286 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
33287 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
33288 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
33289 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
33290 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
33291 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
33292 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
33296 (gdb) -list-features
33297 ^done,result=["async"]
33300 The current list of features is:
33304 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
33305 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
33306 while the target is running.
33309 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
33310 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33314 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
33315 @findex -list-thread-groups
33317 @subheading Synopsis
33320 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
33323 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
33324 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
33325 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
33326 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
33327 top-level thread groups.
33329 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
33330 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
33331 available on the target.
33333 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
33334 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
33335 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
33336 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
33337 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
33338 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
33339 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
33340 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
33342 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
33343 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
33344 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
33345 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
33346 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
33347 @samp{threads} field.
33349 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
33350 the following caveats:
33354 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
33355 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
33356 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
33359 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
33360 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
33361 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
33362 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
33363 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
33364 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
33368 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
33369 have the following fields:
33373 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
33374 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
33375 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
33378 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
33382 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
33383 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
33386 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
33387 absent for an available thread group.
33390 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
33391 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
33392 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
33395 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
33396 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
33397 such information is not available.
33400 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
33401 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
33402 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
33406 @subheading Example
33410 -list-thread-groups
33411 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
33412 -list-thread-groups 17
33413 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
33414 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
33415 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
33416 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
33417 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
33418 -list-thread-groups --available
33419 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
33420 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
33421 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
33422 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
33423 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
33424 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
33425 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
33426 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
33427 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
33430 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
33433 @subsubheading Synopsis
33436 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
33439 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
33440 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
33441 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
33442 of data of that type.
33444 The types of information available depend on the target operating
33447 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33449 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
33451 @subsubheading Example
33453 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
33459 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
33460 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
33461 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
33462 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
33463 body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
33464 col2="Processes"@},
33465 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
33466 col2="Process groups"@},
33467 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
33469 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
33470 col2="File descriptors"@},
33471 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
33473 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
33474 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
33475 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
33476 col2="Semaphores"@},
33477 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
33478 col2="Message queues"@},
33479 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
33480 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
33483 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
33484 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
33485 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
33486 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
33487 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
33488 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
33489 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
33490 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
33492 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
33493 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
33497 (Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
33498 does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
33499 for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
33500 popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
33501 @code{info os} omits it.)
33503 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
33504 @findex -add-inferior
33506 @subheading Synopsis
33512 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
33513 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
33514 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
33515 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
33516 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
33517 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
33519 @subheading Example
33524 ^done,thread-group="i3"
33527 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
33528 @findex -interpreter-exec
33530 @subheading Synopsis
33533 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
33535 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
33537 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
33539 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33541 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
33543 @subheading Example
33547 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
33548 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
33549 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
33550 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
33555 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
33556 @findex -inferior-tty-set
33558 @subheading Synopsis
33561 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
33564 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
33566 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33568 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
33570 @subheading Example
33574 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
33579 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
33580 @findex -inferior-tty-show
33582 @subheading Synopsis
33588 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
33590 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33592 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
33594 @subheading Example
33598 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
33602 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
33606 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
33607 @findex -enable-timings
33609 @subheading Synopsis
33612 -enable-timings [yes | no]
33615 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
33616 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
33617 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
33618 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
33620 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33624 @subheading Example
33632 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
33633 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
33634 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
33636 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
33644 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
33645 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
33646 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
33647 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
33652 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
33654 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
33655 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
33656 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
33657 relatively high level.
33659 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
33663 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
33667 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
33668 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
33669 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
33670 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
33671 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
33672 * Annotations for Running::
33673 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
33674 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
33677 @node Annotations Overview
33678 @section What is an Annotation?
33679 @cindex annotations
33681 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
33682 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
33683 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
33684 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
33685 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
33686 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
33687 cannot contain newline characters.
33689 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
33690 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
33691 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
33692 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
33693 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
33694 means those three characters as output.
33696 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
33697 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
33698 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
33699 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
33700 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
33701 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
33702 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
33703 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
33704 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
33707 @kindex set annotate
33708 @item set annotate @var{level}
33709 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
33710 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
33712 @item show annotate
33713 @kindex show annotate
33714 Show the current annotation level.
33717 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
33719 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
33722 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
33724 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
33725 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
33726 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
33727 under certain conditions.
33728 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
33729 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
33731 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
33742 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
33743 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
33744 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
33745 output from @value{GDBN}.
33747 @node Server Prefix
33748 @section The Server Prefix
33749 @cindex server prefix
33751 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
33752 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
33753 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
33754 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
33755 a transparent manner.
33757 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
33758 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
33759 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
33760 @code{print} command.
33762 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
33763 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
33766 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
33768 @cindex annotations for prompts
33769 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
33770 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
33773 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
33774 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
33775 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
33776 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
33777 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
33778 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
33779 features the following annotations:
33787 The input types are
33790 @findex pre-prompt annotation
33791 @findex prompt annotation
33792 @findex post-prompt annotation
33794 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
33796 @findex pre-commands annotation
33797 @findex commands annotation
33798 @findex post-commands annotation
33800 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
33801 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
33803 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
33804 @findex overload-choice annotation
33805 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
33806 @item overload-choice
33807 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
33809 @findex pre-query annotation
33810 @findex query annotation
33811 @findex post-query annotation
33813 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
33815 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
33816 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
33817 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
33818 @item prompt-for-continue
33819 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
33820 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
33821 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
33822 presence of annotations.
33827 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
33829 @findex quit annotation
33834 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
33836 @findex error annotation
33841 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
33843 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
33844 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
33845 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
33846 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
33847 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
33848 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
33851 @findex error-begin annotation
33852 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
33858 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
33861 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
33862 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
33863 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
33866 @section Invalidation Notices
33868 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
33869 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
33873 @findex frames-invalid annotation
33874 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
33876 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
33879 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
33880 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
33882 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
33883 deleted a breakpoint.
33886 @node Annotations for Running
33887 @section Running the Program
33888 @cindex annotations for running programs
33890 @findex starting annotation
33891 @findex stopping annotation
33892 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
33893 @code{step} or @code{continue},
33899 is output. When the program stops,
33905 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
33906 annotations describe how the program stopped.
33909 @findex exited annotation
33910 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
33911 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
33912 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
33914 @findex signalled annotation
33915 @findex signal-name annotation
33916 @findex signal-name-end annotation
33917 @findex signal-string annotation
33918 @findex signal-string-end annotation
33919 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
33920 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
33921 annotation continues:
33927 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
33931 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
33936 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
33937 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
33938 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
33939 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
33940 user's benefit and have no particular format.
33942 @findex signal annotation
33944 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
33945 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
33946 terminated with it.
33948 @findex breakpoint annotation
33949 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
33950 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
33952 @findex watchpoint annotation
33953 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
33954 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
33957 @node Source Annotations
33958 @section Displaying Source
33959 @cindex annotations for source display
33961 @findex source annotation
33962 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
33965 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
33968 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
33969 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
33970 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
33971 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
33972 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
33973 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
33974 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
33975 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
33976 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
33977 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
33978 depend on the language).
33980 @node JIT Interface
33981 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
33982 @cindex just-in-time compilation
33983 @cindex JIT compilation interface
33985 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
33986 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
33987 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
33988 performance while maintaining platform independence.
33990 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
33991 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
33992 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
33993 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
33994 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
33995 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
33997 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
33998 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
33999 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
34000 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
34003 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
34004 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
34005 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
34006 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
34007 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
34008 out about additional code.
34011 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
34012 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
34013 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
34014 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
34018 @section JIT Declarations
34020 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
34021 implement the interface:
34031 struct jit_code_entry
34033 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
34034 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
34035 const char *symfile_addr;
34036 uint64_t symfile_size;
34039 struct jit_descriptor
34042 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
34043 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
34044 uint32_t action_flag;
34045 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
34046 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
34049 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
34050 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
34052 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
34053 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
34054 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
34057 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
34058 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
34059 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
34061 @node Registering Code
34062 @section Registering Code
34064 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
34068 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
34069 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
34072 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
34076 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
34079 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
34082 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
34083 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
34086 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
34087 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
34088 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
34089 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
34091 @node Unregistering Code
34092 @section Unregistering Code
34094 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
34098 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
34101 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
34104 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
34105 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
34108 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
34109 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
34111 @node Custom Debug Info
34112 @section Custom Debug Info
34113 @cindex custom JIT debug info
34114 @cindex JIT debug info reader
34116 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
34117 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
34118 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
34119 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
34120 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
34121 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
34122 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
34123 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
34124 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
34126 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
34127 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
34128 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
34129 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
34130 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
34131 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
34135 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
34136 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
34139 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
34140 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
34141 @kindex jit-reader-load
34142 @kindex jit-reader-unload
34144 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
34145 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
34148 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
34149 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}. @var{reader} is a shared
34150 object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
34151 the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
34152 pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
34153 system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
34154 @file{/usr/local/lib}).
34156 Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
34157 reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
34158 reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
34159 the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
34160 @code{jit-reader-load}.
34162 @item jit-reader-unload
34163 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
34167 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
34168 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
34169 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
34171 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
34172 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
34174 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
34175 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
34176 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
34177 the system include directory.
34179 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
34180 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
34181 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
34183 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
34184 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
34186 @findex gdb_init_reader
34188 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
34191 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
34193 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
34194 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
34195 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
34196 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
34197 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
34198 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
34201 struct gdb_reader_funcs
34203 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
34204 int reader_version;
34206 /* For use by the reader. */
34209 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
34210 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
34211 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
34212 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
34216 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
34217 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
34219 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
34220 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
34221 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
34222 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
34223 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
34224 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
34225 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
34226 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
34227 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
34228 target's address space.
34230 @node In-Process Agent
34231 @chapter In-Process Agent
34232 @cindex debugging agent
34233 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
34234 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
34235 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
34236 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
34237 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
34238 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
34239 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
34240 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
34241 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
34242 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
34243 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
34244 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
34245 behavior without interrupting it.
34247 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
34248 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
34249 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
34250 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
34251 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
34252 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
34253 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
34254 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
34255 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
34257 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
34258 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
34259 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
34260 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
34262 @anchor{Control Agent}
34263 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
34264 debugging with the following commands:
34267 @kindex set agent on
34269 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
34270 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
34271 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
34272 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
34273 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
34274 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
34276 @kindex set agent off
34277 @item set agent off
34278 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
34279 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
34283 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
34284 the in-process agent.
