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.
1271 @item -configuration
1272 @cindex @code{--configuration}
1273 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1274 configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1275 important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1280 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1281 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1283 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1287 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1288 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1292 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1293 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1294 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1297 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1299 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1300 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1301 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1304 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1306 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1307 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1308 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1309 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1313 Processes command line options and operands.
1315 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1317 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1318 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1319 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1320 This is only done if the current directory is
1321 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1322 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1323 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1327 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1328 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1329 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1330 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1332 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1333 you must do something like the following:
1336 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1339 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1343 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1344 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1345 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1348 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1349 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1350 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1353 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1354 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1355 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1356 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1357 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1358 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1360 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1361 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1363 @cindex init file name
1364 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1365 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1366 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1367 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1368 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1369 port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1370 @file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1371 and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1375 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1376 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1377 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1380 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1381 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1382 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1384 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1385 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1386 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1387 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1392 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1393 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1394 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1395 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1396 until a time when it is safe.
1398 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1399 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1400 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1402 @node Shell Commands
1403 @section Shell Commands
1405 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1406 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1407 just use the @code{shell} command.
1412 @cindex shell escape
1413 @item shell @var{command-string}
1414 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1415 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1416 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1417 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1418 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1419 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1422 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1423 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1428 @cindex calling make
1429 @item make @var{make-args}
1430 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1431 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1434 @node Logging Output
1435 @section Logging Output
1436 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1437 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1439 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1440 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1444 @item set logging on
1446 @item set logging off
1448 @cindex logging file name
1449 @item set logging file @var{file}
1450 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1451 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1452 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1453 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1454 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1455 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1456 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1457 @kindex show logging
1459 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1463 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1465 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1466 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1467 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1468 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1469 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1472 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1473 * Completion:: Command completion
1474 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1477 @node Command Syntax
1478 @section Command Syntax
1480 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1481 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1482 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1483 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1484 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1485 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1487 @cindex abbreviation
1488 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1489 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1490 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1491 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1492 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1493 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1494 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1496 @cindex repeating commands
1497 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1498 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1499 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1500 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1501 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1502 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1503 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1505 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1506 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1507 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1509 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1510 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1511 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1512 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1513 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1515 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1517 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1518 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1519 Files,,Command Files}).
1521 @cindex repeating command sequences
1522 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1523 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1524 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1525 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1529 @section Command Completion
1532 @cindex word completion
1533 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1534 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1535 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1536 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1538 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1539 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1540 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1541 enter it). For example, if you type
1543 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1544 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1545 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1546 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1548 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1552 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1553 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1556 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1560 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1561 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1562 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1563 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1564 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1565 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1567 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1568 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1569 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1570 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1571 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1572 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1573 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1574 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1578 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1579 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1580 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1581 make_abs_section make_function_type
1582 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1583 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1584 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1585 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1589 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1590 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1593 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1594 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1595 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1596 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1597 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1599 @cindex quotes in commands
1600 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1601 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1602 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1603 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1604 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1605 @value{GDBN} commands.
1607 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1608 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1609 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1610 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1611 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1612 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1613 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1614 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1615 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1616 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1617 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1620 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1621 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1622 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1625 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1626 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1627 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1631 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1632 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1633 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1637 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1638 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1639 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1641 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1642 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1643 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1644 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1646 @cindex completion of structure field names
1647 @cindex structure field name completion
1648 @cindex completion of union field names
1649 @cindex union field name completion
1650 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1651 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1652 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1653 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1654 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1658 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1659 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1660 to_data to_isatty to_write
1661 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1666 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1667 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1674 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1675 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1676 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1677 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1678 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1679 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1680 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1681 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1682 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1689 @section Getting Help
1690 @cindex online documentation
1693 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1694 using the command @code{help}.
1697 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1700 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1701 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1705 List of classes of commands:
1707 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1708 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1709 data -- Examining data
1710 files -- Specifying and examining files
1711 internals -- Maintenance commands
1712 obscure -- Obscure features
1713 running -- Running the program
1714 stack -- Examining the stack
1715 status -- Status inquiries
1716 support -- Support facilities
1717 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1718 stopping the program
1719 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1721 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1722 commands in that class.
1723 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1725 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1728 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1730 @item help @var{class}
1731 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1732 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1733 help display for the class @code{status}:
1736 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1741 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1742 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1743 info -- Generic command for showing things
1744 about the program being debugged
1745 show -- Generic command for showing things
1748 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1750 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1754 @item help @var{command}
1755 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1756 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1759 @item apropos @var{args}
1760 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1761 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1762 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1773 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1774 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1775 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1776 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1777 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1782 @item complete @var{args}
1783 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1784 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1785 command you want completed. For example:
1791 @noindent results in:
1802 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1805 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1806 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1807 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1808 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1809 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1810 Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1816 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1818 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1819 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1820 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1821 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1822 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1823 @w{@code{help info}}.
1827 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1828 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1829 @code{set prompt $}.
1833 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1834 @value{GDBN} itself.
1835 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1836 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1837 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1838 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1841 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1842 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1843 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1844 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1845 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1846 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1850 Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1851 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1854 @kindex show version
1855 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1857 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1858 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1859 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1860 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1861 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1862 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1863 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1864 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1867 @kindex show copying
1868 @kindex info copying
1869 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1872 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1874 @kindex show warranty
1875 @kindex info warranty
1877 @itemx info warranty
1878 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1879 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1881 @kindex show configuration
1882 @item show configuration
1883 Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1884 when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1885 @file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1886 automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1887 bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1893 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1895 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1896 debugging information when you compile it.
1898 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1899 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1900 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1901 kill a child process.
1904 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1905 * Starting:: Starting your program
1906 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1907 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1909 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1910 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1911 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1912 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1914 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1915 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1916 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1917 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1921 @section Compiling for Debugging
1923 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1924 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1925 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1926 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1927 and addresses in the executable code.
1929 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1932 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1933 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1934 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1935 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1936 executables containing debugging information.
1938 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1939 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1940 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1941 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1942 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1944 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1945 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1946 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1948 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1949 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1950 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1951 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1952 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1953 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1955 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1956 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1957 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1959 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1960 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1961 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1962 format in @value{GDBN}.
1966 @section Starting your Program
1972 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1975 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1976 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1977 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1978 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1979 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1983 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1984 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1985 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1986 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1987 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1988 message like this one:
1991 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1992 Try "help target" or "continue".
1996 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1997 first (@pxref{load}).
1999 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2000 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2001 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2002 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2003 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2004 divided into four categories:
2007 @item The @emph{arguments.}
2008 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2009 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2010 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2011 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2013 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2014 @code{SHELL} environment variable. If you do not define @code{SHELL},
2015 @value{GDBN} uses the default shell (@file{/bin/sh}). You can disable
2016 use of any shell with the @code{set startup-with-shell} command (see
2019 @item The @emph{environment.}
2020 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2021 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2022 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2023 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2025 @item The @emph{working directory.}
2026 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2027 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2028 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2030 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2031 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2032 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2033 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2034 set a different device for your program.
2035 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2038 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2039 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2040 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2044 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2045 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2046 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2047 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2048 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2050 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2051 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2052 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2053 your current breakpoints.
2058 @cindex run to main procedure
2059 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2060 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2061 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2062 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2063 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2064 procedure, depending on the language used.
2066 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2067 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2068 the @samp{run} command.
2070 @cindex elaboration phase
2071 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2072 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2073 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2074 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2075 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2076 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2077 will remain to halt execution.
2079 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2080 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2081 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2082 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2083 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2085 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2086 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2087 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2088 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2089 elaboration code before running your program.
2091 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2092 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2093 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2094 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2095 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2096 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2097 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2098 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2099 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2100 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2101 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2103 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2104 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2105 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2106 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2108 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2109 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2113 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2117 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2118 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2120 @kindex set startup-with-shell
2121 @item set startup-with-shell
2122 @itemx set startup-with-shell on
2123 @itemx set startup-with-shell off
2124 @itemx show set startup-with-shell
2125 On Unix systems, by default, if a shell is available on your target,
2126 @value{GDBN}) uses it to start your program. Arguments of the
2127 @code{run} command are passed to the shell, which does variable
2128 substitution, expands wildcard characters and performs redirection of
2129 I/O. In some circumstances, it may be useful to disable such use of a
2130 shell, for example, when debugging the shell itself or diagnosing
2131 startup failures such as:
2135 Starting program: ./a.out
2136 During startup program terminated with signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
2140 which indicates the shell or the wrapper specified with
2141 @samp{exec-wrapper} crashed, not your program. Most often, this is
2142 caused by something odd in your shell's non-interactive mode
2143 initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell,
2144 $@file{.zshenv} for the Z shell, or the file specified in the
2145 @samp{BASH_ENV} environment variable for BASH.
2147 @kindex set disable-randomization
2148 @item set disable-randomization
2149 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2150 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2151 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2152 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2153 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2155 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2156 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2159 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2162 @item set disable-randomization off
2163 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2164 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2165 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2166 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2167 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2168 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2170 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2171 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2172 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2173 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2174 a code at its expected addresses.
2176 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2177 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2178 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2179 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2180 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2181 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2182 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2183 a randomly chosen address.
2185 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2186 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2187 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2188 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2189 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2191 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2192 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2194 @item show disable-randomization
2195 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2196 the virtual address space of the started program.
2201 @section Your Program's Arguments
2203 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2204 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2206 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2207 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2208 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2209 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2210 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2212 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2213 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2214 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2215 the program, not by the shell.
2217 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2218 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2223 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2224 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2225 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2226 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2227 it again without arguments.
2231 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2235 @section Your Program's Environment
2237 @cindex environment (of your program)
2238 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2239 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2240 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2241 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2242 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2243 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2244 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2248 @item path @var{directory}
2249 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2250 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2251 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2252 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2253 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2254 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2255 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2257 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2258 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2259 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2260 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2261 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2262 @var{directory} to the search path.
2263 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2264 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2268 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2269 environment variable).
2271 @kindex show environment
2272 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2273 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2274 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2275 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2276 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2278 @kindex set environment
2279 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2280 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2281 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2282 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2283 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2284 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2286 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2287 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2289 For example, this command:
2296 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2297 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2298 are not actually required.)
2300 @kindex unset environment
2301 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2302 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2303 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2304 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2305 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2308 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2309 the shell indicated by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it
2310 exists (or @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable
2311 names a shell that runs an initialization file when started
2312 non-interactively---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, $@file{.zshenv}
2313 for the Z shell, or the file specified in the @samp{BASH_ENV}
2314 environment variable for BASH---any variables you set in that file
2315 affect your program. You may wish to move setting of environment
2316 variables to files that are only run when you sign on, such as
2317 @file{.login} or @file{.profile}.
2319 @node Working Directory
2320 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2322 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2323 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2324 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2325 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2326 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2327 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2329 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2330 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2335 @cindex change working directory
2336 @item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2337 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2338 given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2342 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2345 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2346 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2347 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2348 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2349 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2350 current working directory of the debuggee.
2353 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2358 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2359 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2360 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2361 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2362 running your program.
2365 @kindex info terminal
2367 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2371 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2372 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2379 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2382 @cindex controlling terminal
2383 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2384 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2385 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2386 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2387 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2394 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2395 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2396 that as their controlling terminal.
2398 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2399 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2402 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2403 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2404 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2405 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2407 @cindex inferior tty
2408 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2409 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2410 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2414 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2415 @kindex set inferior-tty
2416 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2418 @item show inferior-tty
2419 @kindex show inferior-tty
2420 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2424 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2429 @item attach @var{process-id}
2430 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2431 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2432 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2433 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2434 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2436 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2437 executing the command.
2440 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2441 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2442 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2443 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2445 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2446 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2447 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2448 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2449 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2452 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2453 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2454 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2455 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2456 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2457 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2458 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2463 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2464 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2465 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2466 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2467 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2468 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2469 executing the command.
2472 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2473 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2474 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2475 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2476 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2480 @section Killing the Child Process
2485 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2488 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2489 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2492 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2493 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2494 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2495 outside the debugger.
2497 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2498 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2499 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2500 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2501 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2502 breakpoint settings).
2504 @node Inferiors and Programs
2505 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2507 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2508 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2509 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2510 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2511 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2512 from multiple executables.
2515 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2516 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2517 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2518 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2519 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2520 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2521 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2522 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2523 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2524 threads running in it.
2526 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2530 @kindex info inferiors
2531 @item info inferiors
2532 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2534 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2538 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2541 the target system's inferior identifier
2544 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2549 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2550 indicates the current inferior.
2554 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2557 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2558 Num Description Executable
2559 2 process 2307 hello
2560 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2563 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2566 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2567 @item inferior @var{infno}
2568 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2569 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2570 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2574 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2575 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2576 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2577 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2578 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2579 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2582 @kindex add-inferior
2583 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2584 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2585 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2586 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2587 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2588 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2590 @kindex clone-inferior
2591 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2592 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2593 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2594 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2595 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2598 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2599 Num Description Executable
2600 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2601 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2604 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2605 Num Description Executable
2607 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2610 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2612 @kindex remove-inferiors
2613 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2614 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2615 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2616 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2620 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2621 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2622 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2623 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2626 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2627 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2628 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2629 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2630 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2631 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2633 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2634 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2635 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2636 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2637 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2638 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2641 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2642 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2643 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2644 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2647 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2648 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2651 @kindex set print inferior-events
2652 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2653 @item set print inferior-events
2654 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2655 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2656 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2657 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2658 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2659 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2661 @kindex show print inferior-events
2662 @item show print inferior-events
2663 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2664 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2667 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2668 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2669 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2672 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2673 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2674 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2675 info program-spaces}} command.
2678 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2679 @item maint info program-spaces
2680 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2683 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2687 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2690 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2691 the @code{file} command.
2696 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2697 indicates the current program space.
2699 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2700 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2701 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2704 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2707 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2711 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2712 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2713 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2714 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2715 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2718 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2721 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2724 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2725 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2729 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2731 @cindex threads of execution
2732 @cindex multiple threads
2733 @cindex switching threads
2734 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2735 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2736 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2737 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2738 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2739 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2740 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2742 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2746 @item automatic notification of new threads
2747 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2748 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2749 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2750 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2751 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2752 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2753 messages on thread start and exit.
2754 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2755 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2756 isn't compatible with the program.
2760 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2761 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2762 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2763 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2764 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2768 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2769 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2770 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2771 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2773 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2774 @c doesn't support threads"?
2777 @cindex focus of debugging
2778 @cindex current thread
2779 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2780 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2781 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2782 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2783 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2785 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2786 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2787 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2788 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2789 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2790 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2791 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2792 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2793 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2794 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2797 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2801 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2802 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2805 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2806 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2807 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2809 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2810 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2811 @c threads ab initio?
2813 @cindex thread number
2814 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2815 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2816 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2819 @kindex info threads
2820 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2821 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2822 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2823 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2824 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2828 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2831 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2834 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2835 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2839 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2843 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2844 indicates the current thread.
2848 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2851 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2853 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2854 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2855 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2859 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2860 Solaris-specific command:
2863 @item maint info sol-threads
2864 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2865 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2866 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2870 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2871 @item thread @var{threadno}
2872 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2873 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2874 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2875 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2876 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2879 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2880 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2881 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2882 8 printf ("hello\n");
2886 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2887 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2890 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2891 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2892 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2893 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2894 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2895 information on convenience variables.
2897 @kindex thread apply
2898 @cindex apply command to several threads
2899 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2900 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2901 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2902 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2903 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2904 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2905 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2906 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2909 @cindex name a thread
2910 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2911 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2912 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2913 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2915 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2916 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2917 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2918 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2919 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2922 @cindex search for a thread
2923 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2924 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2925 matches the supplied regular expression.
2927 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2928 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2929 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2933 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2934 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2935 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2937 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2940 @kindex set print thread-events
2941 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2942 @item set print thread-events
2943 @itemx set print thread-events on
2944 @itemx set print thread-events off
2945 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2946 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2947 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2948 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2949 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2951 @kindex show print thread-events
2952 @item show print thread-events
2953 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2954 have started and exited.
2957 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2958 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2959 programs with multiple threads.
2961 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2962 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2964 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2966 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2967 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2968 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2969 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2970 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2971 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2972 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2973 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2976 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2977 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2978 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2979 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2980 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2981 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2983 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2984 refers to the default system directories that are
2985 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2986 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2987 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2989 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2990 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2991 was loaded in the inferior process.
2993 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2994 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2995 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2996 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2997 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2998 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2999 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
3001 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
3002 only on some platforms.
3004 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
3005 @item show libthread-db-search-path
3006 Display current libthread_db search path.
3008 @kindex set debug libthread-db
3009 @kindex show debug libthread-db
3010 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
3011 @item set debug libthread-db
3012 @itemx show debug libthread-db
3013 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
3014 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
3018 @section Debugging Forks
3020 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
3021 @cindex multiple processes
3022 @cindex processes, multiple
3023 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
3024 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
3025 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
3026 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
3027 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
3028 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
3029 will cause it to terminate.
3031 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3032 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3033 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3034 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3035 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3036 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3037 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3038 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3039 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3040 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3042 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
3043 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
3044 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3045 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3047 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3048 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3050 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3051 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3054 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
3055 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3056 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3057 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3058 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3062 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3063 unimpeded. This is the default.
3066 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3071 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3072 @item show follow-fork-mode
3073 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3076 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3077 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3078 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3081 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3082 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3083 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3084 retain debugger control over them both.
3088 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3089 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3090 independently. This is the default.
3093 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3094 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3095 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3100 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3101 @item show detach-on-fork
3102 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3105 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3106 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3107 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3108 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3109 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3110 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3112 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3113 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3114 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3115 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3118 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3119 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3120 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3121 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3122 the child process's @code{main}.
3124 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3125 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3127 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3128 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3129 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3130 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3131 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3132 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3136 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3137 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3139 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3140 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3142 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3146 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3147 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3148 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3154 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3156 Id Description Executable
3159 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3160 Program exited normally.
3161 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3162 Id Description Executable
3168 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3169 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3170 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3171 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3172 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3177 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3178 Id Description Executable
3181 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3182 Program exited normally.
3183 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3184 Id Description Executable
3191 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3192 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3193 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3195 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3196 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3201 @cindex snapshot of a process
3202 @cindex rewind program state
3204 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3205 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3206 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3209 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3210 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3211 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3212 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3213 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3215 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3216 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3217 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3218 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3219 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3220 start again from there.
3222 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3223 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3225 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3230 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3231 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3232 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3234 @kindex info checkpoints
3235 @item info checkpoints
3236 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3237 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3244 @item Source line, or label
3247 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3248 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3249 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3250 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3251 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3252 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3253 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3255 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3256 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3257 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3260 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3261 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3262 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3266 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3267 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3268 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3269 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3270 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3271 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3272 previously read data can be read again.
3274 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3275 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3276 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3277 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3278 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3279 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3281 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3282 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3283 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3284 different execution path this time.
3286 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3287 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3288 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3289 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3290 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3291 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3292 potentially pose a problem.
3294 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3296 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3297 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3298 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3299 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3300 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3303 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3304 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3305 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3306 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3307 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3310 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3312 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3313 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3314 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3316 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3317 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3318 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3319 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3320 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3321 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3322 explicitly request this information at any time.
3325 @kindex info program
3327 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3328 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3332 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3333 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3334 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3335 Skipping over functions and files
3337 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3341 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3344 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3345 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3346 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3347 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3348 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3349 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3352 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3353 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3354 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3355 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3356 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3360 @cindex data breakpoints
3361 @cindex memory tracing
3362 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3363 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3364 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3365 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3366 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3367 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3368 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3369 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3370 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3371 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3374 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3375 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3379 @cindex breakpoint on events
3380 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3381 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3382 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3383 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3384 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3385 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3386 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3388 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3389 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3390 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3391 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3392 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3393 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3394 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3395 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3398 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3399 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3400 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3401 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3402 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3403 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3404 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3407 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3408 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3409 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3410 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3411 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3412 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3413 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3414 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3415 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3416 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3417 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3418 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3422 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3424 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3425 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3427 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3430 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3431 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3432 @cindex latest breakpoint
3433 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3434 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3435 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3436 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3437 convenience variables.
3440 @item break @var{location}
3441 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3442 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3443 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3444 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3445 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3447 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3448 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3449 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3452 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3453 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3454 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3457 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3458 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3459 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3460 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3461 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3462 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3463 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3464 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3465 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3468 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3469 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3470 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3471 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3472 existed when your program stopped.
3474 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3475 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3476 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3477 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3478 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3479 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3480 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3483 @item tbreak @var{args}
3484 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3485 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3486 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3487 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3490 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3491 @item hbreak @var{args}
3492 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3493 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3494 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3495 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3496 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3497 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3498 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3499 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3500 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3501 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3502 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3503 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3504 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3505 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3506 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3507 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3508 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3509 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3512 @item thbreak @var{args}
3513 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3514 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3515 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3516 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3517 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3518 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3519 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3520 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3523 @cindex regular expression
3524 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3525 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3526 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3527 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3528 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3529 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3530 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3531 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3532 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3534 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3535 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3536 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3537 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3538 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3539 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3541 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3542 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3543 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3546 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3547 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3548 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3551 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3554 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3555 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3556 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3557 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3558 every function in a given file:
3561 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3564 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3565 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3567 @kindex info breakpoints
3568 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3569 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3570 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3571 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3572 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3573 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3574 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3577 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3579 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3581 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3582 @item Enabled or Disabled
3583 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3584 that are not enabled.
3586 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3587 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3588 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3589 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3590 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3591 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3593 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3594 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3595 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3596 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3600 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3601 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3602 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3603 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3604 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3605 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3607 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3608 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3609 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3610 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3613 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3614 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3615 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3616 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3617 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3620 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3621 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3622 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3623 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3624 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3625 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3628 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3629 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3633 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3634 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3635 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3636 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3638 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3639 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3640 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3641 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3645 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3648 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3649 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3652 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3653 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3656 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3657 several places where that function is inlined.
3660 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3661 the relevant locations.
3663 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3664 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3665 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3666 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3667 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3668 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3669 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3674 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3675 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3677 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3678 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3679 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3682 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3683 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3684 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3685 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3686 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3687 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3688 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3689 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3690 that belong to that breakpoint.
3692 @cindex pending breakpoints
3693 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3694 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3695 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3696 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3697 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3698 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3699 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3700 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3701 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3702 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3703 is not yet resolved.
3705 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3706 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3707 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3708 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3709 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3710 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3712 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3713 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3714 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3715 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3717 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3718 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3719 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3721 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3722 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3723 address specification to an address:
3725 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3726 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3728 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3729 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3730 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3732 @item set breakpoint pending on
3733 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3734 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3736 @item set breakpoint pending off
3737 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3738 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3739 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3741 @item show breakpoint pending
3742 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3745 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3746 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3747 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3749 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3750 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3751 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3752 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3753 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3754 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3755 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3758 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3760 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3761 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3763 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3764 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3765 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3766 breakpoint must be used.
3768 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3769 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3770 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3771 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3774 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3775 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3776 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3777 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3778 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3779 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3780 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3781 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3782 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3784 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3785 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3787 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3788 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3789 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3790 removed from the target when it stops.