34288 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
34291 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
34292 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
34293 @cindex in-process agent protocol
34295 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
34296 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
34297 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
34298 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
34299 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
34300 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
34301 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
34302 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
34303 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
34306 * IPA Protocol Objects::
34307 * IPA Protocol Commands::
34310 @node IPA Protocol Objects
34311 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
34312 @cindex ipa protocol objects
34314 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
34315 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
34317 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
34318 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
34319 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
34320 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
34324 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
34325 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
34327 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
34328 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
34332 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
34336 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
34337 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
34338 @anchor{agent expression object}
34340 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
34341 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
34342 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
34343 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
34345 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
34346 @anchor{tracepoint object}
34350 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
34353 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
34354 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
34355 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
34356 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
34357 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
34358 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
34359 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34360 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
34361 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
34362 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
34363 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
34364 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
34365 memory address for collecting.
34366 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
34367 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34368 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
34369 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34370 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
34371 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34372 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
34373 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
34374 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
34375 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
34376 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
34377 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
34378 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
34379 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
34380 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
34381 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
34382 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
34383 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
34384 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
34385 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
34386 @ref{agent expression object}
34387 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
34388 @ref{agent expression object}
34389 @item actions @tab variable
34390 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
34393 @node IPA Protocol Commands
34394 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
34395 @cindex ipa protocol commands
34397 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
34398 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
34402 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
34403 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
34404 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
34405 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
34410 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
34411 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
34412 @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
34413 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
34414 @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
34415 @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
34422 Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
34423 is about to kill inferiors.
34431 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
34432 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
34439 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
34440 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
34444 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
34445 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
34446 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
34448 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
34450 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
34451 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
34452 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
34453 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
34455 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
34456 information that enables us to fix the bug.
34459 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
34460 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
34464 @section Have You Found a Bug?
34465 @cindex bug criteria
34467 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
34470 @cindex fatal signal
34471 @cindex debugger crash
34472 @cindex crash of debugger
34474 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
34475 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
34477 @cindex error on valid input
34479 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
34480 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
34481 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
34483 @cindex invalid input
34485 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
34486 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
34487 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
34488 for traditional practice''.
34491 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
34492 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
34495 @node Bug Reporting
34496 @section How to Report Bugs
34497 @cindex bug reports
34498 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
34500 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
34501 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
34502 contact that organization first.
34504 You can find contact information for many support companies and
34505 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
34507 @c should add a web page ref...
34510 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
34511 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
34512 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
34513 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
34514 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
34517 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
34518 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
34519 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
34522 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
34523 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
34524 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
34525 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
34526 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
34527 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
34528 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
34529 bug reports to the mailing list.
34531 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
34532 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
34533 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
34537 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
34538 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
34539 fact or leave it out, state it!
34541 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
34542 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
34543 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
34544 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
34545 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
34546 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
34547 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
34548 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
34549 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
34551 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
34552 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
34553 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
34556 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
34557 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
34558 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
34561 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
34565 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
34566 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
34569 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
34570 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
34573 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
34577 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
34578 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
34581 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
34582 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
34583 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
34584 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
34588 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
34589 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
34590 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
34591 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
34593 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
34594 and then we might not encounter the bug.
34597 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
34601 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
34602 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
34604 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
34605 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
34606 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
34607 a chance to make a mistake.
34609 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
34610 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
34611 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
34612 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
34613 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
34614 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
34615 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
34616 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
34619 @cindex recording a session script
34620 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
34621 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
34622 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
34623 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
34625 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
34626 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
34629 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
34630 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
34631 it by context, not by line number.
34633 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
34634 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
34638 Here are some things that are not necessary:
34642 A description of the envelope of the bug.
34644 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
34645 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
34646 changes will not affect it.
34648 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
34649 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
34650 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
34651 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
34653 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
34654 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
34655 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
34656 less time, and so on.
34658 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
34659 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
34662 A patch for the bug.
34664 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
34665 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
34666 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
34667 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
34669 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
34670 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
34671 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
34672 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
34674 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
34675 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
34676 help us to understand.
34679 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
34681 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
34682 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
34685 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
34686 @c and consists of the two following files:
34689 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
34690 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
34691 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
34692 @include rluser.texi
34693 @include hsuser.texi
34697 @appendix In Memoriam
34699 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
34704 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
34705 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
34706 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
34708 @item Michael Snyder
34709 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
34710 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
34711 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
34712 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
34715 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
34716 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
34718 @node Formatting Documentation
34719 @appendix Formatting Documentation
34721 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
34722 @cindex reference card
34723 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
34724 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
34725 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
34726 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
34727 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
34728 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
34730 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
34731 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
34737 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
34738 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
34739 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
34740 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
34741 your @sc{dvi} output program.
34743 @cindex documentation
34745 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
34746 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
34747 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
34748 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
34749 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
34750 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
34752 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
34753 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
34754 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
34755 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
34756 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
34757 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
34758 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
34759 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
34761 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
34762 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
34765 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
34766 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
34767 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
34774 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
34775 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
34776 Texinfo definitions file.
34778 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
34779 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
34780 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
34781 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
34782 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
34783 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
34784 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
34786 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
34787 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
34788 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
34789 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
34790 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
34793 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
34794 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
34795 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
34796 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
34802 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
34804 @node Installing GDB
34805 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
34806 @cindex installation
34809 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
34810 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
34811 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
34812 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
34813 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
34814 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
34818 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
34819 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
34821 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
34822 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
34824 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
34826 @item ISO C90 compiler
34827 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
34828 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
34832 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
34836 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
34837 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
34838 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
34839 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
34840 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
34841 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
34847 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
34849 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
34851 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
34852 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
34854 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
34856 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
34858 Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format})
34862 @cindex compressed debug sections
34863 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
34864 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
34865 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
34866 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
34867 information in such binaries.
34869 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
34870 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
34871 @url{http://zlib.net}.
34874 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
34875 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
34876 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
34877 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
34879 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
34880 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
34881 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
34882 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
34884 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
34885 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
34886 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
34888 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
34889 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
34890 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
34891 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
34892 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
34893 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
34894 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
34895 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
34898 @node Running Configure
34899 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
34900 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
34901 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
34902 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
34903 build the @code{gdb} program.
34905 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
34906 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
34907 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
34908 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
34911 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
34912 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
34913 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
34915 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
34916 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
34919 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
34920 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
34922 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
34923 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
34925 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
34926 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
34928 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
34929 @sc{gnu} include files
34931 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
34932 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
34934 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
34935 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
34937 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
34938 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
34940 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
34941 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
34943 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
34944 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
34947 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
34948 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
34949 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
34951 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
34952 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
34953 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
34959 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
34960 ./configure @var{host}
34965 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
34966 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
34967 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
34968 correct value by examining your system.)
34970 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
34971 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
34972 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
34973 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
34976 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
34977 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
34978 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
34981 sh configure @var{host}
34984 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
34985 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
34986 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
34988 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
34989 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
34991 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
34992 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
34993 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
34994 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
34995 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
34996 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
34997 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
34998 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
34999 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
35001 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
35002 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
35003 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
35004 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
35005 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
35007 @node Separate Objdir
35008 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
35010 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
35011 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
35012 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
35013 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
35014 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
35015 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
35016 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
35017 program specified there.
35019 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
35020 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
35021 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
35022 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
35023 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
35024 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
35026 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
35027 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
35031 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
35034 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
35039 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
35040 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
35041 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
35042 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
35043 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
35044 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
35046 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
35047 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
35048 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
35049 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
35050 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
35052 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
35053 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
35054 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
35055 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
35056 You specify a cross-debugging target by
35057 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
35059 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
35060 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
35061 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
35063 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
35064 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
35065 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
35066 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
35067 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
35069 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
35070 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
35071 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
35075 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
35077 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
35078 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
35079 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
35080 of information in the following pattern:
35083 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
35086 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
35087 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
35088 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
35090 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
35091 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
35092 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
35093 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
35094 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
35095 abbreviations---for example:
35098 % sh config.sub i386-linux
35100 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
35101 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
35102 % sh config.sub hp9k700
35104 % sh config.sub sun4
35105 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
35106 % sh config.sub sun3
35107 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
35108 % sh config.sub i986v
35109 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
35113 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
35114 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
35116 @node Configure Options
35117 @section @file{configure} Options
35119 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
35120 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
35121 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
35122 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
35125 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
35126 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
35127 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
35128 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
35129 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
35130 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
35135 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
35136 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
35141 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
35143 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
35144 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
35147 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
35148 Configure the source to install programs under directory
35151 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
35153 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
35154 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
35155 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
35156 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
35157 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
35158 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
35159 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
35160 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
35161 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
35162 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
35165 @item --norecursion
35166 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
35167 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
35169 @item --target=@var{target}
35170 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
35171 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
35172 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
35174 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
35176 @item @var{host} @dots{}
35177 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
35179 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
35182 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
35183 needed for special purposes only.
35185 @node System-wide configuration
35186 @section System-wide configuration and settings
35187 @cindex system-wide init file
35189 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
35190 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
35191 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
35193 Here is the corresponding configure option:
35196 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
35197 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
35201 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
35202 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
35206 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
35207 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
35208 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
35209 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
35210 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
35211 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
35214 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
35215 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
35216 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
35217 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
35218 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
35221 If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
35222 @option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
35223 data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
35224 time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
35225 system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
35226 @option{--data-directory} command-line option.
35227 Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
35228 initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
35229 started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
35232 @node Maintenance Commands
35233 @appendix Maintenance Commands
35234 @cindex maintenance commands
35235 @cindex internal commands
35237 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
35238 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
35239 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
35240 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
35241 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
35244 @kindex maint agent
35245 @kindex maint agent-eval
35246 @item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
35247 @itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
35248 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
35249 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
35250 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
35251 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
35252 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
35253 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
35254 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
35255 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
35256 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
35257 addition and return the sum.
35258 If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
35259 If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
35261 @kindex maint agent-printf
35262 @item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
35263 Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
35264 into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
35265 This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
35266 printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
35268 @kindex maint info breakpoints
35269 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
35270 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
35271 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
35272 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
35273 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
35278 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
35281 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
35284 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
35285 @code{longjmp} calls.
35287 @item longjmp resume
35288 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
35291 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
35294 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
35297 Shared library events.
35301 @kindex maint info bfds
35302 @item maint info bfds
35303 This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
35304 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
35306 @kindex set displaced-stepping
35307 @kindex show displaced-stepping
35308 @cindex displaced stepping support
35309 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
35310 @item set displaced-stepping
35311 @itemx show displaced-stepping
35312 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
35313 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
35314 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
35315 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
35316 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
35319 @item set displaced-stepping on
35320 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
35321 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
35323 @item set displaced-stepping off
35324 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
35325 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
35327 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
35328 @item set displaced-stepping auto
35329 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
35330 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
35331 architecture supports displaced stepping.
35334 @kindex maint check-symtabs
35335 @item maint check-symtabs
35336 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
35338 @kindex maint cplus first_component
35339 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
35340 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
35342 @kindex maint cplus namespace
35343 @item maint cplus namespace
35344 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
35346 @kindex maint demangle
35347 @item maint demangle @var{name}
35348 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
35350 @kindex maint deprecate
35351 @kindex maint undeprecate
35352 @cindex deprecated commands
35353 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
35354 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
35355 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
35356 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
35357 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
35358 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
35359 the replacement as part of the warning.
35361 @kindex maint dump-me
35362 @item maint dump-me
35363 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
35364 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
35365 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
35366 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
35368 @kindex maint internal-error
35369 @kindex maint internal-warning
35370 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
35371 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
35372 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
35373 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
35374 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
35375 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
35376 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
35377 @value{GDBN} session.
35379 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
35380 used as the text of the error or warning message.
35382 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
35385 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
35386 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
35387 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
35388 debugging may prove unreliable.
35389 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
35390 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
35394 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
35395 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
35397 @kindex maint set internal-error
35398 @kindex maint show internal-error
35399 @kindex maint set internal-warning
35400 @kindex maint show internal-warning
35401 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
35402 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
35403 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
35404 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
35405 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
35406 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
35407 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
35408 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
35409 described in the table below.
35413 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
35414 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
35417 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
35418 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
35421 @kindex maint packet
35422 @item maint packet @var{text}
35423 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
35424 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
35425 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
35426 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
35429 @kindex maint print architecture
35430 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35431 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
35432 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
35434 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
35435 @item maint print c-tdesc
35436 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
35437 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
35438 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
35440 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
35441 @item maint print dummy-frames
35442 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
35445 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
35447 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
35448 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
35450 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
35452 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
35453 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
35454 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
35455 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
35459 Takes an optional file parameter.
35461 @kindex maint print registers
35462 @kindex maint print raw-registers
35463 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
35464 @kindex maint print register-groups
35465 @kindex maint print remote-registers
35466 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35467 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35468 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35469 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35470 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35471 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
35473 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
35474 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
35475 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
35476 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
35477 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
35478 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
35479 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
35480 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
35481 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
35483 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
35484 write the information.
35486 @kindex maint print reggroups
35487 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35488 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
35489 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
35492 The register groups info looks like this:
35495 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
35508 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
35510 @kindex maint print objfiles
35511 @cindex info for known object files
35512 @item maint print objfiles
35513 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
35514 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
35517 @kindex maint print section-scripts
35518 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
35519 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
35520 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
35521 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
35522 matching @var{regexp}.
35523 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
35524 and the full path if known.
35525 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
35527 @kindex maint print statistics
35528 @cindex bcache statistics
35529 @item maint print statistics
35530 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
35531 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
35532 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
35533 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
35534 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
35535 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
35536 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
35537 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
35538 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
35539 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
35542 @kindex maint print target-stack
35543 @cindex target stack description
35544 @item maint print target-stack
35545 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
35546 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
35547 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
35548 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
35549 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
35552 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
35553 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
35555 @kindex maint print type
35556 @cindex type chain of a data type
35557 @item maint print type @var{expr}
35558 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
35559 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
35560 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
35561 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
35562 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
35564 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
35565 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
35566 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
35567 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
35568 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
35571 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
35572 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
35573 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
35574 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
35575 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
35576 always see the disassembly form.
35578 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
35581 (gdb) info addr argc
35582 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
35586 For more information on these expressions, see
35587 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
35589 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
35590 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
35591 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
35592 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
35593 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
35595 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
35596 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
35597 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
35598 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
35599 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
35600 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
35601 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
35602 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
35603 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
35605 @kindex maint set profile
35606 @kindex maint show profile
35607 @cindex profiling GDB
35608 @item maint set profile
35609 @itemx maint show profile
35610 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
35612 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
35613 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
35614 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
35615 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
35616 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
35617 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
35618 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
35620 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
35621 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
35623 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
35624 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
35625 @cindex hardware debug registers
35626 @item maint set show-debug-regs
35627 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
35628 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
35629 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
35630 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
35631 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
35632 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
35634 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
35635 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
35636 @item maint set show-all-tib
35637 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
35638 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
35639 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
35642 @kindex maint set per-command
35643 @kindex maint show per-command
35644 @item maint set per-command
35645 @itemx maint show per-command
35646 @cindex resources used by commands
35648 @value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
35649 This is useful in debugging performance problems.
35652 @item maint set per-command space [on|off]
35653 @itemx maint show per-command space
35654 Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
35655 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
35656 took, following the command's own output.
35657 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
35658 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
35660 @item maint set per-command time [on|off]
35661 @itemx maint show per-command time
35662 Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
35664 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
35665 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
35666 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
35667 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
35668 CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
35669 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
35670 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
35671 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
35672 spent by the program been debugged.
35673 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
35674 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
35676 @item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
35677 @itemx maint show per-command symtab
35678 Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
35680 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
35684 number of symbol tables
35686 number of primary symbol tables
35688 number of blocks in the blockvector
35692 @kindex maint space
35693 @cindex memory used by commands
35694 @item maint space @var{value}
35695 An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
35696 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
35699 @cindex time of command execution
35700 @item maint time @var{value}
35701 An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
35702 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
35704 @kindex maint translate-address
35705 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
35706 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
35707 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
35708 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
35709 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
35710 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
35711 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
35713 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
35714 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
35715 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
35719 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
35720 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
35723 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
35724 @kindex set watchdog
35725 @cindex watchdog timer
35726 @cindex timeout for commands
35727 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
35728 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
35729 reports and error and the command is aborted.
35731 @item show watchdog
35732 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
35735 @node Remote Protocol
35736 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
35741 * Stop Reply Packets::
35742 * General Query Packets::
35743 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
35744 * Tracepoint Packets::
35745 * Host I/O Packets::
35747 * Notification Packets::
35748 * Remote Non-Stop::
35749 * Packet Acknowledgment::
35751 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
35752 * Library List Format::
35753 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
35754 * Memory Map Format::
35755 * Thread List Format::
35756 * Traceframe Info Format::
35757 * Branch Trace Format::
35763 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
35764 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
35765 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
35766 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
35768 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
35769 transmitted and received data, respectively.
35771 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
35772 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
35773 @cindex remote serial protocol
35774 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
35775 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
35776 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
35777 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
35778 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
35781 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35785 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
35787 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
35788 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
35789 eight bit unsigned checksum).
35791 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
35792 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
35795 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35798 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
35800 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
35801 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
35802 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
35804 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
35805 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
35806 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
35810 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35815 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
35816 once a connection is established.
35817 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
35819 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
35820 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
35821 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
35822 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
35823 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
35824 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
35825 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
35827 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
35828 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
35831 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
35832 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
35833 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
35834 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
35836 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
35837 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
35838 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
35840 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
35841 @anchor{Binary Data}
35842 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
35843 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
35844 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
35845 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
35846 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
35849 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
35850 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
35851 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
35852 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
35853 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
35854 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
35855 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
35856 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
35857 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
35860 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
35861 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
35862 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
35863 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
35864 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
35865 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
35866 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
35867 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
35868 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
35869 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
35870 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
35873 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
35874 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
35875 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
35876 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
35879 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
35880 error number. That number is not well defined.
35882 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
35883 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
35884 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
35885 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
35888 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
35889 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
35890 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
35891 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
35892 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
35893 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
35898 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
35899 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
35900 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
35901 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
35903 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
35904 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
35905 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
35906 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
35907 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
35908 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
35909 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
35910 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
35911 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
35914 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
35915 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
35916 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
35917 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
35918 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
35919 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
35922 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
35923 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
35924 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
35925 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
35926 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
35927 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
35928 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
35929 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
35930 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
35931 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
35932 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
35933 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
35934 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
35936 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
35937 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
35938 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
35941 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
35942 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
35944 Here are the packet descriptions.
35949 @cindex @samp{!} packet
35950 @anchor{extended mode}
35951 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
35952 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
35958 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
35962 @cindex @samp{?} packet
35963 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
35964 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
35965 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
35968 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35970 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
35971 @cindex @samp{A} packet
35972 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
35973 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
35974 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
35979 The arguments were set.
35985 @cindex @samp{b} packet
35986 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
35987 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
35989 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
35990 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
35991 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
35993 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
35994 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
35995 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
35996 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
35997 of view, nothing actually happened.}
35999 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
36000 @cindex @samp{B} packet
36001 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
36002 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
36004 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
36005 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
36007 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
36010 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
36011 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
36014 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36016 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
36019 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
36020 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
36023 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36025 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
36026 @cindex @samp{c} packet
36027 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
36028 resume at current address.
36030 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36034 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36036 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
36037 @cindex @samp{C} packet
36038 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
36039 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
36041 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36045 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36048 @cindex @samp{d} packet
36051 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
36052 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
36056 @cindex @samp{D} packet
36057 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
36058 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
36059 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
36061 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
36062 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
36063 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
36064 big-endian hex string.
36074 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
36075 @cindex @samp{F} packet
36076 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
36077 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
36078 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
36081 @anchor{read registers packet}
36082 @cindex @samp{g} packet
36083 Read general registers.
36087 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
36088 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
36089 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
36090 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
36091 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
36092 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
36093 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
36095 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
36096 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
36097 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
36098 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
36099 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
36100 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
36101 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
36102 have been collected, and both have zero value:
36106 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
36113 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
36114 @cindex @samp{G} packet
36115 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
36116 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
36126 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
36127 @cindex @samp{H} packet
36128 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
36129 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
36130 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
36131 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
36132 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
36133 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
36134 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36145 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
36146 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
36147 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
36148 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
36149 @c described. For example:
36151 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
36152 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
36153 @c otherwise returns current registers.
36155 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
36156 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
36157 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
36159 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
36160 @anchor{cycle step packet}
36161 @cindex @samp{i} packet
36162 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
36163 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
36164 step starting at that address.
36167 @cindex @samp{I} packet
36168 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
36172 @cindex @samp{k} packet
36175 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
36176 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
36179 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
36180 @cindex @samp{m} packet
36181 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
36182 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
36184 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
36185 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
36186 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
36187 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
36188 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
36189 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
36190 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
36191 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
36195 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
36196 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
36197 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
36198 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
36203 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
36204 @cindex @samp{M} packet
36205 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
36206 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
36207 hexadecimal number.
36214 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
36219 @cindex @samp{p} packet
36220 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
36221 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
36222 register value is encoded.