3792 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3793 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3794 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3795 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3796 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3798 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3799 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3800 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3801 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3802 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3803 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3804 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3807 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3808 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3809 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3811 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3812 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3814 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3816 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3817 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3819 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3820 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3821 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3822 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3823 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3825 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3826 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3827 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3828 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3829 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3830 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3831 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3832 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3833 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3834 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3835 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3836 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3837 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3839 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3840 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3841 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3842 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3843 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3844 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3848 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3849 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3850 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3851 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3852 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3853 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3854 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3855 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3858 @node Set Watchpoints
3859 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3861 @cindex setting watchpoints
3862 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3863 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3864 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3865 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3866 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3870 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3873 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3874 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3875 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3878 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3879 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3880 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3883 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3884 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3885 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3886 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3887 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3888 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3889 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3890 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3891 the expression changes.
3893 @cindex software watchpoints
3894 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3895 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3896 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3897 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3898 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3899 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3902 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3903 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3904 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3908 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3909 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3910 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3911 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3912 to watch the value of a single variable:
3915 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3918 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3919 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3920 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3921 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3922 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3923 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3925 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3926 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3927 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3928 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3929 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3930 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3931 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3934 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3935 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3936 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3937 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3938 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3939 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3940 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3941 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3942 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3943 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3947 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3948 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3952 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3953 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3957 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3958 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3959 or written into by the program.
3961 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3962 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3963 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3964 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3967 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3968 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3969 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3970 a never-changing value:
3973 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3974 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3975 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3976 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3979 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3980 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3981 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3982 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3983 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3984 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3986 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3987 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3988 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3989 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3990 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3991 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3992 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3993 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3996 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3997 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3998 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
4000 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4001 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4002 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
4005 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
4006 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
4007 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
4009 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
4012 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
4016 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
4018 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
4019 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
4020 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
4021 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
4022 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
4023 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
4024 will print a message like this:
4027 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
4030 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4031 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4032 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4033 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4034 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4035 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4036 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4037 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4039 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4040 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4041 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4042 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4043 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4044 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4047 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4051 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4053 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4054 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4055 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4056 expression with separately allocated resources.
4058 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4059 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4060 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4062 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4063 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4064 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4065 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4066 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4067 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4068 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4069 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4070 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4072 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4073 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4074 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4075 watched expression from every thread.
4078 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4079 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4080 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4081 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4082 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4083 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4084 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4085 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4086 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4089 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4091 @node Set Catchpoints
4092 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4093 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4094 @cindex exception handlers
4095 @cindex event handling
4097 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4098 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4099 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4103 @item catch @var{event}
4104 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4107 @item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4108 @itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4109 @itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4110 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4111 The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4113 If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4114 regular expression will be caught.
4116 @vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4117 The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4118 exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4119 exception being thrown.
4121 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4126 The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4127 systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4131 The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4132 variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4133 If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4134 These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4135 or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4139 The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4140 instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4143 When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4144 location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4145 support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4146 (@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4149 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4150 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4151 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4152 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4153 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4154 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4155 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4156 disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4157 controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4160 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4163 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4167 @cindex Ada exception catching
4168 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4169 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4170 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4171 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4172 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4174 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4175 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4176 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4177 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4178 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4179 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4180 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4181 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4183 @item exception unhandled
4184 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4187 A failed Ada assertion.
4190 @cindex break on fork/exec
4191 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4195 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4196 @cindex break on a system call.
4197 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4198 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4199 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4200 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4201 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4202 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4205 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4206 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4207 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4208 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4210 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4211 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4212 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4213 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4215 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4216 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4217 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4220 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4221 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4222 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4223 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4224 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4225 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4226 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4227 behind the OS upgrades).
4229 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4233 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4234 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4236 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4238 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4239 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4243 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4244 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4248 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4251 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4252 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4254 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4256 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4257 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4261 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4262 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4266 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4267 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4268 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4271 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4272 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4274 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4276 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4277 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4281 Program exited normally.
4285 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4286 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4287 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4288 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4291 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4292 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4293 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4297 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4298 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4299 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4300 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4301 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4302 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4305 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4306 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4307 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4308 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4309 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4313 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4315 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4316 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4319 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4320 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4323 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4326 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4330 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4333 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4334 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4335 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4336 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4337 matches one of the affected libraries.
4339 @item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4340 The delivery of a signal.
4342 With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4343 used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4344 @samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4346 With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4347 @value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4350 Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4351 @code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4354 One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4355 @code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4358 When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4359 @code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4360 However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4361 on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4366 @item tcatch @var{event}
4367 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4368 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4372 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4376 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4378 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4379 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4380 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4381 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4382 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4383 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4385 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4386 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4387 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4388 their breakpoint numbers.
4390 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4391 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4392 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4397 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4398 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4399 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4400 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4402 @item clear @var{location}
4403 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4404 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4405 most useful ones are listed below:
4408 @item clear @var{function}
4409 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4410 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4412 @item clear @var{linenum}
4413 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4414 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4415 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4418 @cindex delete breakpoints
4420 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4421 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4422 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4423 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4424 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4425 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4429 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4431 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4432 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4433 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4434 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4435 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4437 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4438 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4439 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4440 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4441 do not know which numbers to use.
4443 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4444 affects all of its locations.
4446 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4447 different states of enablement:
4451 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4452 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4454 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4456 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4459 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4460 N times, then becomes disabled.
4462 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4463 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4464 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4467 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4468 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4472 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4473 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4474 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4475 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4476 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4477 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4478 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4481 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4482 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4483 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4485 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4486 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4487 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4489 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4490 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4491 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4492 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4493 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4494 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4495 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4497 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4498 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4499 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4500 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4503 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4504 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4505 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4506 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4507 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4508 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4509 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4510 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4514 @subsection Break Conditions
4515 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4516 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4518 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4519 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4520 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4521 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4522 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4523 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4524 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4525 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4527 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4528 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4529 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4530 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4531 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4533 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4534 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4535 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4536 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4539 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4540 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4541 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4542 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4543 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4544 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4545 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4546 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4548 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4549 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4551 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4552 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4553 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4554 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4555 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4556 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4558 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4559 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4560 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4561 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4562 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4564 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4565 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4566 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4567 with the @code{condition} command.
4569 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4570 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4571 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4576 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4577 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4578 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4579 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4580 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4581 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4582 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4583 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4584 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4585 prints an error message:
4588 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4593 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4594 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4595 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4597 @item condition @var{bnum}
4598 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4599 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4602 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4603 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4604 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4605 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4606 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4607 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4608 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4609 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4610 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4611 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4612 your program reaches it.
4616 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4617 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4618 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4619 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4622 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4625 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4626 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4627 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4628 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4630 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4631 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4632 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4634 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4635 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4636 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4640 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4643 @node Break Commands
4644 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4646 @cindex breakpoint commands
4647 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4648 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4649 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4650 enable other breakpoints.
4654 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4655 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4656 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4658 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4659 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4660 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4662 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4663 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4665 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4666 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4667 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4668 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4669 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4670 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4671 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4675 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4676 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4678 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4679 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4680 that resumes execution.
4682 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4683 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4684 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4685 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4686 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4689 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4690 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4691 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4692 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4693 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4694 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4696 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4697 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4698 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4700 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4701 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4707 printf "x is %d\n",x
4712 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4713 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4714 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4715 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4716 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4717 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4718 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4729 @node Dynamic Printf
4730 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4732 @cindex dynamic printf
4734 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4735 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4736 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4737 having to recompile it.
4739 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4740 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4741 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4742 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4743 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4744 redirects to files and so forth.
4746 If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4747 ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4748 ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4749 with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4750 the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4751 target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4752 everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4756 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4757 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4758 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4759 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4761 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4762 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4763 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4764 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4765 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4766 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4769 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4770 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4773 @kindex dprintf-style call
4774 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4778 @kindex dprintf-style agent
4779 Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4780 the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4781 support running commands on the target.
4783 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4784 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4785 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4786 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4789 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4790 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4791 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4792 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4793 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4794 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4796 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4797 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4798 you could do the following:
4801 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4802 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4803 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4804 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4805 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4807 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4808 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4813 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4814 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4815 the variable settings.
4817 @item set disconnected-dprintf on
4818 @itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4819 @kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4820 Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4821 @value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4822 if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4824 @item show disconnected-dprintf off
4825 @kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4826 Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4830 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4831 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4832 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4833 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4834 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4835 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4837 @node Save Breakpoints
4838 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4840 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4841 breakpoints}} command.
4844 @kindex save breakpoints
4845 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4846 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4847 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4848 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4849 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4850 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4851 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4852 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4853 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4854 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4855 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4856 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4857 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4858 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4859 that can no longer be recreated.
4862 @node Static Probe Points
4863 @subsection Static Probe Points
4865 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4866 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4867 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4868 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4869 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4870 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4871 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4873 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4874 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4875 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4876 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4877 in your applications.
4879 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4880 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4881 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4882 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4883 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4884 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4885 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4886 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4888 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4889 probes}, with optional arguments:
4893 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4894 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4895 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4896 probes from all providers are listed.
4898 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4899 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4900 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4902 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4903 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4904 given, all object files are considered.
4906 @item info probes all
4907 List the available static probes, from all types.
4910 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4911 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4912 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4913 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4914 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4915 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4916 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4917 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4918 at the current probe point.
4920 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4921 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4925 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4926 @node Error in Breakpoints
4927 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4929 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4930 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4932 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4933 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4935 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4936 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4940 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4941 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4942 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4944 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4945 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4947 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4948 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4949 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4951 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4952 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4953 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4954 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4956 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4957 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4958 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4959 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4960 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4961 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4962 first in the bundle.
4964 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4965 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4966 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4967 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4968 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4969 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4972 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4973 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4976 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4979 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4980 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4981 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4982 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4983 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4984 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4985 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4986 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4988 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4989 adjusted breakpoints:
4992 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4996 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4997 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4998 frequently than expected.
5000 @node Continuing and Stepping
5001 @section Continuing and Stepping
5005 @cindex resuming execution
5006 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
5007 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
5008 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
5009 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
5010 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
5011 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
5012 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
5013 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
5017 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
5018 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
5019 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5020 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5021 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5022 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
5023 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
5024 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
5025 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
5026 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
5028 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
5029 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5030 @code{continue} is ignored.
5032 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5033 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5034 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5038 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5039 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5040 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5041 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5043 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5044 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5045 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5046 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5047 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5048 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5052 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5054 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5055 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5056 abbreviated @code{s}.
5059 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5060 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5061 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5062 @c distinction here.
5063 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5064 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5065 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5066 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5067 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5068 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5072 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5073 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5074 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5075 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5076 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5077 called within the line.
5079 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5080 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5081 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5082 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5083 was any debugging information about the routine.
5085 @item step @var{count}
5086 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5087 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5088 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5091 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5092 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5093 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5094 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5095 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5096 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5097 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5098 is abbreviated @code{n}.
5100 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5103 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5104 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5106 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5107 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5108 @c function are executed without stopping.
5110 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5111 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5112 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5114 @kindex set step-mode
5116 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5117 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5118 @itemx set step-mode on
5119 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5120 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5121 information rather than stepping over it.
5123 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5124 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5125 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5127 @item set step-mode off
5128 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5129 debug information. This is the default.
5131 @item show step-mode
5132 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5133 source line debug information.
5136 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5138 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5139 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5140 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5142 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5143 ,Returning from a Function}).
5146 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5147 @cindex run until specified location
5150 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5151 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5152 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5153 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5154 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5155 than the address of the jump.
5157 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5158 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5159 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5160 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5161 through the next iteration.