36226 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
36227 the register's value
36231 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
36234 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
36235 @anchor{write register packet}
36236 @cindex @samp{P} packet
36237 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
36238 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
36239 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
36249 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
36250 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
36251 @cindex @samp{q} packet
36252 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
36253 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
36254 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
36257 @cindex @samp{r} packet
36258 Reset the entire system.
36260 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
36263 @cindex @samp{R} packet
36264 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
36265 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36267 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
36269 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
36270 @cindex @samp{s} packet
36271 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
36272 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
36274 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36278 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36280 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
36281 @anchor{step with signal packet}
36282 @cindex @samp{S} packet
36283 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
36284 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
36286 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36290 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36292 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
36293 @cindex @samp{t} packet
36294 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
36295 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
36296 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
36298 @item T @var{thread-id}
36299 @cindex @samp{T} packet
36300 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
36305 thread is still alive
36311 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
36312 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
36314 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
36315 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
36316 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
36317 The process ID is a
36318 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
36319 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
36320 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
36322 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
36323 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
36324 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
36325 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
36326 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
36327 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
36328 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
36329 @c stopping or restarting threads.
36331 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36337 @item @r{Any stop packet}
36338 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
36340 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
36343 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
36344 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
36345 @anchor{vCont packet}
36346 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
36347 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
36348 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
36349 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
36350 in their current state in non-stop mode.
36351 Specifying multiple
36352 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
36353 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36355 Currently supported actions are:
36361 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
36365 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
36370 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
36371 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
36372 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
36374 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
36375 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
36376 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
36377 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
36378 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
36379 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
36380 as an implementation detail.
36382 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
36383 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
36384 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
36385 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
36389 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36392 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
36393 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
36397 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
36398 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
36399 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
36401 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
36404 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
36405 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
36406 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
36407 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
36409 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
36410 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
36411 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
36412 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
36413 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
36414 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
36415 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
36416 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
36417 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
36418 packet is received.
36428 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
36429 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
36430 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
36431 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
36432 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
36433 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
36434 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
36435 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
36436 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
36437 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
36438 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
36439 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
36447 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
36453 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
36454 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
36455 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
36456 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
36457 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
36458 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
36459 request is completed.
36461 @item vKill;@var{pid}
36462 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
36463 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
36464 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
36465 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
36466 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
36476 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
36477 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
36478 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
36479 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
36480 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
36481 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
36484 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
36486 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36492 @item @r{Any stop packet}
36493 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
36497 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
36498 @xref{Notification Packets}.
36500 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
36502 @cindex @samp{X} packet
36503 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
36504 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
36505 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
36515 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
36516 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
36517 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
36518 @cindex @samp{z} packet
36519 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
36520 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
36521 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
36523 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
36526 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
36527 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
36528 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
36529 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
36530 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
36531 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
36533 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36534 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
36535 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
36536 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
36537 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
36538 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
36540 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
36541 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
36542 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
36543 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
36544 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
36545 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
36546 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
36547 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
36548 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
36549 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
36551 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
36552 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
36556 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
36557 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
36558 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
36562 The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
36563 run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
36564 The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
36565 nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
36566 continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
36567 Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
36568 separators. Each expression has the following form:
36572 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
36573 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
36574 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
36578 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
36580 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
36581 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
36582 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
36583 target, is not defined.}
36595 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36596 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
36597 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
36598 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
36599 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
36600 address @var{addr}.
36602 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
36603 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
36604 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
36606 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
36619 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36620 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36621 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
36622 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
36623 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
36624 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
36636 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36637 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36638 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
36639 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
36640 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
36641 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
36653 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36654 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36655 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
36656 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
36657 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
36658 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
36672 @node Stop Reply Packets
36673 @section Stop Reply Packets
36674 @cindex stop reply packets
36676 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
36677 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
36678 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
36679 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
36680 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
36681 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
36682 @value{GDBN} source code.
36684 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
36685 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
36686 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
36692 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
36693 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
36694 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
36696 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
36697 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
36698 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
36699 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
36700 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
36701 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
36702 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
36703 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
36707 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
36708 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
36709 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
36710 two-digit hex number.
36713 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
36714 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36717 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
36718 the core on which the stop event was detected.
36721 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
36722 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
36723 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
36724 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
36727 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
36728 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
36732 The currently defined stop reasons are:
36738 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
36741 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
36743 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
36744 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
36745 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
36747 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
36749 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
36750 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
36751 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
36752 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
36753 for more information.
36757 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
36758 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
36759 applicable to certain targets.
36761 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
36762 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
36763 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
36764 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
36767 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
36768 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
36770 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
36771 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
36772 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
36773 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
36775 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
36776 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
36777 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
36778 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
36779 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
36781 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
36782 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
36783 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
36784 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
36785 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
36788 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
36789 this very system call.
36791 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
36792 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
36793 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
36794 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
36795 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
36796 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
36800 @node General Query Packets
36801 @section General Query Packets
36802 @cindex remote query requests
36804 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
36805 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
36806 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
36807 sending information to and from the stub.
36809 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
36810 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
36811 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
36812 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
36817 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
36819 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
36822 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
36823 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
36824 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
36825 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
36828 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
36829 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
36830 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
36831 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
36832 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
36833 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
36834 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
36835 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
36836 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
36837 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
36840 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
36841 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
36842 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
36843 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
36844 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
36846 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
36852 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
36853 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
36855 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
36856 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
36857 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
36858 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
36859 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
36860 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
36861 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
36862 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
36863 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
36864 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
36865 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
36868 @cindex current thread, remote request
36869 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
36870 Return the current thread ID.
36874 @item QC @var{thread-id}
36875 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
36876 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36877 @item @r{(anything else)}
36878 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
36881 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
36882 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
36883 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
36884 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
36885 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
36886 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
36887 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
36889 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
36890 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
36891 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
36892 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
36893 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
36894 detect trailing zeros.
36899 An error (such as memory fault)
36900 @item C @var{crc32}
36901 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
36904 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
36905 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
36906 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
36907 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
36908 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
36909 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
36910 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
36911 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
36912 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
36913 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
36916 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36921 The request succeeded.
36924 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36927 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
36931 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36932 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36933 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
36934 address space randomization.
36937 @itemx qsThreadInfo
36938 @cindex list active threads, remote request
36939 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
36940 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
36941 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
36942 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
36943 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
36944 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
36945 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
36946 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
36948 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
36952 @item m @var{thread-id}
36954 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
36955 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
36957 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
36960 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
36961 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
36962 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
36963 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
36964 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
36965 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
36968 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
36969 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
36970 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
36971 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
36972 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
36974 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
36975 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
36977 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
36978 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
36979 information associated with the variable.)
36981 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
36982 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
36983 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
36984 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
36985 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
36986 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
36990 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
36991 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
36992 local storage requested.
36995 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36998 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
37001 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
37002 @cindex get thread information block address
37003 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
37004 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
37006 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
37010 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
37011 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
37012 thread information block.
37015 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
37016 address could not be retrieved.
37019 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
37022 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
37023 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
37024 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
37025 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
37026 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
37027 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
37028 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
37030 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
37034 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
37035 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
37036 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
37037 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
37038 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
37039 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
37040 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
37044 @cindex section offsets, remote request
37045 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
37046 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
37051 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
37052 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
37053 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
37054 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
37055 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
37056 segments by the supplied offsets.
37058 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
37059 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
37060 to the @code{Bss} section.}
37062 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
37063 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
37064 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
37065 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
37066 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
37067 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
37068 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
37069 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
37070 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
37073 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
37074 @cindex thread information, remote request
37075 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
37076 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
37077 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
37078 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
37080 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
37083 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
37087 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
37088 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
37090 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
37091 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
37096 The request succeeded.
37099 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37102 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
37106 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37107 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37108 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
37109 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
37111 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
37112 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
37113 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
37114 @anchor{QPassSignals}
37115 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
37116 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
37117 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
37118 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
37119 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
37120 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
37121 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
37122 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
37123 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
37128 The request succeeded.
37131 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37134 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
37138 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
37139 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
37140 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37141 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37143 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
37144 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
37145 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
37146 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
37147 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
37148 Others should be silently discarded.
37150 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
37151 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
37152 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
37153 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
37154 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
37155 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
37158 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
37159 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
37161 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
37162 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
37163 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
37164 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
37165 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
37170 The request succeeded.
37173 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37176 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
37180 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
37181 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
37182 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37183 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37185 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
37186 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
37187 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
37188 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
37189 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
37190 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
37191 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
37192 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
37193 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
37198 A command response with no output.
37200 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
37202 Indicate a badly formed request.
37204 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
37207 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
37208 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
37209 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
37212 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
37213 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
37215 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
37217 @cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
37218 @anchor{qSearch memory}
37219 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
37220 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
37221 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
37226 The pattern was not found.
37228 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
37230 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
37232 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
37235 @item QStartNoAckMode
37236 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
37237 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
37238 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
37239 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
37244 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
37245 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
37246 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
37247 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
37249 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
37252 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
37253 @cindex supported packets, remote query
37254 @cindex features of the remote protocol
37255 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
37256 @anchor{qSupported}
37257 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
37258 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
37259 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
37260 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
37261 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
37262 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
37263 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
37264 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
37265 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
37266 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
37267 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
37268 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
37269 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
37270 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
37274 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
37275 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
37276 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
37279 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
37280 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
37283 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
37284 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
37288 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
37289 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
37290 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
37291 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
37293 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
37294 need an associated value.
37296 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
37298 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
37299 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
37300 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
37301 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
37304 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
37305 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
37306 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
37307 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
37308 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
37310 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
37315 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
37316 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
37317 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
37318 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
37319 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
37322 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
37323 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
37324 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
37328 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
37329 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
37330 instruction reply packet}).
37333 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
37334 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
37335 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
37336 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
37337 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
37338 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
37339 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
37340 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
37341 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
37342 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
37343 all the features it supports.