5163 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5166 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5167 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5168 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5169 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5170 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5174 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5176 (@value{GDBP}) until
5177 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5180 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5181 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5182 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5183 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5184 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5185 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5186 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5188 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5189 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5192 @item until @var{location}
5193 @itemx u @var{location}
5194 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5195 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5196 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5197 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5198 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5199 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5200 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5201 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5202 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5203 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5204 invocations have returned.
5207 94 int factorial (int value)
5209 96 if (value > 1) @{
5210 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5217 @kindex advance @var{location}
5218 @item advance @var{location}
5219 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5220 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5221 @ref{Specify Location}.
5222 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5223 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5224 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5225 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5229 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5231 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5233 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5235 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5236 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5237 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5238 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5240 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5244 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5246 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5248 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5249 proceed until the function returns.
5251 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5255 @anchor{range stepping}
5256 @cindex range stepping
5257 @cindex target-assisted range stepping
5258 By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5259 target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5260 use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5261 tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5262 addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5263 line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5264 be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5265 possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5266 remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5267 stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5268 enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5272 @kindex set range-stepping
5273 @kindex show range-stepping
5274 @item set range-stepping
5275 @itemx show range-stepping
5276 Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5278 If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5279 target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5280 multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5281 single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5282 default is @code{on}.
5286 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5287 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5288 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5290 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5291 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5292 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5294 For example, consider the following C function:
5305 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5306 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5307 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5308 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5310 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5311 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5312 is called from many places.
5314 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5315 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5316 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5319 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5320 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5323 @kindex skip function
5324 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5325 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5326 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5327 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5328 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5330 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5333 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5334 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5337 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5338 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5339 will be skipped over when stepping.
5341 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5342 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5345 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5346 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5350 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5351 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5352 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5353 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5357 A number identifying this skip.
5359 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5360 @item Enabled or Disabled
5361 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5363 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5364 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5365 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5366 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5369 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5370 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5371 where it is defined.
5375 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5376 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5380 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5381 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5384 @kindex skip disable
5385 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5386 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5395 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5396 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5397 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5398 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5399 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5400 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5401 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5402 requested an alarm).
5404 @cindex fatal signals
5405 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5406 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5407 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5408 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5409 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5410 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5412 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5413 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5416 @cindex handling signals
5417 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5418 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5419 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5420 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5421 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5424 @kindex info signals
5428 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5429 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5430 the defined types of signals.
5432 @item info signals @var{sig}
5433 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5435 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5437 @item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5438 Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5439 for details about this command.
5442 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5443 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5444 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5445 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5446 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5447 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5448 say what change to make.
5452 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5453 Their full names are:
5457 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5458 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5461 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5462 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5465 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5468 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5469 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5473 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5474 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5475 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5479 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5480 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5484 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5486 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5487 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5488 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5489 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5490 program sees that signal when you continue.
5492 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5493 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5494 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5497 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5498 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5499 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5500 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5501 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5502 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5503 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5504 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5507 @cindex extra signal information
5508 @anchor{extra signal information}
5510 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5511 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5512 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5513 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5514 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5515 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5516 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5517 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5518 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5521 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5522 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5526 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5527 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5528 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5530 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5537 struct @{...@} _kill;
5538 struct @{...@} _timer;
5540 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5541 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5542 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5545 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5549 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5550 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5554 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5557 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5559 @cindex stopped threads
5560 @cindex threads, stopped
5562 @cindex continuing threads
5563 @cindex threads, continuing
5565 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5566 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5567 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5568 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5569 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5570 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5571 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5572 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5573 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5576 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5577 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5578 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5579 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5580 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5581 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5585 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5587 @cindex all-stop mode
5589 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5590 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5591 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5592 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5595 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5596 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5597 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5599 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5600 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5601 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5602 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5603 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5604 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5607 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5608 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5609 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5610 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5612 @cindex automatic thread selection
5613 @cindex switching threads automatically
5614 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5615 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5616 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5617 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5618 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5621 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5622 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5625 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5626 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5627 @cindex lock scheduler
5628 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5629 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5630 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5631 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5632 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5633 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5634 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5635 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5636 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5637 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5638 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5639 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5641 @item show scheduler-locking
5642 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5645 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5646 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5647 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5648 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5649 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5650 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5651 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5652 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5653 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5654 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5655 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5656 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5657 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5658 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5661 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5662 @item set schedule-multiple
5663 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5664 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5665 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5666 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5667 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5668 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5670 @item show schedule-multiple
5671 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5676 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5678 @cindex non-stop mode
5680 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5681 @c with more details.
5683 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5684 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5685 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5686 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5687 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5688 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5690 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5691 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5692 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5693 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5694 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5695 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5696 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5697 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5698 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5699 independently and simultaneously.
5701 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5702 or attach to your program:
5705 # Enable the async interface.
5708 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5711 # Finally, turn it on!
5715 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5718 @kindex set non-stop
5719 @item set non-stop on
5720 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5721 @item set non-stop off
5722 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5723 @kindex show non-stop
5725 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5728 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5729 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5730 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5731 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5732 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5733 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5734 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5737 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5738 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5739 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5741 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5742 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5743 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5744 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5745 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5747 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5748 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5749 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5750 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5751 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5753 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5755 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5756 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5757 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5758 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5759 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5760 previously current thread.
5762 @node Background Execution
5763 @subsection Background Execution
5765 @cindex foreground execution
5766 @cindex background execution
5767 @cindex asynchronous execution
5768 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5770 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5771 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5772 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5773 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5774 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5775 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5777 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5778 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5779 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5782 @kindex set target-async
5783 @item set target-async on
5784 Enable asynchronous mode.
5785 @item set target-async off
5786 Disable asynchronous mode.
5787 @kindex show target-async
5788 @item show target-async
5789 Show the current target-async setting.
5792 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5793 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5795 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5796 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5797 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5803 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5807 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5811 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5815 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5819 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5823 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5827 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5831 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5835 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5839 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5840 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5841 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5842 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5843 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5844 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5846 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5847 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5854 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5855 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5856 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5857 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5860 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5861 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5863 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5864 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5865 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5868 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5869 @cindex thread breakpoints
5870 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5871 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5872 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5873 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5874 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5875 specify some source line.
5877 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5878 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5879 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5880 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5881 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5883 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5884 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5887 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5888 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5889 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5892 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5897 Thread-specific breakpoints are automatically deleted when
5898 @value{GDBN} detects the corresponding thread is no longer in the
5899 thread list. For example:
5903 Thread-specific breakpoint 3 deleted - thread 28 no longer in the thread list.
5906 There are several ways for a thread to disappear, such as a regular
5907 thread exit, but also when you detach from the process with the
5908 @code{detach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
5909 Process}), or if @value{GDBN} loses the remote connection
5910 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), etc. Note that with some targets,
5911 @value{GDBN} is only able to detect a thread has exited when the user
5912 explictly asks for the thread list with the @code{info threads}
5915 @node Interrupted System Calls
5916 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5918 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5919 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5920 @cindex premature return from system calls
5921 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5922 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5923 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5924 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5925 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5926 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5929 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5930 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5933 For example, do not write code like this:
5939 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5940 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5942 Instead, write this:
5947 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5950 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5951 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5952 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5955 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5956 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5957 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5958 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5961 @subsection Observer Mode
5963 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5964 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5965 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5966 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5967 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5969 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5970 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5971 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5974 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5975 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5976 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5977 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5978 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5983 @item set observer on
5984 @itemx set observer off
5985 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5986 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5987 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5988 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5991 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5993 @kindex may-write-registers
5994 @item set may-write-registers on
5995 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5996 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5997 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5998 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
6000 @item show may-write-registers
6001 Show the current permission to write registers.
6003 @kindex may-write-memory
6004 @item set may-write-memory on
6005 @itemx set may-write-memory off
6006 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
6007 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
6008 defaults to @code{on}.
6010 @item show may-write-memory
6011 Show the current permission to write memory.
6013 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
6014 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
6015 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
6016 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
6017 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
6018 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6020 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
6021 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
6023 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
6024 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
6025 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
6026 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
6027 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6028 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
6029 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6031 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
6032 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
6034 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6035 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
6036 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
6037 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
6038 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6039 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
6040 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6042 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6043 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
6045 @kindex may-interrupt
6046 @item set may-interrupt on
6047 @itemx set may-interrupt off
6048 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6049 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6050 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6051 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6053 @item show may-interrupt
6054 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6058 @node Reverse Execution
6059 @chapter Running programs backward
6060 @cindex reverse execution
6061 @cindex running programs backward
6063 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6064 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6065 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6066 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6068 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6069 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6070 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6071 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6072 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6073 all target environments can support reverse execution.
6075 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6076 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6077 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6078 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6079 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6080 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6081 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6082 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6083 prior values@footnote{
6084 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6085 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6086 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6088 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6089 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6090 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6091 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6092 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6093 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6094 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6097 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6098 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6101 @kindex reverse-continue
6102 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6103 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6104 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6105 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6106 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6107 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6108 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6110 @kindex reverse-step
6111 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6112 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6113 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6114 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6116 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6117 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6118 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6119 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6120 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6121 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6123 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6124 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6126 @kindex reverse-stepi
6127 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6128 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6129 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6130 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6131 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6132 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6133 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6135 @kindex reverse-next
6136 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6137 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6138 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6139 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6140 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6141 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6142 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6143 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6144 line of a function back to its return to its caller
6145 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6147 @kindex reverse-nexti
6148 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6149 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6150 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6151 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6152 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6153 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6154 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6157 @kindex reverse-finish
6158 @item reverse-finish
6159 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6160 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6161 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6162 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6164 @kindex set exec-direction
6165 @item set exec-direction
6166 Set the direction of target execution.
6167 @item set exec-direction reverse
6168 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
6169 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6170 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6171 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6172 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6173 @item set exec-direction forward
6174 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6175 This is the default.
6179 @node Process Record and Replay
6180 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6181 @cindex process record and replay
6182 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6184 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6185 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6186 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6189 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6190 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6191 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6192 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6193 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6194 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6195 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6196 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6200 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6201 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6202 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6205 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6206 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6207 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6208 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6209 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6210 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6212 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6213 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6214 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6215 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6217 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6218 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6221 @kindex target record
6222 @kindex target record-full
6223 @kindex target record-btrace
6226 @kindex record btrace
6230 @item record @var{method}
6231 This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6232 recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6233 the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6234 recording methods are available:
6238 Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6239 replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6243 Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not allow
6244 replaying and reverse execution.
6246 This recording method may not be available on all processors.
6249 The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6250 already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6251 the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6252 with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6254 Both @code{record @var{method}} and @code{rec @var{method}} are
6255 aliases of @code{target record-@var{method}}.
6257 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6258 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6259 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6260 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6261 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6263 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6264 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6265 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6266 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6267 all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6268 does not support these two modes.
6273 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6274 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6275 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6277 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6278 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6279 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6280 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6281 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6283 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6284 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6285 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6286 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6287 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6289 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6290 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6294 Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6295 ways to specify the location to go to:
6298 @item record goto begin
6299 @itemx record goto start
6300 Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6302 @item record goto end
6303 Go to the end of the execution log.
6305 @item record goto @var{n}
6306 Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6310 @item record save @var{filename}
6311 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6312 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6313 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6315 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6317 @kindex record restore
6318 @item record restore @var{filename}
6319 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6320 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6322 @kindex set record full
6323 @item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6324 @itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6325 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6326 recording method. Default value is 200000.
6328 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6329 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6330 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6331 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6332 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6333 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6334 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6335 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6337 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6338 delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6339 recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6341 @kindex show record full
6342 @item show record full insn-number-max
6343 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6346 @item set record full stop-at-limit
6347 Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6348 number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6349 default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6350 first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6351 continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6352 to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6353 oldest one to be deleted.
6355 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6356 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6358 @item show record full stop-at-limit
6359 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6361 @item set record full memory-query
6362 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6363 changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6364 If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6367 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6368 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6369 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6370 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6373 @item show record full memory-query
6374 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6378 Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6383 For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6384 record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6388 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6390 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6392 Highest recorded instruction number.
6394 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6396 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6398 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6402 For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows the number of
6403 instructions that have been recorded and the number of blocks of
6404 sequential control-flow that is formed by the recorded instructions.
6407 @kindex record delete
6410 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6411 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6412 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6413 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6415 @kindex record instruction-history
6416 @kindex rec instruction-history
6417 @item record instruction-history
6418 Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6419 default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6420 the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6421 are printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify
6422 what part of the execution log to disassemble:
6425 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6426 Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6429 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6430 Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6431 @var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6432 @var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6433 @var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6434 instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6436 @item record instruction-history
6437 Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6439 @item record instruction-history -
6440 Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6442 @item record instruction-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6443 Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6444 @var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6445 number @var{end} is not included.
6448 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6451 @item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6452 @itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6453 Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6454 instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6455 A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6458 @item show record instruction-history-size
6459 Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6460 instruction-history} command.
6462 @kindex record function-call-history
6463 @kindex rec function-call-history
6464 @item record function-call-history
6465 Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6466 line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6467 function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6468 for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6469 specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6470 the @code{/i} modifier is specified).
6473 (@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
6484 (@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /l}
6490 By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6491 @code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6492 printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6496 @item record function-call-history @var{func}
6497 Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6499 @item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6500 Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6501 @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6502 function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6503 prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6505 @item record function-call-history
6506 Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6508 @item record function-call-history -
6509 Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6511 @item record function-call-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6512 Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6513 function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is not
6517 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6519 @item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
6520 @itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
6521 Define how many lines to print in the
6522 @code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6523 A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
6525 @item show record function-call-history-size
6526 Show how many lines to print in the
6527 @code{record function-call-history} command.
6532 @chapter Examining the Stack
6534 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6535 stopped and how it got there.
6538 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6540 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6541 the arguments of the call,
6542 and the local variables of the function being called.
6543 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6544 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6547 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6548 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6550 @cindex selected frame
6551 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6552 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6553 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6554 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6555 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6556 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6558 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6559 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6560 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6563 * Frames:: Stack frames
6564 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6565 * Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
6566 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6567 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6572 @section Stack Frames
6574 @cindex frame, definition
6576 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6577 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6578 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6579 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6580 which the function is executing.
6582 @cindex initial frame
6583 @cindex outermost frame
6584 @cindex innermost frame
6585 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6586 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6587 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6588 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6589 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6590 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6591 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6592 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6594 @cindex frame pointer
6595 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6596 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6597 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6598 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6599 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6600 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6602 @cindex frame number
6603 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6604 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6605 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6606 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6607 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6609 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6610 @c underflow problems.
6611 @cindex frameless execution
6612 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6613 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6615 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6617 generates functions without a frame.)
6618 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6619 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6620 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6621 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6622 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6623 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6624 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6627 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6628 @cindex current stack frame
6629 @item frame @var{args}
6630 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6631 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6632 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6633 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6635 @kindex select-frame
6636 @cindex selecting frame silently
6638 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6639 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6647 @cindex call stack traces
6648 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6649 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6650 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6653 @anchor{backtrace-command}
6656 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6659 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6660 frames in the stack.
6662 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6663 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6665 @item backtrace @var{n}
6667 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6669 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6671 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6673 @item backtrace full
6675 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6676 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6677 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6678 number of frames to print, as described above.
6680 @item backtrace no-filters
6681 @itemx bt no-filters
6682 @itemx bt no-filters @var{n}
6683 @itemx bt no-filters -@var{n}
6684 @itemx bt no-filters full
6685 @itemx bt no-filters full @var{n}
6686 @itemx bt no-filters full -@var{n}
6687 Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
6688 Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
6689 frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
6690 relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
6696 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6697 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6699 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6700 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6701 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6702 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6703 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6704 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6705 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6706 multi-threaded program.
6708 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6709 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6710 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6711 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6712 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6715 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6716 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6720 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6722 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6723 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6725 (More stack frames follow...)
6730 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6731 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6732 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6735 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6736 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6737 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6738 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6739 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6741 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6742 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6743 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6744 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6745 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6746 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6747 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6748 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6749 such a backtrace might look like:
6753 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6755 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6756 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6758 (More stack frames follow...)
6763 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6764 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6766 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6767 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6768 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6770 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6771 @cindex program entry point
6772 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6773 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6774 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6775 @code{main}@footnote{
6776 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6777 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6778 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6779 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6780 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6781 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6783 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6784 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6787 @item set backtrace past-main
6788 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6789 @kindex set backtrace
6790 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6792 @item set backtrace past-main off
6793 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6796 @item show backtrace past-main
6797 @kindex show backtrace
6798 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6800 @item set backtrace past-entry
6801 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6802 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6803 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6804 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6806 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6807 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6808 application. This is the default.
6810 @item show backtrace past-entry
6811 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6813 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6814 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6815 @itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
6816 @cindex backtrace limit
6817 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
6818 or zero means unlimited levels.
6820 @item show backtrace limit
6821 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6824 You can control how file names are displayed.
6827 @item set filename-display
6828 @itemx set filename-display relative
6829 @cindex filename-display
6830 Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
6832 @item set filename-display basename
6833 Display only basename of a filename.
6835 @item set filename-display absolute
6836 Display an absolute filename.
6838 @item show filename-display
6839 Show the current way to display filenames.
6842 @node Frame Filter Management
6843 @section Management of Frame Filters.
6844 @cindex managing frame filters
6846 Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
6847 output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
6849 Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
6850 within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
6853 @kindex info frame-filter
6854 @item info frame-filter
6855 Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
6856 their name, priority and enabled status.
6858 @kindex disable frame-filter
6859 @anchor{disable frame-filter all}
6860 @item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6861 Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6862 @var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6863 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6864 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6865 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
6866 across all dictionaries are disabled. @var{filter-name} is the name
6867 of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6868 @var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
6869 may be enabled again later.
6871 @kindex enable frame-filter
6872 @item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6873 Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6874 @var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6875 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6876 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6877 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
6878 all dictionaries are enabled. @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
6879 filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6880 @var{filter-dictionary}.
6885 (gdb) info frame-filter
6887 global frame-filters:
6888 Priority Enabled Name
6889 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6892 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6893 Priority Enabled Name
6894 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6896 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6897 Priority Enabled Name
6898 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
6900 (gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
6901 (gdb) info frame-filter
6903 global frame-filters:
6904 Priority Enabled Name
6905 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6908 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6909 Priority Enabled Name
6910 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6912 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6913 Priority Enabled Name
6914 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6916 (gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
6917 (gdb) info frame-filter
6919 global frame-filters:
6920 Priority Enabled Name
6921 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6924 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6925 Priority Enabled Name
6926 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6928 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6929 Priority Enabled Name
6930 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6933 @kindex set frame-filter priority
6934 @item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
6935 Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6936 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6937 @var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6938 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6939 dictionary resides. @var{priority} is an integer.
6941 @kindex show frame-filter priority
6942 @item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6943 Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6944 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6945 @var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6946 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6952 (gdb) info frame-filter
6954 global frame-filters:
6955 Priority Enabled Name
6956 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6959 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6960 Priority Enabled Name
6961 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6963 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6964 Priority Enabled Name
6965 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6967 (gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
6968 (gdb) info frame-filter
6970 global frame-filters:
6971 Priority Enabled Name
6972 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6975 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6976 Priority Enabled Name
6977 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6979 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6980 Priority Enabled Name
6981 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6986 @section Selecting a Frame
6988 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6989 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6990 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6991 of the stack frame just selected.
6994 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6995 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6998 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6999 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
7000 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
7003 @item frame @var{addr}
7005 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
7006 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
7007 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
7008 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
7009 switches between them.
7011 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
7012 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
7014 On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
7015 pointer and a program counter.
7017 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
7018 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
7022 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
7023 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
7024 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
7027 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
7029 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
7030 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
7031 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
7032 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
7035 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
7036 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
7037 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
7038 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
7046 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
7048 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7052 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7053 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7054 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7055 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7056 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7060 @kindex down-silently
7062 @item up-silently @var{n}
7063 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
7064 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7065 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7066 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7067 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7072 @section Information About a Frame
7074 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7080 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7081 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7082 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7083 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7084 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7087 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7090 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7095 the address of the frame
7097 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7099 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7101 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7103 the address of the frame's arguments
7105 the address of the frame's local variables
7107 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7109 which registers were saved in the frame
7112 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
7113 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7114 the usual conventions.
7116 @item info frame @var{addr}
7117 @itemx info f @var{addr}
7118 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7119 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7120 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7121 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7122 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7126 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7130 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7131 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7132 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7138 @chapter Examining Source Files
7140 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7141 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7142 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7143 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7144 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7145 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7146 source files by explicit command.
7148 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7149 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7150 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7153 * List:: Printing source lines
7154 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7155 * Edit:: Editing source files
7156 * Search:: Searching source files
7157 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7158 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7162 @section Printing Source Lines
7165 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7166 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7167 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7168 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7169 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7171 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7174 @item list @var{linenum}
7175 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7176 current source file.
7178 @item list @var{function}
7179 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7183 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7184 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7185 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7186 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7187 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7190 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7193 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7194 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7195 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7198 @kindex set listsize
7199 @item set listsize @var{count}
7200 @itemx set listsize unlimited
7201 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7202 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7203 Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7205 @kindex show listsize
7207 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7210 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7211 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7212 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7213 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7214 each repetition moves up in the source file.
7216 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7217 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
7218 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7219 to specify some source line.
7221 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7224 @item list @var{linespec}
7225 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
7227 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
7228 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7229 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
7230 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
7231 the same source file as the first linespec.
7233 @item list ,@var{last}
7234 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7236 @item list @var{first},
7237 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7240 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7243 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7246 As described in the preceding table.
7249 @node Specify Location
7250 @section Specifying a Location
7251 @cindex specifying location
7254 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7255 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7256 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
7257 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
7259 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
7260 @value{GDBN} understands:
7264 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7267 @itemx +@var{offset}
7268 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7269 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7270 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7271 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7272 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7273 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7274 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7277 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7278 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7279 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7280 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7281 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7282 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7283 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7285 @item @var{function}
7286 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7287 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7289 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
7290 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7292 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7293 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7294 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7295 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7296 functions in different source files.
7299 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
7300 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
7301 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
7302 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
7303 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7305 @item *@var{address}
7306 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
7307 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
7308 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
7309 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7310 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7313 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7314 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7315 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7316 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
7317 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
7321 @item @var{expression}
7322 Any expression valid in the current working language.
7324 @item @var{funcaddr}
7325 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7326 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7327 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7328 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7329 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7330 (although the Pascal form also works).
7332 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7333 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7335 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
7336 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7337 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7338 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7339 functions with identical names in different source files.
7342 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7343 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7344 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7345 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7346 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7347 specifies the location of such a static probe.
7349 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7350 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7351 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7352 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7353 each one of those probes.
7359 @section Editing Source Files
7360 @cindex editing source files
7363 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7364 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7365 The editing program of your choice
7366 is invoked with the current line set to
7367 the active line in the program.
7368 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7369 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7372 @item edit @var{location}
7373 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7374 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7375 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7376 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7377 command most commonly used:
7380 @item edit @var{number}
7381 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7383 @item edit @var{function}
7384 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7389 @subsection Choosing your Editor
7390 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7392 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7393 following command-line syntax:
7395 ex +@var{number} file
7397 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7398 the file where to start editing.}.