37345 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
37346 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
37348 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
37349 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
37350 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
37353 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
37354 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
37355 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
37356 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
37358 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
37359 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
37360 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
37361 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
37362 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
37364 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
37366 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
37367 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
37368 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
37370 @tab Value Required
37374 @item @samp{PacketSize}
37379 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
37384 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
37389 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
37394 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
37399 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
37404 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
37409 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
37414 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
37419 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
37424 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
37429 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
37434 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
37439 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
37444 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
37449 @item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
37454 @item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
37459 @item @samp{QNonStop}
37464 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
37469 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
37474 @item @samp{multiprocess}
37479 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
37484 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
37489 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
37494 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
37499 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
37504 @item @samp{QAgent}
37509 @item @samp{QAllow}
37514 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
37519 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
37524 @item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
37529 @item @samp{tracenz}
37534 @item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
37541 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
37544 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
37545 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
37546 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
37547 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
37548 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
37549 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
37550 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
37551 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
37552 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
37553 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
37555 @item qXfer:auxv:read
37556 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
37557 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
37559 @item qXfer:btrace:read
37560 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
37561 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
37563 @item qXfer:features:read
37564 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
37565 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
37567 @item qXfer:libraries:read
37568 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
37569 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
37571 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
37572 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
37573 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
37575 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
37576 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
37577 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
37579 @item qXfer:sdata:read
37580 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
37581 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
37583 @item qXfer:spu:read
37584 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
37585 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
37587 @item qXfer:spu:write
37588 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
37589 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
37591 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
37592 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
37593 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
37595 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
37596 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
37597 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
37599 @item qXfer:threads:read
37600 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
37601 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
37603 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
37604 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
37605 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
37607 @item qXfer:uib:read
37608 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
37609 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
37611 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
37612 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
37613 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
37616 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
37617 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
37620 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
37621 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
37623 @item QStartNoAckMode
37624 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
37625 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
37628 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
37629 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
37630 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
37631 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
37632 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
37633 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
37634 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
37635 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
37636 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
37637 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
37638 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
37640 @item qXfer:osdata:read
37641 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
37642 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
37644 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
37645 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
37646 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
37647 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
37649 @item ConditionalTracepoints
37650 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
37651 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
37653 @item ReverseContinue
37654 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
37658 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
37661 @item TracepointSource
37662 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
37663 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
37666 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
37669 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
37671 @item QDisableRandomization
37672 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
37674 @item StaticTracepoint
37675 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
37676 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
37678 @item InstallInTrace
37679 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
37680 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
37682 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
37683 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
37684 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
37685 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
37687 @item QTBuffer:size
37688 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
37689 packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
37692 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
37693 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
37694 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
37696 @item BreakpointCommands
37697 @cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
37698 The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
37699 rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
37702 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
37705 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
37710 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
37711 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
37712 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
37713 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
37718 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
37719 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
37720 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
37721 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
37722 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
37726 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
37727 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
37729 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
37730 target has previously requested.
37732 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
37733 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
37739 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
37740 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
37741 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
37742 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
37743 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
37748 @itemx QTDisconnected
37755 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
37757 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
37759 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
37760 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
37761 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
37762 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
37763 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
37764 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
37765 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
37766 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
37767 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
37768 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
37769 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
37773 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
37774 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
37775 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
37776 the thread's attributes.
37779 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
37780 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
37781 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
37800 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
37802 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37803 @cindex read special object, remote request
37804 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
37805 @anchor{qXfer read}
37806 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
37807 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
37808 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
37809 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
37810 additional details about what data to access.
37812 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
37813 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
37814 formats, listed below.
37817 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37818 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
37819 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
37820 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
37822 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37823 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37825 @item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37826 @anchor{qXfer btrace read}
37828 Return a description of the current branch trace.
37829 @xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
37830 packet may have one of the following values:
37834 Returns all available branch trace.
37837 Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
37838 the last read request.
37841 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
37842 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37844 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37845 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
37846 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
37847 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
37848 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
37850 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37851 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37853 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37854 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
37855 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
37856 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37857 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37859 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
37860 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
37861 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
37863 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37864 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37866 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37867 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
37868 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
37869 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
37870 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37872 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
37873 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
37875 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37876 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37878 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37879 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
37880 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
37881 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37882 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37884 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37885 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37887 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37888 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
37890 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
37891 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
37892 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
37895 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37896 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37897 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37899 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37900 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
37901 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
37902 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
37903 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37905 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37906 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37907 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37909 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37910 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
37911 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
37912 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
37913 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
37914 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
37915 in that context to be accessed.
37917 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37918 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37919 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37921 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37922 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
37923 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
37924 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37925 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37927 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37928 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37930 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37931 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
37933 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
37934 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
37935 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37937 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37938 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37940 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37941 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
37943 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
37944 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
37946 This packet is not probed by default.
37948 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37949 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
37950 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
37951 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
37952 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
37954 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37955 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37957 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37958 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
37959 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
37960 @xref{Operating System Information}.
37967 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
37968 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
37969 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
37970 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
37971 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
37975 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
37976 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
37977 than the @var{length} in the request.
37980 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
37981 There is no more data to be read.
37984 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
37987 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
37988 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
37991 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
37992 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
37995 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37996 @cindex write data into object, remote request
37997 @anchor{qXfer write}
37998 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
37999 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
38000 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
38001 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
38002 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
38005 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
38006 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
38007 formats, listed below.
38010 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
38011 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
38012 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
38013 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
38014 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
38016 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38017 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
38018 (@pxref{qSupported}).
38020 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
38021 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
38022 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
38023 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
38024 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
38025 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
38026 in that context to be accessed.
38028 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38029 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38035 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
38036 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
38039 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
38042 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
38043 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
38046 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
38047 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
38050 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
38051 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
38052 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
38053 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
38054 must respond with an empty packet.
38056 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
38057 @cindex query attached, remote request
38058 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
38059 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
38060 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
38061 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
38062 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
38063 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
38064 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
38066 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
38067 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
38068 the @code{quit} command.
38073 The remote server attached to an existing process.
38075 The remote server created a new process.
38077 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38081 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using bts tracing.
38086 Branch tracing has been enabled.
38088 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38092 Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
38097 Branch tracing has been disabled.
38099 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38104 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
38105 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
38107 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
38108 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
38109 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
38112 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
38113 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
38116 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
38117 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
38120 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
38123 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
38124 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
38125 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
38127 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
38132 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
38135 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
38138 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
38142 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
38143 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
38146 * MIPS Register packet Format::
38147 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
38150 @node MIPS Register packet Format
38151 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
38152 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
38154 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
38155 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
38156 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
38157 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
38158 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
38159 most-significant -- least-significant.
38164 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
38165 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
38166 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
38169 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
38170 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
38175 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
38176 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
38177 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
38179 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
38184 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
38187 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
38190 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
38193 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
38197 @node Tracepoint Packets
38198 @section Tracepoint Packets
38199 @cindex tracepoint packets
38200 @cindex packets, tracepoint
38202 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
38203 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
38207 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
38208 @cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
38209 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
38210 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
38211 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
38212 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
38213 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
38214 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
38215 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
38216 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
38217 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
38218 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
38219 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
38225 The packet was understood and carried out.
38227 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
38229 The packet was not recognized.
38232 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
38233 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
38234 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
38235 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
38236 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
38237 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
38238 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
38240 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
38241 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
38242 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
38243 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
38244 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
38245 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
38246 tracepoint actions.
38248 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
38249 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
38255 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
38256 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
38257 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
38258 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
38259 not fit in a 32-bit word.
38261 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
38262 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
38263 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
38264 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
38265 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
38266 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
38267 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
38269 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38270 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
38271 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
38272 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
38273 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
38274 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
38279 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
38280 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
38281 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
38282 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
38283 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
38284 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
38285 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
38286 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
38291 The packet was understood and carried out.
38293 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
38295 The packet was not recognized.
38298 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
38299 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
38300 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
38301 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
38302 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
38303 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
38304 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
38305 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
38307 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
38308 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
38309 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
38310 fit in a single packet.
38311 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
38312 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
38314 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
38315 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
38316 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
38317 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
38319 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
38320 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
38323 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
38324 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
38325 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
38326 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
38327 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
38328 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
38329 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
38332 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
38333 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
38334 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
38335 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
38336 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
38337 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
38338 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
38339 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
38340 mentioned in expressions.
38342 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
38343 @cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
38344 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
38345 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
38346 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
38348 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
38349 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
38350 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
38351 one of the following forms:
38355 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
38356 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
38357 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
38360 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
38361 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
38365 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
38366 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
38367 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
38368 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
38370 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
38371 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
38372 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
38373 is a hexadecimal number.
38375 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
38376 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
38377 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
38378 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
38381 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
38382 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
38383 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
38386 @cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
38387 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
38388 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
38389 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
38390 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
38391 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
38392 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
38399 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
38401 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
38402 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
38403 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
38405 An error has occurred.
38407 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
38411 @cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
38412 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
38413 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
38414 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
38415 instruction reply packet}).
38418 @cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
38419 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
38421 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
38423 @cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
38424 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
38425 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
38426 of data from it will resume.
38428 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
38430 @cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
38431 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
38432 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
38433 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
38436 @cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
38437 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
38439 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
38440 @cindex @samp{QTro} packet
38441 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
38442 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
38443 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
38445 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
38446 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
38447 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
38448 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
38450 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
38451 @cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
38452 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
38453 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
38454 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
38455 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
38458 @cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
38459 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
38461 The reply has the form:
38465 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
38466 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
38467 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
38468 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
38472 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
38473 explanations as one of the optional fields:
38478 No trace has been run yet.
38480 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
38481 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
38482 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
38483 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
38484 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
38487 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
38489 @item tdisconnected:0
38490 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
38492 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
38493 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
38495 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
38496 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
38497 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
38498 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
38499 @var{text} is hex encoded.
38502 The trace stopped for some other reason.
38506 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
38507 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
38508 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
38509 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
38514 @item tframes:@var{n}
38515 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
38517 @item tcreated:@var{n}
38518 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
38519 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
38521 @item tsize:@var{n}
38522 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
38524 @item tfree:@var{n}
38525 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
38527 @item circular:@var{n}
38528 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
38529 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
38530 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
38533 @item disconn:@var{n}
38534 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
38535 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
38536 that the trace run will stop.
38540 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
38541 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
38542 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
38543 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
38544 address @var{addr}.
38548 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
38549 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
38550 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
38551 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
38552 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
38556 @item qTV:@var{var}
38557 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
38558 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
38559 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
38564 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
38565 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
38566 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
38567 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
38568 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
38569 program is running.
38572 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
38573 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
38578 @cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
38580 @cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
38581 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
38582 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
38583 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
38584 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
38585 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
38588 @cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
38590 @cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
38591 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
38592 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
38593 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
38594 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
38595 trace state variables.
38601 @cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
38602 @cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
38603 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
38604 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
38605 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
38606 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
38610 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
38612 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
38613 a comma-separated list of markers
38615 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
38617 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38619 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
38623 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
38624 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
38626 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
38627 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
38628 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
38629 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
38632 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
38634 @cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
38635 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
38636 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
38637 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
38638 tracepoint markers.
38640 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
38641 @cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
38642 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
38643 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
38644 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
38645 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
38647 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
38648 @cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
38649 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
38650 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
38651 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
38652 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
38653 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
38654 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
38657 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
38658 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
38659 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
38661 @item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
38662 @anchor{QTBuffer-size}
38663 @cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
38664 This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
38665 @var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
38666 use whatever size it prefers.
38668 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
38669 @cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
38670 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
38671 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
38672 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
38676 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
38677 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
38678 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
38679 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
38680 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
38681 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
38682 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
38683 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
38684 it had executed in the original location.
38686 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
38687 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
38688 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
38689 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
38690 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
38691 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
38692 format of the request is:
38695 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
38697 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
38698 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
38699 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
38700 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
38701 memory starting at @var{to}.
38706 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
38707 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
38708 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
38710 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
38711 relocating the instruction.
38714 @node Host I/O Packets
38715 @section Host I/O Packets
38716 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
38717 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
38719 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
38720 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
38721 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
38722 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
38723 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
38724 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
38725 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
38726 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
38727 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
38728 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
38730 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
38731 its arguments. They have this format:
38735 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
38736 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
38737 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
38738 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
38739 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
38740 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
38741 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
38742 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
38743 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
38747 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
38751 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
38752 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
38753 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
38754 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
38755 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
38756 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
38757 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
38758 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
38759 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
38763 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
38767 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
38770 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
38771 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
38772 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
38773 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
38774 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
38775 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
38776 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
38778 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
38779 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
38780 -1 if an error occurs.
38782 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
38783 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
38784 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
38785 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
38786 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
38787 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
38788 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
38789 @var{count} was zero.
38791 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
38792 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
38793 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
38794 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
38795 some characters were escaped.
38797 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
38798 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
38799 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
38800 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
38801 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
38802 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
38803 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
38806 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
38807 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
38808 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
38810 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
38811 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
38812 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
38814 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
38815 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
38816 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
38817 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
38818 some characters were escaped.
38823 @section Interrupts
38824 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
38826 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
38827 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
38828 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
38829 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
38831 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
38832 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
38833 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
38834 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
38835 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
38837 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
38838 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
38839 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
38840 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
38841 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
38842 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
38843 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
38844 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
38846 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
38847 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
38848 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
38850 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
38851 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
38852 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
38853 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
38854 currently-executing threads and processes.
38855 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
38856 running program, it should send one of the stop
38857 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
38858 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
38859 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
38860 Interrupts received while the
38861 program is stopped are discarded.
38863 @node Notification Packets
38864 @section Notification Packets
38865 @cindex notification packets
38866 @cindex packets, notification
38868 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
38869 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
38870 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
38871 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
38872 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
38873 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
38876 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
38877 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
38878 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
38879 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
38880 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
38881 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
38882 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
38884 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
38885 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
38887 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
38888 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
38889 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
38890 not they understand it.
38892 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
38893 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
38894 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
38895 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
38898 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
38899 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
38900 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
38901 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
38902 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
38904 Each notification is comprised of three parts:
38906 @item @var{name}:@var{event}
38907 The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
38908 exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
38909 carrying the specific information about the notification.
38910 @var{name} is the name of the notification.
38912 The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
38913 acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
38916 The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
38917 @value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
38919 The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
38920 at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
38921 appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
38922 acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
38923 additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
38924 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
38925 synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
38926 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
38927 the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
38928 @value{GDBN} may not have received it.
38930 Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
38931 otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
38932 expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
38933 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
38934 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
38935 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
38937 After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
38938 sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
38939 stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
38940 @value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
38941 stub first, which the stub should process normally.
38943 Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
38944 events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
38945 normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
38946 packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
38947 other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
38950 If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
38951 @var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
38952 At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
38953 and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
38954 won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
38955 received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
38956 a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
38957 the process shall be repeated.
38959 The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
38962 <- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
38965 <- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
38967 <- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
38972 The following notifications are defined:
38973 @multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
38982 @tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
38983 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
38984 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
38986 @tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
38990 @node Remote Non-Stop
38991 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
38993 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
38994 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
38995 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
38996 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38998 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
38999 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
39000 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
39001 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
39002 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
39003 probe the target state after a mode change.
39005 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
39006 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
39007 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
39008 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
39009 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
39010 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
39011 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
39012 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
39013 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
39014 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
39015 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
39017 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
39018 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
39019 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
39020 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
39021 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
39022 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
39023 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
39024 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
39025 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
39026 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
39027 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
39030 @node Packet Acknowledgment
39031 @section Packet Acknowledgment
39033 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
39034 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
39035 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
39036 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
39037 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
39038 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
39039 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
39041 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
39042 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
39043 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
39044 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
39045 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
39047 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
39048 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
39049 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
39050 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
39052 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
39053 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
39054 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
39055 @pxref{qSupported}.
39056 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
39057 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
39058 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
39059 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
39060 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
39061 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
39062 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
39064 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
39065 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
39066 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
39068 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
39069 new connection is established,
39070 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
39071 for the current connection, once disabled.
39076 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
39077 does not get any direct output:
39082 @emph{target restarts}
39085 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
39089 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
39092 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
39097 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
39101 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
39105 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
39106 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
39107 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
39110 * File-I/O Overview::
39111 * Protocol Basics::
39112 * The F Request Packet::
39113 * The F Reply Packet::
39114 * The Ctrl-C Message::
39116 * List of Supported Calls::
39117 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
39119 * File-I/O Examples::
39122 @node File-I/O Overview
39123 @subsection File-I/O Overview
39124 @cindex file-i/o overview
39126 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
39127 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
39128 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
39129 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
39130 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
39131 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
39133 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
39134 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
39135 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
39136 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
39137 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
39139 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
39140 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
39141 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
39142 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
39143 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
39144 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
39145 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
39147 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
39148 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
39149 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
39150 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
39151 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
39154 (@value{GDBP}) continue
39155 <- target requests 'system call X'
39156 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
39157 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
39158 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
39159 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
39162 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
39163 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
39164 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
39165 system are not supported by this protocol.
39167 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
39169 @node Protocol Basics
39170 @subsection Protocol Basics
39171 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
39173 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
39174 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
39175 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
39176 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
39177 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
39178 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
39179 to call the appropriate host system call:
39183 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
39186 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
39187 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
39188 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
39189 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
39193 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
39197 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
39198 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
39199 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
39200 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
39204 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
39205 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
39208 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
39211 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
39214 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
39215 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
39216 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
39217 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
39222 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
39223 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
39230 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
39237 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
39238 the latest continue or step action.
39240 @node The F Request Packet
39241 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
39242 @cindex file-i/o request packet
39243 @cindex @code{F} request packet
39245 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
39248 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
39250 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
39251 This is just the name of the function.
39253 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
39254 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
39255 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
39256 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
39257 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
39258 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
39259 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
39265 @node The F Reply Packet
39266 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
39267 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
39268 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
39270 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
39274 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
39276 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
39278 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
39280 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
39282 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
39283 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
39284 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
39291 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
39298 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
39303 @node The Ctrl-C Message
39304 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
39305 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
39307 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
39308 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
39309 the target should behave as if it had
39310 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
39311 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
39312 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
39315 It's important for the target to know in which
39316 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
39320 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
39323 The system call on the host has been finished.
39327 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
39328 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
39329 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
39330 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
39331 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
39332 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
39334 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
39335 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
39336 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
39337 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
39338 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
39339 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
39340 or the full action has been completed.
39343 @subsection Console I/O
39344 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
39346 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
39347 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
39348 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
39349 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
39350 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
39351 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
39356 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
39358 system call is treated as finished.
39361 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
39365 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
39366 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
39370 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
39371 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
39372 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
39373 is stopped at the user's request.
39376 @node List of Supported Calls
39377 @subsection List of Supported Calls
39378 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
39395 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
39396 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
39401 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
39402 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
39406 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
39409 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
39413 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
39414 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
39418 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
39419 an error and open() fails.
39422 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
39423 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
39424 truncated to zero length.
39427 The file is opened in append mode.
39430 The file is opened for reading only.
39433 The file is opened for writing only.
39436 The file is opened for reading and writing.
39440 Other bits are silently ignored.
39444 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
39448 User has read permission.
39451 User has write permission.
39454 Group has read permission.
39457 Group has write permission.
39460 Others have read permission.
39463 Others have write permission.
39467 Other bits are silently ignored.
39470 @item Return value:
39471 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
39478 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
39481 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
39484 The requested access is not allowed.
39487 @var{pathname} was too long.
39490 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
39493 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
39496 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
39497 write access was requested.
39500 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
39503 No space on device to create the file.
39506 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
39509 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
39513 The call was interrupted by the user.
39519 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
39520 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
39529 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
39531 @item Return value:
39532 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
39538 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
39541 The call was interrupted by the user.
39547 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
39548 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
39553 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
39557 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
39559 @item Return value:
39560 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
39561 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
39562 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
39568 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
39572 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39575 The call was interrupted by the user.
39581 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
39582 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
39587 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
39591 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
39593 @item Return value:
39594 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
39595 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
39602 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
39606 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39609 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
39610 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
39613 No space on device to write the data.
39616 The call was interrupted by the user.
39622 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
39623 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
39628 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
39632 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
39634 @var{flag} is one of:
39638 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
39641 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
39645 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
39649 @item Return value:
39650 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
39651 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
39652 value of -1 is returned.
39658 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
39661 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
39664 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
39667 The call was interrupted by the user.
39673 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
39674 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
39679 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
39683 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
39685 @item Return value:
39686 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39692 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
39696 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
39699 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
39703 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
39707 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
39708 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
39709 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
39712 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
39715 No access to the file or the path of the file.
39719 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
39722 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
39725 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
39728 The device containing the file has no room for the new
39732 The call was interrupted by the user.
39738 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
39739 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
39744 int unlink(const char *pathname);
39748 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
39750 @item Return value:
39751 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39757 No access to the file or the path of the file.
39760 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
39763 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
39764 being used by another process.
39767 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39770 @var{pathname} was too long.
39773 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
39776 A component of the path is not a directory.
39779 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
39782 The call was interrupted by the user.
39788 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
39789 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
39790 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
39795 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
39796 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
39800 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
39801 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
39803 @item Return value:
39804 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39810 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
39813 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
39814 path is an empty string.
39817 A component of the path is not a directory.
39820 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39823 No access to the file or the path of the file.
39826 @var{pathname} was too long.