7399 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7400 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7401 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7402 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7408 or in the @code{csh} shell,
7410 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7415 @section Searching Source Files
7416 @cindex searching source files
7418 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7423 @kindex forward-search
7424 @kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7425 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
7426 @itemx search @var{regexp}
7427 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7428 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7429 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7430 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7433 @kindex reverse-search
7434 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7435 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7436 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7437 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7438 this command as @code{rev}.
7442 @section Specifying Source Directories
7445 @cindex directories for source files
7446 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7447 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7448 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7449 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7450 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7451 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7452 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7454 For example, suppose an executable references the file
7455 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7456 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7457 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7458 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7459 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7460 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7461 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7462 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7463 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7464 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7466 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7467 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7468 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7469 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7470 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7471 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7473 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7476 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7477 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7478 each line is in the file.
7482 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7483 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7484 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7486 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7487 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7489 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7490 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7491 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7492 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7493 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7494 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7495 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7496 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7497 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7498 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7499 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7500 name to look up the sources.
7502 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7503 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7504 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7505 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7506 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7507 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7508 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7509 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7511 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7512 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7513 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7514 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7515 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7516 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7517 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7519 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7520 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7521 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7522 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7523 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7524 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7525 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7528 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7529 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7530 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7531 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7532 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7533 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7534 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7536 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7537 @cindex default source path substitution
7538 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7539 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7540 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7541 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7542 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7543 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7544 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7545 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7546 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7550 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7551 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7552 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7553 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7554 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7555 part of absolute file names) or
7556 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7557 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7561 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7562 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7563 @cindex compilation directory
7564 @cindex current directory
7565 @cindex working directory
7566 @cindex directory, current
7567 @cindex directory, compilation
7568 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7569 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7570 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7571 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7572 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7573 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7576 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7578 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7579 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7581 @item set directories @var{path-list}
7582 @kindex set directories
7583 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7584 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7586 @item show directories
7587 @kindex show directories
7588 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7590 @anchor{set substitute-path}
7591 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7592 @kindex set substitute-path
7593 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7594 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7595 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7597 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7598 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7601 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7605 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7606 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7607 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7609 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7610 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7611 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7614 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7617 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7618 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7622 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7623 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7624 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7625 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7628 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7629 @kindex unset substitute-path
7630 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7631 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7632 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7634 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7636 @item show substitute-path [path]
7637 @kindex show substitute-path
7638 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7639 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7641 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7646 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7647 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7648 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7652 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7655 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7656 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7657 directories in one command.
7661 @section Source and Machine Code
7662 @cindex source line and its code address
7664 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7665 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7666 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7667 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7668 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7669 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7670 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7675 @item info line @var{linespec}
7676 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7677 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7678 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7681 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7682 the object code for the first line of function
7683 @code{m4_changequote}:
7685 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7686 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7688 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7689 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7693 @cindex code address and its source line
7694 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7695 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7697 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7698 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7701 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7702 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7703 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7704 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7705 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7706 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7707 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7708 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7713 @cindex assembly instructions
7714 @cindex instructions, assembly
7715 @cindex machine instructions
7716 @cindex listing machine instructions
7718 @itemx disassemble /m
7719 @itemx disassemble /r
7720 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7721 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7722 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7723 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7724 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7725 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7726 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7727 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7728 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7729 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7732 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7733 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7734 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7735 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7736 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7740 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7741 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7743 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7744 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7746 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7747 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7750 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7751 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7754 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7755 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7756 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7757 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7758 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7759 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7760 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7761 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7762 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7763 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7764 End of assembler dump.
7767 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7768 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7771 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7772 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7774 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7775 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7776 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7777 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7778 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7780 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7781 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7782 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7786 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7787 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7788 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7790 End of assembler dump.
7793 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7796 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7797 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7798 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7799 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7800 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7801 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7802 End of assembler dump.
7805 Addresses cannot be specified as a linespec (@pxref{Specify Location}).
7806 So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
7807 in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
7808 and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
7810 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7811 mnemonics or other syntax.
7813 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7814 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7815 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7816 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7817 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7820 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7821 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7822 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7823 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7824 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7825 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7827 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7828 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7829 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7830 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7832 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7833 @item show disassembly-flavor
7834 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7838 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7839 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7840 @item set disassemble-next-line
7841 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7842 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7843 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7844 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7845 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7846 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7847 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7848 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7849 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7850 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7851 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7852 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7853 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7854 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7855 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7861 @chapter Examining Data
7863 @cindex printing data
7864 @cindex examining data
7867 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7868 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7869 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7870 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7871 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7872 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7875 @item print @var{expr}
7876 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7877 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7878 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7879 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7880 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7884 @itemx print /@var{f}
7885 @cindex reprint the last value
7886 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7887 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7888 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7891 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7892 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7893 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7895 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7896 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7897 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7900 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7902 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7903 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7904 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7905 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7906 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7907 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7908 embedded in the higher level data types.
7911 @item explore @var{arg}
7912 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7913 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7916 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7917 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7927 struct ComplexStruct
7929 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7935 followed by variable declarations as
7938 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7939 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7943 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7944 @code{explore} command as follows.
7948 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7949 the following fields:
7951 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7952 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7954 Enter the field number of choice:
7958 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7959 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7960 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7961 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7962 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7963 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7964 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7965 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7968 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7969 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7970 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7971 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7973 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7974 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7976 Press enter to return to parent value:
7980 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7981 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7982 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7986 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7987 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7989 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7993 Press enter to return to parent value:
7996 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7997 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7998 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7999 level data structure).
8001 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
8002 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
8003 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
8004 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
8005 same example as above, your can explore the type
8006 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
8007 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
8010 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
8014 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
8015 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
8016 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
8019 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
8020 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
8021 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
8022 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
8023 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
8026 @item explore value @var{expr}
8027 @cindex explore value
8028 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
8029 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
8030 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
8031 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
8032 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
8034 @item explore type @var{arg}
8035 @cindex explore type
8036 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
8037 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
8038 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
8039 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
8040 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
8041 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
8042 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
8043 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
8044 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
8048 * Expressions:: Expressions
8049 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8050 * Variables:: Program variables
8051 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8052 * Output Formats:: Output formats
8053 * Memory:: Examining memory
8054 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
8055 * Print Settings:: Print settings
8056 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
8057 * Value History:: Value history
8058 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
8059 * Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
8060 * Registers:: Registers
8061 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
8062 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
8063 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
8064 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
8065 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
8066 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
8067 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
8068 character set than GDB does
8069 * Caching Target Data:: Data caching for targets
8070 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
8074 @section Expressions
8077 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
8078 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
8079 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
8080 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
8081 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
8082 you compiled your program to include this information; see
8085 @cindex arrays in expressions
8086 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
8087 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
8088 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
8089 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
8090 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
8091 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
8093 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
8094 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
8095 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
8098 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
8099 expressions regardless of your programming language.
8101 @cindex casts, in expressions
8102 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
8103 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
8104 at that address in memory.
8105 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
8107 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
8108 to programming languages:
8112 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
8113 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
8116 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
8117 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
8119 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
8120 @cindex type casting memory
8121 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
8122 @cindex casts, to view memory
8123 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
8124 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
8125 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
8126 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
8127 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
8128 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
8131 @node Ambiguous Expressions
8132 @section Ambiguous Expressions
8133 @cindex ambiguous expressions
8135 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
8136 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
8137 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
8138 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
8139 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
8140 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
8141 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
8143 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
8144 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
8145 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
8146 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
8147 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
8150 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
8151 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
8152 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
8153 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
8154 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
8155 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
8156 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
8159 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
8160 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
8161 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
8163 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
8166 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
8169 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
8170 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
8171 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
8172 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
8173 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
8174 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
8176 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
8177 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
8178 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
8179 Multiple breakpoints were set.
8180 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
8187 @kindex set multiple-symbols
8188 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
8189 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
8191 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
8194 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
8195 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
8196 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
8197 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
8198 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
8199 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
8200 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
8201 in the use of the menu.
8203 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
8204 when an ambiguity is detected.
8206 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
8207 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
8209 @kindex show multiple-symbols
8210 @item show multiple-symbols
8211 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
8215 @section Program Variables
8217 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
8220 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
8221 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
8225 global (or file-static)
8232 visible according to the scope rules of the
8233 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
8236 @noindent This means that in the function
8251 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
8252 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
8253 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
8254 the block where @code{b} is declared.
8256 @cindex variable name conflict
8257 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8258 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8259 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8260 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8261 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8262 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8263 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8265 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8267 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8268 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8271 @var{file}::@var{variable}
8272 @var{function}::@var{variable}
8276 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8277 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8278 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8279 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8282 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8285 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8286 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8287 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8288 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8289 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8298 process (a); /* Stop here */
8309 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8310 here is what you might see
8311 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8316 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8319 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8322 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8326 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8327 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very
8328 similar use of the same notation in C@t{++}. When they are in
8329 conflict, the C@t{++} meaning takes precedence; however, this can be
8330 overridden by quoting the file or function name with single quotes.
8332 For example, suppose the program is stopped in a method of a class
8333 that has a field named @code{includefile}, and there is also an
8334 include file named @file{includefile} that defines a variable,
8338 (@value{GDBP}) p includefile
8340 (@value{GDBP}) p includefile::some_global
8341 A syntax error in expression, near `'.
8342 (@value{GDBP}) p 'includefile'::some_global
8346 @cindex wrong values
8347 @cindex variable values, wrong
8348 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8349 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8351 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8352 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8353 scope, and just before exit.
8355 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8356 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8357 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8358 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8359 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8360 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8361 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8362 variable definitions may be gone.
8364 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8365 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8368 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8369 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8370 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8371 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8372 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8373 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8374 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8377 No symbol "foo" in current context.
8380 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8381 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8382 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8383 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8384 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8386 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8387 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8388 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8389 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8391 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8392 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8393 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8394 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8395 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8398 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
8404 (gdb) print i@@entry
8408 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8409 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8410 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8411 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8412 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8417 signed char var1[] = "A";
8420 You get during debugging
8425 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8429 @section Artificial Arrays
8431 @cindex artificial array
8433 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
8434 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
8435 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
8436 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
8439 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
8440 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
8441 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
8442 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
8443 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
8444 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
8445 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
8446 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
8447 example. If a program says
8450 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
8454 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
8460 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
8461 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
8462 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
8463 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
8464 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
8466 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
8467 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
8468 The value need not be in memory:
8470 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
8471 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8474 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
8475 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
8476 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
8478 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
8479 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8482 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8483 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8484 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8485 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8486 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8487 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8488 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8489 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8490 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8491 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8501 @node Output Formats
8502 @section Output Formats
8504 @cindex formatted output
8505 @cindex output formats
8506 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8507 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8508 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8509 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8510 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8512 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8513 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8514 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8515 letters supported are:
8519 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8523 Print as integer in signed decimal.
8526 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8529 Print as integer in octal.
8532 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8533 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8534 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8535 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8538 @cindex unknown address, locating
8539 @cindex locate address
8540 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8541 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8542 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8545 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8546 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8550 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8551 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8554 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8555 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8556 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8557 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8559 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8560 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8561 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8565 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8566 using typical floating point syntax.
8569 @cindex printing strings
8570 @cindex printing byte arrays
8571 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8572 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8573 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8576 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8577 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8578 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8582 Like @samp{x} formatting, the value is treated as an integer and
8583 printed as hexadecimal, but leading zeros are printed to pad the value
8584 to the size of the integer type.
8587 @cindex raw printing
8588 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8589 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8590 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8591 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8592 pretty-printer which might exist.
8595 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8602 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8603 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8605 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8606 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8607 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8610 @section Examining Memory
8612 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8613 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8615 @cindex examining memory
8617 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8618 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8621 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8624 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8625 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8626 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8627 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8628 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8631 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8632 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8633 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8634 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8637 @item @var{f}, the display format
8638 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8639 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8640 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8641 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8642 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8644 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8645 The unit size is any of
8651 Halfwords (two bytes).
8653 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8655 Giant words (eight bytes).
8658 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8659 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8660 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8661 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8662 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8663 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8664 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8665 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8666 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8667 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8670 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8671 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8672 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8673 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8674 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8675 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8676 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8677 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8678 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8679 a value from memory).
8682 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8683 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8684 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8685 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8686 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8688 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8689 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8690 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8691 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8692 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8694 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8695 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8696 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8697 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8698 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8699 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8700 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8701 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8702 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8704 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8705 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8706 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8707 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8708 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8709 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8710 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8712 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8713 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8716 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8717 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8718 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8719 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8720 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8721 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8724 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8725 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8726 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8727 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8728 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8729 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8730 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8731 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8732 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8734 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8735 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8736 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8738 @cindex remote memory comparison
8739 @cindex verify remote memory image
8740 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8741 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8742 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8743 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8747 @kindex compare-sections
8748 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8749 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8750 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8751 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8752 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8753 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8758 @section Automatic Display
8759 @cindex automatic display
8760 @cindex display of expressions
8762 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8763 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8764 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8765 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8766 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8767 The automatic display looks like this:
8771 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8775 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8776 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8777 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8778 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8779 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8780 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8784 @item display @var{expr}
8785 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8786 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8788 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8790 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8791 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8792 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8793 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8794 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8796 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8797 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8798 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8799 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8800 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8803 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8804 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8805 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8808 @kindex delete display
8810 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8811 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8812 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8813 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8814 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8815 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8816 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8818 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8819 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8821 @kindex disable display
8822 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8823 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8824 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8825 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8826 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8827 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8828 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8829 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8831 @kindex enable display
8832 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8833 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8834 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8835 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8836 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8837 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8838 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8841 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8842 done when your program stops.
8844 @kindex info display
8846 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8847 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8848 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8849 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8850 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8853 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8854 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8855 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8856 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8857 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8858 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8859 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8860 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8861 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8862 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8863 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8865 @node Print Settings
8866 @section Print Settings
8868 @cindex format options
8869 @cindex print settings
8870 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8871 and symbols are printed.
8874 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8878 @item set print address
8879 @itemx set print address on
8880 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8881 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8882 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8883 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8884 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8885 @code{set print address on}:
8890 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8892 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8896 @item set print address off
8897 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8898 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8902 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8904 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8905 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8909 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8910 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8911 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8912 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8915 @item show print address
8916 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8919 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8920 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8921 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8922 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8923 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8924 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8925 it prints a symbolic address:
8928 @item set print symbol-filename on
8929 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8930 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8931 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8932 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8934 @item set print symbol-filename off
8935 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8938 @item show print symbol-filename
8939 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8940 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8943 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8944 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8945 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8947 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8948 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8951 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8952 @itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
8953 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8954 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8955 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8956 @var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
8957 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
8958 it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
8960 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8961 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8965 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8966 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8967 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8968 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8969 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8970 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8971 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8972 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8975 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8976 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8977 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8981 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8982 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8983 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8986 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
8987 @samp{set print symbol on}:
8990 @item set print symbol on
8991 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
8994 @item set print symbol off
8995 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
8996 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
8997 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
8999 @item show print symbol
9000 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
9004 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
9007 @item set print array
9008 @itemx set print array on
9009 @cindex pretty print arrays
9010 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
9011 but uses more space. The default is off.
9013 @item set print array off
9014 Return to compressed format for arrays.
9016 @item show print array
9017 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
9020 @cindex print array indexes
9021 @item set print array-indexes
9022 @itemx set print array-indexes on
9023 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
9024 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
9025 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
9027 @item set print array-indexes off
9028 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
9030 @item show print array-indexes
9031 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
9034 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
9035 @itemx set print elements unlimited
9036 @cindex number of array elements to print
9037 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
9038 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
9039 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
9040 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
9041 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
9042 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
9043 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
9044 that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
9046 @item show print elements
9047 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
9048 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
9050 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
9051 @kindex set print frame-arguments
9052 @cindex printing frame argument values
9053 @cindex print all frame argument values
9054 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
9055 @cindex do not print frame argument values
9056 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
9057 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
9062 The values of all arguments are printed.
9065 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
9066 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
9067 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
9068 only scalar arguments are shown:
9071 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
9076 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
9077 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
9080 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
9085 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
9086 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
9087 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
9088 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
9089 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
9090 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
9091 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
9092 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
9093 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
9094 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
9096 @item show print frame-arguments
9097 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
9099 @item set print raw frame-arguments on
9100 Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
9102 @item set print raw frame-arguments off
9103 Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
9104 for the value (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
9105 otherwise print the value in raw form.
9106 This is the default.
9108 @item show print raw frame-arguments
9109 Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
9111 @anchor{set print entry-values}
9112 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
9113 @kindex set print entry-values
9114 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
9115 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
9116 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
9117 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
9118 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
9120 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
9121 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
9122 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
9125 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9126 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9127 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9130 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
9134 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
9138 #0 different (val=6)
9139 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
9141 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9145 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
9146 values are never printed.
9148 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9149 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9150 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9151 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9152 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9156 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
9157 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
9158 value for such parameter.
9160 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9161 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9162 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9164 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9168 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
9169 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
9173 #0 different (val=6)
9174 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9176 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9180 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
9181 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
9184 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
9185 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9186 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9187 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9188 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9192 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
9193 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
9194 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
9195 values are known and identical, print the shortened
9196 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9198 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9199 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9200 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9202 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9206 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
9207 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
9208 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
9209 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9211 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9212 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9213 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9215 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9219 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
9220 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
9222 @item show print entry-values
9223 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
9226 @item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
9227 @itemx set print repeats unlimited
9228 @cindex repeated array elements
9229 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
9230 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
9231 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
9232 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
9233 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
9234 themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
9235 cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
9238 @item show print repeats
9239 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
9242 @item set print null-stop
9243 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
9244 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
9245 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
9246 contain only short strings.
9249 @item show print null-stop
9250 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
9251 @sc{null} character.
9253 @item set print pretty on
9254 @cindex print structures in indented form
9255 @cindex indentation in structure display
9256 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
9257 per line, like this:
9272 @item set print pretty off
9273 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
9277 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
9278 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
9283 This is the default format.
9285 @item show print pretty
9286 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9288 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
9289 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9290 @cindex octal escapes in strings
9291 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9292 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9293 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9294 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9295 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9297 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
9298 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9299 international character sets, and is the default.
9301 @item show print sevenbit-strings
9302 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9304 @item set print union on
9305 @cindex unions in structures, printing
9306 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9307 and other unions. This is the default setting.
9309 @item set print union off
9310 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9311 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9314 @item show print union
9315 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9316 structures and other unions.
9318 For example, given the declarations
9321 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9322 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9323 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9334 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9338 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9341 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9345 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9348 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9352 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9358 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9361 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9362 @item set print demangle
9363 @itemx set print demangle on
9364 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9365 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9366 linkage. The default is on.
9368 @item show print demangle
9369 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9371 @item set print asm-demangle
9372 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
9373 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9374 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9377 @item show print asm-demangle
9378 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9381 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9382 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9383 @kindex set demangle-style
9384 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
9385 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9386 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9390 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9391 This is the default.
9394 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9397 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9400 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9403 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9404 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9405 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9406 require further enhancement to permit that.
9409 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9411 @item show demangle-style
9412 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
9414 @item set print object
9415 @itemx set print object on
9416 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
9417 @cindex display derived types
9418 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
9419 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
9420 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
9421 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
9422 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
9423 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
9424 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
9426 @item set print object off
9427 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
9428 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
9430 @item show print object
9431 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
9433 @item set print static-members
9434 @itemx set print static-members on
9435 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
9436 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
9438 @item set print static-members off
9439 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
9441 @item show print static-members
9442 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
9444 @item set print pascal_static-members
9445 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
9446 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
9447 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
9448 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
9450 @item set print pascal_static-members off
9451 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
9453 @item show print pascal_static-members
9454 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
9456 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
9457 @item set print vtbl
9458 @itemx set print vtbl on
9459 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
9460 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
9461 @cindex VTBL display
9462 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
9463 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9464 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9466 @item set print vtbl off
9467 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
9469 @item show print vtbl
9470 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
9473 @node Pretty Printing
9474 @section Pretty Printing
9476 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
9477 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
9478 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
9481 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
9482 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
9483 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
9486 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
9487 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
9489 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
9490 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
9491 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
9493 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
9494 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
9495 pretty-printers with their names.
9496 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
9497 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
9498 Each such subprinter has its own name.
9499 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
9501 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
9502 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
9503 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
9504 do anything special.
9506 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9510 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9514 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9515 when debugging that program.
9516 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9519 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9520 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9521 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9524 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9525 pretty-printers are selected,
9527 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9530 @node Pretty-Printer Example
9531 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9533 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9536 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9538 static npos = 4294967295,
9540 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9541 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9542 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9544 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9545 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9546 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9551 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9554 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9558 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
9559 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9560 @cindex pretty-printer commands
9563 @kindex info pretty-printer
9564 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9565 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9566 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9568 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9569 whose pretty-printers to list.
9570 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9571 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9572 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9573 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9574 looks up a printer from these three objects.
9576 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9579 @kindex disable pretty-printer
9580 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9581 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9582 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9584 @kindex enable pretty-printer
9585 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9586 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9591 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9592 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9593 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9594 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9597 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9604 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9609 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
9611 2 of 3 printers enabled
9612 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9619 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
9621 1 of 3 printers enabled
9622 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9629 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
9631 0 of 3 printers enabled
9632 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9641 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9642 as can each individual subprinter.
9645 @section Value History
9647 @cindex value history
9648 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9649 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9650 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9651 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9652 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9653 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9654 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9659 @cindex history number
9660 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9661 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9662 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9663 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9666 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9667 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9668 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9669 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9670 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9671 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9672 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9674 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9675 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9681 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9682 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9689 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9690 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9692 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9693 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9701 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9702 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9707 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9708 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9709 values} does not change the history.
9711 @item show values @var{n}
9712 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9715 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9716 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9719 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9720 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9722 @node Convenience Vars
9723 @section Convenience Variables
9725 @cindex convenience variables
9726 @cindex user-defined variables
9727 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9728 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9729 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9730 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9731 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9733 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9734 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9735 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9736 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9737 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9739 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9740 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9744 set $foo = *object_ptr
9748 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9751 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9752 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9753 value with another assignment at any time.
9755 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9756 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9757 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9758 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9761 @kindex show convenience
9762 @cindex show all user variables and functions
9763 @item show convenience
9764 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9765 as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9766 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9768 @kindex init-if-undefined
9769 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9770 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9771 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9772 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9773 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9774 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9775 override default values used in a command script.
9777 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9778 any side-effects do not occur.
9781 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9782 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9783 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9787 print bar[$i++]->contents
9791 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9793 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9794 values likely to be useful.
9797 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9799 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9800 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9801 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9802 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9803 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9804 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9805 to the type of @code{$__}.
9807 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9809 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9810 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9811 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9814 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9815 When the program being debugged terminates normally, @value{GDBN}
9816 automatically sets this variable to the exit code of the program, and
9817 resets @code{$_exitsignal} to @code{void}.
9820 @vindex $_exitsignal@r{, convenience variable}
9821 When the program being debugged dies due to an uncaught signal,
9822 @value{GDBN} automatically sets this variable to that signal's number,
9823 and resets @code{$_exitcode} to @code{void}.