39829 The call was interrupted by the user.
39835 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
39836 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
39841 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
39845 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
39847 @item Return value:
39848 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
39854 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
39857 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39863 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
39864 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
39869 int isatty(int fd);
39873 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
39875 @item Return value:
39876 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
39882 The call was interrupted by the user.
39887 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
39888 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
39889 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
39890 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
39895 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
39896 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
39901 int system(const char *command);
39905 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
39907 @item Return value:
39908 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
39909 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
39910 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
39911 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
39912 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
39913 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
39914 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
39920 The call was interrupted by the user.
39925 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
39926 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
39927 the host is simplified before it's returned
39928 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
39929 is discarded, and the return value consists
39930 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
39932 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
39933 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
39934 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
39937 @item set remote system-call-allowed
39938 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
39939 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
39940 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
39942 @item show remote system-call-allowed
39943 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
39944 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
39948 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
39949 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
39950 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
39953 * Integral Datatypes::
39955 * Memory Transfer::
39960 @node Integral Datatypes
39961 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
39962 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
39964 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
39965 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
39966 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
39968 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
39969 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
39971 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
39973 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
39974 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
39976 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
39978 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
39979 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
39982 @node Pointer Values
39983 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
39984 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
39986 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
39987 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
39988 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
39989 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
39996 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
39997 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
39998 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
39999 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
40005 @node Memory Transfer
40006 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
40007 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
40009 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
40010 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
40011 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
40012 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
40013 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
40014 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
40015 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
40019 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
40020 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
40022 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
40023 is defined as follows:
40027 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
40028 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
40029 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
40030 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
40031 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
40032 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
40033 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
40034 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
40035 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
40036 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
40037 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
40038 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
40039 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
40043 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
40044 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
40045 structure is of size 64 bytes.
40047 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
40053 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
40056 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
40059 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
40060 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
40065 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
40070 These values have a host and file system dependent
40071 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
40072 support exact timing values.
40075 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
40076 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
40079 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
40080 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
40081 get truncated on the target.
40083 @node struct timeval
40084 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
40085 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
40087 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
40088 is defined as follows:
40092 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
40093 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
40097 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
40098 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
40099 structure is of size 8 bytes.
40102 @subsection Constants
40103 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
40105 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
40106 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
40107 values before and after the call as needed.
40118 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
40119 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
40121 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
40133 @node mode_t Values
40134 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
40135 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
40137 All values are given in octal representation.
40154 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
40155 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
40157 All values are given in decimal representation.
40182 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
40183 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
40186 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
40187 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
40196 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
40197 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
40199 All values are given in decimal representation.
40202 INT_MIN -2147483648
40204 UINT_MAX 4294967295
40205 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
40206 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
40207 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
40210 @node File-I/O Examples
40211 @subsection File-I/O Examples
40212 @cindex file-i/o examples
40214 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
40215 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
40218 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
40219 @emph{request memory read from target}
40222 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
40226 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
40227 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
40230 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
40231 @emph{request memory write to target}
40232 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
40233 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
40237 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
40238 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
40241 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
40245 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
40249 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
40254 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
40258 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
40259 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
40263 @node Library List Format
40264 @section Library List Format
40265 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
40267 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
40268 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
40269 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
40270 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
40271 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
40272 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
40273 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
40274 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
40275 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
40278 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
40279 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
40280 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
40281 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
40283 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
40284 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
40285 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
40286 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
40287 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
40288 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
40290 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40291 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
40293 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
40294 offset, looks like this:
40298 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
40299 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
40304 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
40305 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
40309 <library name="sharedlib.o">
40310 <section address="0x10000000"/>
40311 <section address="0x20000000"/>
40312 <section address="0x30000000"/>
40317 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
40320 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
40321 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
40322 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40323 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
40324 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
40325 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
40326 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
40327 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
40328 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
40331 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
40332 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
40333 section for each library.
40335 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
40336 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
40337 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
40339 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
40340 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
40341 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
40342 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
40344 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
40345 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
40346 target, the following parameters are reported:
40350 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
40351 @code{struct link_map}.
40353 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
40354 (Thread Local Storage) access.
40356 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
40357 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
40358 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
40359 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
40361 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
40364 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
40365 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
40366 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
40368 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40369 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
40371 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
40375 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
40376 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
40378 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
40380 </library-list-svr>
40383 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
40386 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
40387 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
40388 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40389 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
40390 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
40391 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
40392 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
40393 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
40394 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
40397 @node Memory Map Format
40398 @section Memory Map Format
40399 @cindex memory map format
40401 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
40402 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
40405 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
40406 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
40407 lists memory regions.
40409 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40410 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
40412 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
40415 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40416 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
40417 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
40418 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
40424 Each region can be either:
40429 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
40433 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
40438 A region of read-only memory:
40441 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
40446 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
40450 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
40451 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
40457 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
40458 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
40459 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
40461 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
40464 <!-- ................................................... -->
40465 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
40466 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
40467 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
40468 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
40469 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
40470 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
40471 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
40472 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
40473 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
40474 and its type, or device. -->
40475 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
40476 start CDATA #REQUIRED
40477 length CDATA #REQUIRED
40478 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
40479 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
40480 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
40481 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
40484 @node Thread List Format
40485 @section Thread List Format
40486 @cindex thread list format
40488 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
40489 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
40490 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
40491 the following structure:
40494 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40496 <thread id="id" core="0">
40497 ... description ...
40502 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
40503 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
40504 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
40505 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
40506 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
40508 @node Traceframe Info Format
40509 @section Traceframe Info Format
40510 @cindex traceframe info format
40512 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
40513 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
40514 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
40515 collected in a traceframe.
40517 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
40518 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
40520 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40521 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
40523 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
40526 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40527 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
40528 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
40529 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
40535 Each traceframe block can be either:
40540 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
40541 @var{length} bytes from there:
40544 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
40549 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
40552 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
40553 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40555 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
40556 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
40557 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
40560 @node Branch Trace Format
40561 @section Branch Trace Format
40562 @cindex branch trace format
40564 In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
40565 @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
40566 represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
40567 branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
40569 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
40570 (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
40572 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40573 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
40575 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
40578 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40580 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
40581 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
40590 A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
40591 and ending at @var{end}:
40594 <block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
40599 The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
40602 <!ELEMENT btrace (block)* >
40603 <!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40605 <!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
40606 <!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
40607 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
40610 @include agentexpr.texi
40612 @node Target Descriptions
40613 @appendix Target Descriptions
40614 @cindex target descriptions
40616 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
40617 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
40618 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
40619 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
40620 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
40621 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
40622 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
40626 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
40627 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
40629 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
40630 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
40631 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
40633 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
40634 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
40635 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
40638 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
40639 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
40640 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
40641 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
40642 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
40644 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40645 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
40648 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
40649 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
40650 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
40652 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
40655 @node Retrieving Descriptions
40656 @section Retrieving Descriptions
40658 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
40659 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
40660 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
40661 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
40662 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
40663 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
40664 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
40667 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
40668 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
40669 specify a file are:
40672 @cindex set tdesc filename
40673 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
40674 Read the target description from @var{path}.
40676 @cindex unset tdesc filename
40677 @item unset tdesc filename
40678 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
40679 will use the description supplied by the current target.
40681 @cindex show tdesc filename
40682 @item show tdesc filename
40683 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
40687 @node Target Description Format
40688 @section Target Description Format
40689 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
40691 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
40692 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
40693 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
40694 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
40695 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
40696 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
40697 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
40699 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
40700 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
40701 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
40702 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
40703 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
40705 Here is a simple target description:
40708 <target version="1.0">
40709 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
40714 This minimal description only says that the target uses
40715 the x86-64 architecture.
40717 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
40718 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
40719 are explained further below.
40722 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40723 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
40724 <target version="1.0">
40725 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
40726 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
40727 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
40728 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
40733 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
40734 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
40735 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
40736 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
40737 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
40738 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
40739 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
40740 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
40741 the version mismatch.
40743 @subsection Inclusion
40744 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
40747 @cindex <xi:include>
40750 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
40751 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
40752 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
40753 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
40754 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
40757 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
40761 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
40762 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
40763 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
40764 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
40765 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
40766 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
40767 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
40768 original description.
40770 @subsection Architecture
40771 @cindex <architecture>
40773 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
40776 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
40779 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
40780 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
40783 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
40785 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
40786 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
40788 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
40791 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
40794 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
40795 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
40797 @subsection Compatible Architecture
40798 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
40800 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
40801 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
40803 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
40806 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
40809 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
40810 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
40812 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
40813 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
40814 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
40815 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
40816 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
40817 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
40818 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
40821 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
40822 <compatible>spu</compatible>
40825 @subsection Features
40828 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
40829 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
40830 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
40834 <feature name="@var{name}">
40835 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
40841 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
40842 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
40843 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
40844 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
40848 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
40849 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
40850 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
40851 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
40852 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
40854 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
40855 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
40856 Types must be defined before they are used.
40859 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
40860 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
40861 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
40865 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
40869 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
40870 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
40871 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
40872 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
40875 <union id="@var{id}">
40876 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
40882 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
40883 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
40884 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
40885 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
40886 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
40887 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
40888 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
40889 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
40892 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
40893 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
40898 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
40899 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
40902 <struct id="@var{id}">
40903 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
40909 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
40910 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
40911 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
40912 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
40916 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
40917 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
40922 @subsection Registers
40925 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
40928 <reg name="@var{name}"
40929 bitsize="@var{size}"
40930 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
40931 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
40932 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
40933 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
40937 The components are as follows:
40942 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
40945 The register's size, in bits.
40948 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
40949 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
40950 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
40951 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
40952 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
40953 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
40954 in order of increasing register number.
40957 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
40958 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
40959 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
40960 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
40964 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
40965 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
40966 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
40967 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
40968 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
40969 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
40972 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
40973 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
40974 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
40975 in @code{info registers}.
40979 @node Predefined Target Types
40980 @section Predefined Target Types
40981 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
40983 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
40984 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
40985 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
40986 types. The currently supported types are:
40995 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
41002 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
41006 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
41007 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
41008 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
41009 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
41010 may be marked as data pointers.
41013 Single precision IEEE floating point.
41016 Double precision IEEE floating point.
41019 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
41022 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
41025 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
41028 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
41032 @node Standard Target Features
41033 @section Standard Target Features
41034 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
41036 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
41037 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
41038 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
41039 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
41040 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
41041 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
41042 can recognize them.
41044 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
41045 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
41046 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
41047 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
41048 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
41049 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
41050 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
41051 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
41053 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
41054 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
41055 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
41057 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
41058 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
41059 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
41060 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
41062 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
41063 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
41064 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
41067 * AArch64 Features::
41072 * PowerPC Features::
41077 @node AArch64 Features
41078 @subsection AArch64 Features
41079 @cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
41081 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
41082 targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
41083 @samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
41085 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
41086 it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
41090 @subsection ARM Features
41091 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
41093 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
41095 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
41096 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
41098 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
41099 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
41100 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
41103 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
41104 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
41106 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
41107 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
41108 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
41109 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
41111 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
41112 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
41113 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
41114 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
41115 halves of the double-precision registers.
41117 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
41118 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
41119 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
41120 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
41121 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
41122 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
41124 @node i386 Features
41125 @subsection i386 Features
41126 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
41128 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
41129 targets. It should describe the following registers:
41133 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
41135 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
41137 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
41138 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
41140 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
41142 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
41143 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
41146 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
41148 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
41149 describe registers:
41153 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
41155 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
41160 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
41161 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
41162 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
41166 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
41168 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
41171 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
41172 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
41174 @node MIPS Features
41175 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
41176 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
41178 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
41179 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
41180 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
41183 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
41184 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
41185 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
41187 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
41188 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
41189 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
41190 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
41192 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
41193 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
41194 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
41195 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
41197 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
41198 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
41199 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
41201 @node M68K Features
41202 @subsection M68K Features
41203 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
41206 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
41207 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
41208 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
41209 One of those features must be always present.
41210 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
41211 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
41212 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
41213 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
41215 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
41216 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
41217 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
41221 @node PowerPC Features
41222 @subsection PowerPC Features
41223 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
41225 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
41226 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
41227 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
41228 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
41230 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
41231 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
41233 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
41234 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
41237 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
41238 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
41239 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
41240 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
41241 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
41242 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
41244 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
41245 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
41246 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
41247 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
41248 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
41249 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
41252 @node TIC6x Features
41253 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
41254 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
41255 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
41256 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
41257 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
41258 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
41260 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
41261 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
41262 through @samp{B31}.
41264 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
41265 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
41267 @node Operating System Information
41268 @appendix Operating System Information
41269 @cindex operating system information
41275 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
41276 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
41277 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
41278 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
41279 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
41280 on a different aspect of target.
41282 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
41283 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
41284 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
41285 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
41288 @appendixsection Process list
41289 @cindex operating system information, process list
41291 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
41292 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
41293 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
41294 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
41296 An example document is:
41299 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41300 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
41301 <osdata type="processes">
41303 <column name="pid">1</column>
41304 <column name="user">root</column>
41305 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
41306 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
41311 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
41312 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
41313 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
41314 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
41315 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
41316 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
41317 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
41319 @node Trace File Format
41320 @appendix Trace File Format
41321 @cindex trace file format
41323 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
41324 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
41326 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
41327 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
41328 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
41331 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
41332 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
41333 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
41334 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
41335 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
41338 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
41340 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
41341 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
41342 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
41343 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
41344 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
41345 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
41346 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
41349 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
41352 @item R @var{bytes}
41353 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
41354 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
41355 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
41356 hexadecimal encoding.
41358 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
41359 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
41360 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
41361 @var{length} bytes.
41363 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
41364 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
41365 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
41369 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
41372 @node Index Section Format
41373 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
41374 @cindex .gdb_index section format
41375 @cindex index section format
41377 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
41378 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
41379 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
41382 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
41383 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
41384 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
41385 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
41386 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
41387 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
41389 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
41393 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
41394 unless otherwise noted:
41398 The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
41399 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
41400 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
41401 and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
41402 symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
41403 (@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
41404 compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
41406 @value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
41407 by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
41408 GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
41409 currently not flagged as deprecated.
41412 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
41415 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
41416 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
41417 to the next offset.
41420 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
41423 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
41426 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
41430 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
41431 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
41432 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
41433 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
41434 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
41435 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
41436 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
41440 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
41441 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
41442 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
41443 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
41446 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
41447 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
41451 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
41454 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
41455 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
41458 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
41462 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
41463 the hash table is always a power of 2.
41465 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
41466 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
41467 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
41470 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
41471 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
41472 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
41474 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
41475 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
41476 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
41477 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
41482 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
41484 @item Versions 5 to 7
41485 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
41488 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
41490 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
41491 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
41492 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
41493 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
41496 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
41497 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
41498 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
41502 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
41503 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
41506 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
41507 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
41508 Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
41509 the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
41510 CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
41511 See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
41513 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
41516 Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
41517 If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
41518 CU index+attributes value for each use.
41520 The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
41526 This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
41528 These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
41530 The kind of the symbol in the CU.
41534 This value is reserved and should not be used.
41535 By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
41536 with previous versions of the index.
41538 The symbol is a type.
41540 The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
41542 The symbol is a function.
41544 Any other kind of symbol.
41546 These values are reserved.
41550 This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
41552 The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
41553 The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
41554 @value{GDBN} sources.
41558 This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
41559 global/static attributes in the index.
41562 is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
41563 language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
41566 case DW_TAG_typedef:
41567 case DW_TAG_base_type:
41568 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
41572 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
41574 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
41576 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
41578 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
41580 case DW_TAG_constant:
41582 is_static = ! is_external;
41584 case DW_TAG_variable:
41586 is_static = ! is_external;
41588 case DW_TAG_namespace:
41592 case DW_TAG_class_type:
41593 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
41594 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
41595 case DW_TAG_union_type:
41596 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
41598 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
41606 @appendix Manual pages
41610 * gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
41611 * gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
41612 * gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
41618 @c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
41620 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
41621 gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
41622 [@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
41623 [@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
41624 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
41625 [@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
41626 [@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}]
41627 [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}] [@var{prog}|@var{core}|@var{procID}]
41630 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
41631 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
41632 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
41633 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
41635 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
41636 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
41640 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
41643 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
41646 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
41649 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
41650 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
41653 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, and Modula-2.
41654 Fortran support will be added when a GNU Fortran compiler is ready.
41656 @value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
41657 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
41658 command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
41659 by using the command @code{help}.
41661 You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
41662 usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
41663 executable program as the argument:
41669 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
41675 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
41676 to debug a running process:
41683 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
41684 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
41686 Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
41688 @c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
41690 @item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
41691 Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
41693 @item run [@var{arglist}]
41694 Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
41697 Backtrace: display the program stack.
41699 @item print @var{expr}
41700 Display the value of an expression.
41703 Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
41706 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
41707 function calls in the line.
41709 @item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
41710 look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
41712 @item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
41713 type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
41716 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
41717 function calls in the line.
41719 @item help [@var{name}]
41720 Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
41721 about using @value{GDBN}.
41724 Exit from @value{GDBN}.
41728 For full details on @value{GDBN},
41729 see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41730 by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
41731 as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
41735 @c man begin OPTIONS gdb
41736 Any arguments other than options specify an executable
41737 file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
41738 encountered with no
41739 associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
41740 if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
41742 both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
41743 recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
41744 present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
41745 arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
41746 more usual convention.)
41748 All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
41749 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
41755 List all options, with brief explanations.
41757 @item -symbols=@var{file}
41758 @itemx -s @var{file}
41759 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
41762 Enable writing into executable and core files.
41764 @item -exec=@var{file}
41765 @itemx -e @var{file}
41766 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
41767 appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
41770 @item -se=@var{file}
41771 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
41774 @item -core=@var{file}
41775 @itemx -c @var{file}
41776 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
41778 @item -command=@var{file}
41779 @itemx -x @var{file}
41780 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
41782 @item -ex @var{command}
41783 Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
41785 @item -directory=@var{directory}
41786 @itemx -d @var{directory}
41787 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
41790 Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
41794 Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
41798 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
41799 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
41802 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
41803 files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
41804 Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
41805 commands in the command files.
41807 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
41808 download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
41809 more useful, the message
41812 Program exited normally.
41816 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
41817 terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
41819 @item -cd=@var{directory}
41820 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
41821 instead of the current directory.
41825 Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
41826 @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
41827 recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
41828 includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
41829 like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
41830 and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
41831 Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
41832 characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
41835 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
41836 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
41838 @item -tty=@var{device}
41839 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
41843 @c man begin SEEALSO gdb
41845 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
41846 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
41847 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
41854 should give you access to the complete manual.
41856 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41857 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
41861 @node gdbserver man
41862 @heading gdbserver man
41864 @c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
41866 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
41867 gdbserver @var{tty} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
41869 gdbserver @var{tty} --attach @var{PID}
41873 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
41874 @command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
41875 than the one which is running the program being debugged.
41878 @subheading Usage (server (target) side)
41881 Usage (server (target) side):
41884 First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
41885 the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
41886 @command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
41887 the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
41889 To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
41890 program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
41891 your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
41894 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
41897 For example, using a serial port, you might say:
41901 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
41902 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
41905 target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
41909 This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
41910 to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
41911 waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
41913 To use a TCP connection, you could say:
41916 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
41919 This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
41920 going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
41921 that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
41922 2345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
41923 want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
41924 ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
41925 @value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
41926 you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
41927 print an error message and exit.
41929 On some targets, @command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
41930 This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
41933 target> gdbserver @var{comm} --attach @var{pid}
41936 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
41937 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
41940 @subheading Usage (host side)
41946 You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
41947 @value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
41948 would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
41949 @option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
41950 That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
41951 new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}. It's argument is either
41952 a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
41953 descriptor. For example:
41957 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
41958 (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
41961 (gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
41966 communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
41969 (gdb) target remote the-target:2345
41973 communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
41974 you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
41975 TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
41976 command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
41977 `Connection refused'.
41980 @c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
41981 You have to supply the name of the program to debug
41982 and the tty to communicate on; the remote @value{GDBN} will do everything else.
41983 Any remaining arguments will be passed to the program verbatim.
41986 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
41988 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
41989 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
41990 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
41996 should give you access to the complete manual.
41998 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41999 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
42006 @c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
42009 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
42010 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
42011 @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
42020 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
42021 These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
42022 @value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
42025 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
42026 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
42032 Please read more in
42034 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
42035 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
42042 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
42043 @item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
42045 @ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
42046 @item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
42048 System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
42049 @value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
42052 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
42053 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
42056 @ref{System-wide configuration}.
42060 User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
42061 @value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
42064 Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
42065 @value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
42068 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
42069 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
42072 @ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
42077 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
42079 gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
42081 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
42082 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
42083 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
42089 should give you access to the complete manual.
42091 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
42092 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
42098 @node GNU Free Documentation License
42099 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
42102 @node Concept Index
42103 @unnumbered Concept Index
42107 @node Command and Variable Index
42108 @unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
42113 % I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
42115 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
42116 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
42117 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
42118 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
42119 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
42120 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
42121 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
42122 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
42123 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
42125 % Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.