9825 To distinguish between whether the program being debugged has exited
9826 (i.e., @code{$_exitcode} is not @code{void}) or signalled (i.e.,
9827 @code{$_exitsignal} is not @code{void}), the convenience function
9828 @code{$_isvoid} can be used (@pxref{Convenience Funs,, Convenience
9829 Functions}). For example, considering the following source code:
9835 main (int argc, char *argv[])
9842 A valid way of telling whether the program being debugged has exited
9843 or signalled would be:
9846 (@value{GDBP}) define has_exited_or_signalled
9847 Type commands for definition of ``has_exited_or_signalled''.
9848 End with a line saying just ``end''.
9849 >if $_isvoid ($_exitsignal)
9850 >echo The program has exited\n
9852 >echo The program has signalled\n
9858 Program terminated with signal SIGALRM, Alarm clock.
9859 The program no longer exists.
9860 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
9861 The program has signalled
9864 As can be seen, @value{GDBN} correctly informs that the program being
9865 debugged has signalled, since it calls @code{raise} and raises a
9866 @code{SIGALRM} signal. If the program being debugged had not called
9867 @code{raise}, then @value{GDBN} would report a normal exit:
9870 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
9871 The program has exited
9875 The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
9876 thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
9879 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9880 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9883 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9884 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9885 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9886 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9887 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9890 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9891 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9892 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9893 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9894 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9897 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9898 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9899 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9900 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9901 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9902 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9906 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9907 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9908 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9910 @node Convenience Funs
9911 @section Convenience Functions
9913 @cindex convenience functions
9914 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9915 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9916 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9917 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9920 These functions do not require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9921 @code{Python} support, which means that they are always available.
9925 @item $_isvoid (@var{expr})
9926 @findex $_isvoid@r{, convenience function}
9927 Return one if the expression @var{expr} is @code{void}. Otherwise it
9930 A @code{void} expression is an expression where the type of the result
9931 is @code{void}. For example, you can examine a convenience variable
9932 (see @ref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}) to check whether
9936 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
9938 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
9941 Starting program: ./a.out
9942 [Inferior 1 (process 29572) exited normally]
9943 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
9945 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
9949 In the example above, we used @code{$_isvoid} to check whether
9950 @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void} before and after the execution of the
9951 program being debugged. Before the execution there is no exit code to
9952 be examined, therefore @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void}. After the
9953 execution the program being debugged returned zero, therefore
9954 @code{$_exitcode} is zero, which means that it is not @code{void}
9957 The @code{void} expression can also be a call of a function from the
9958 program being debugged. For example, given the following function:
9967 The result of calling it inside @value{GDBN} is @code{void}:
9970 (@value{GDBP}) print foo ()
9972 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid (foo ())
9974 (@value{GDBP}) set $v = foo ()
9975 (@value{GDBP}) print $v
9977 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($v)
9983 These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9984 @code{Python} support.
9988 @item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
9989 @findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
9990 Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
9991 @var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
9992 Otherwise it returns zero.
9994 @item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
9995 @findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
9996 Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
9997 @var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
9998 The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
9999 regular expression support.
10001 @item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
10002 @findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
10003 Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
10004 Otherwise it returns zero.
10006 @item $_strlen(@var{str})
10007 @findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
10008 Returns the length of string @var{str}.
10012 @value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
10013 convenience functions.
10016 @item help function
10017 @kindex help function
10018 @cindex show all convenience functions
10019 Print a list of all convenience functions.
10026 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
10027 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
10028 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
10032 @kindex info registers
10033 @item info registers
10034 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
10035 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10037 @kindex info all-registers
10038 @cindex floating point registers
10039 @item info all-registers
10040 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
10041 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10043 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
10044 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
10045 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
10046 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
10047 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
10050 @cindex stack pointer register
10051 @cindex program counter register
10052 @cindex process status register
10053 @cindex frame pointer register
10054 @cindex standard registers
10055 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
10056 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
10057 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
10058 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
10059 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
10060 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
10061 register that contains the processor status. For example,
10062 you could print the program counter in hex with
10069 or print the instruction to be executed next with
10076 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
10077 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
10078 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
10079 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
10080 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
10081 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
10082 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
10088 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
10089 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
10090 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
10091 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
10092 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
10093 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
10094 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
10096 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
10097 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
10098 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
10099 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
10100 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
10101 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
10102 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
10104 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
10105 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
10106 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
10107 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
10108 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
10109 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
10110 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
10111 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
10112 prints the data in both formats.
10114 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
10115 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
10116 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
10117 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
10118 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
10119 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
10120 registers in @code{struct} notation:
10123 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
10125 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
10126 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
10127 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
10128 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
10129 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
10130 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
10131 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
10136 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
10137 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
10138 value to a @code{struct} member:
10141 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
10144 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
10145 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
10146 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
10147 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
10148 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
10149 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
10151 @cindex caller-saved registers
10152 @cindex call-clobbered registers
10153 @cindex volatile registers
10154 @cindex <not saved> values
10155 Usually ABIs reserve some registers as not needed to be saved by the
10156 callee (a.k.a.: ``caller-saved'', ``call-clobbered'' or ``volatile''
10157 registers). It may therefore not be possible for @value{GDBN} to know
10158 the value a register had before the call (in other words, in the outer
10159 frame), if the register value has since been changed by the callee.
10160 @value{GDBN} tries to deduce where the inner frame saved
10161 (``callee-saved'') registers, from the debug info, unwind info, or the
10162 machine code generated by your compiler. If some register is not
10163 saved, and @value{GDBN} knows the register is ``caller-saved'' (via
10164 its own knowledge of the ABI, or because the debug/unwind info
10165 explicitly says the register's value is undefined), @value{GDBN}
10166 displays @w{@samp{<not saved>}} as the register's value. With targets
10167 that @value{GDBN} has no knowledge of the register saving convention,
10168 if a register was not saved by the callee, then its value and location
10169 in the outer frame are assumed to be the same of the inner frame.
10170 This is usually harmless, because if the register is call-clobbered,
10171 the caller either does not care what is in the register after the
10172 call, or has code to restore the value that it does care about. Note,
10173 however, that if you change such a register in the outer frame, you
10174 may also be affecting the inner frame. Also, the more ``outer'' the
10175 frame is you're looking at, the more likely a call-clobbered
10176 register's value is to be wrong, in the sense that it doesn't actually
10177 represent the value the register had just before the call.
10179 @node Floating Point Hardware
10180 @section Floating Point Hardware
10181 @cindex floating point
10183 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
10184 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
10189 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
10190 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
10191 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
10192 the ARM and x86 machines.
10196 @section Vector Unit
10197 @cindex vector unit
10199 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
10200 more information about the status of the vector unit.
10203 @kindex info vector
10205 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
10206 layout vary depending on the hardware.
10209 @node OS Information
10210 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
10211 @cindex OS information
10213 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
10214 you debug your program.
10216 @cindex auxiliary vector
10217 @cindex vector, auxiliary
10218 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
10219 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
10220 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
10221 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
10222 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
10223 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
10224 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
10225 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
10226 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
10227 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
10228 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
10233 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
10234 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
10235 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
10236 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
10237 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
10238 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
10239 an unrecognized tag.
10242 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
10243 information and show it to you. The types of information available
10244 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
10245 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
10246 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
10247 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
10248 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
10252 @item info os @var{infotype}
10254 Display OS information of the requested type.
10256 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
10258 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
10260 @kindex info os processes
10262 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
10263 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
10264 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
10265 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
10266 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
10267 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
10269 @kindex info os procgroups
10271 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
10272 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
10273 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
10274 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
10275 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
10276 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
10277 and the process group leader is listed first.
10279 @kindex info os threads
10281 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
10282 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
10283 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
10284 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
10285 process is not listed.
10287 @kindex info os files
10289 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
10290 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
10291 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
10292 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
10294 @kindex info os sockets
10296 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
10297 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
10298 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
10299 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
10302 @kindex info os shm
10304 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
10305 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
10306 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
10307 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
10308 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
10309 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
10310 attached to, detach from, and changed.
10312 @kindex info os semaphores
10314 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
10315 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
10316 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
10317 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
10318 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
10320 @kindex info os msg
10322 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
10323 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
10324 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
10325 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
10326 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
10327 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
10328 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
10329 the message queue was last changed.
10331 @kindex info os modules
10333 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
10334 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
10335 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
10336 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
10341 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
10342 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
10343 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
10344 types, this command will report an error.
10347 @node Memory Region Attributes
10348 @section Memory Region Attributes
10349 @cindex memory region attributes
10351 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
10352 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
10353 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
10354 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
10355 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
10356 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
10357 user can override the fetched regions.
10359 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
10360 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
10361 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
10362 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
10365 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
10366 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
10370 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
10371 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
10372 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
10373 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
10374 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
10375 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
10378 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
10379 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
10382 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10383 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
10384 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
10386 @kindex disable mem
10387 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10388 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10389 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
10390 It may be enabled again later.
10393 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10394 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10398 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
10402 @item Memory Region Number
10403 @item Enabled or Disabled.
10404 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
10405 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
10408 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
10411 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
10414 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
10419 @subsection Attributes
10421 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
10422 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
10423 write accesses to a memory region.
10425 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
10426 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
10427 etc.@: from accessing memory.
10431 Memory is read only.
10433 Memory is write only.
10435 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
10438 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
10439 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
10440 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
10441 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
10442 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
10446 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
10448 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
10450 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
10452 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
10455 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
10456 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10457 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
10458 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
10462 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
10463 @c @item swbreak (default)
10466 @subsubsection Data Cache
10467 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
10468 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
10469 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
10470 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
10475 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
10477 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
10480 @subsection Memory Access Checking
10481 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
10482 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
10483 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
10484 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
10487 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
10488 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
10489 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
10490 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
10491 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
10492 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
10493 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
10494 The default value is @code{on}.
10495 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
10496 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
10497 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
10501 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
10502 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10503 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
10507 @c @item noverify (default)
10510 @node Dump/Restore Files
10511 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
10512 @cindex dump/restore files
10513 @cindex append data to a file
10514 @cindex dump data to a file
10515 @cindex restore data from a file
10517 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
10518 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
10519 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
10520 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
10521 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
10522 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
10528 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10529 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10530 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10531 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
10533 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
10540 Motorola S-record format.
10542 Tektronix Hex format.
10545 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
10546 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
10547 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
10551 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10552 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10553 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10554 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
10555 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
10558 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
10559 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
10560 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
10561 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
10562 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
10564 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
10565 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
10566 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
10567 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
10568 from that location.
10570 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
10571 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
10572 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
10573 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
10577 @node Core File Generation
10578 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
10579 @cindex dump core from inferior
10581 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
10582 image of a running process and its process status (register values
10583 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
10584 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
10585 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
10586 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
10587 the post-mortem debugging mode.
10589 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
10590 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
10591 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
10595 @kindex generate-core-file
10596 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
10597 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
10598 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
10599 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
10600 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
10601 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
10603 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
10604 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
10607 @node Character Sets
10608 @section Character Sets
10609 @cindex character sets
10611 @cindex translating between character sets
10612 @cindex host character set
10613 @cindex target character set
10615 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
10616 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
10617 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
10618 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
10619 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
10620 @dfn{target character set}.
10622 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
10623 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
10624 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
10625 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
10626 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
10627 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
10628 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
10629 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
10630 character and string literals in expressions.
10632 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10633 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10634 target-charset} command, described below.
10636 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10640 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
10641 @kindex set target-charset
10642 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10643 list of supported target character sets, type
10644 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10646 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
10647 @kindex set host-charset
10648 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10650 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10651 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10652 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10653 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10654 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10656 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10657 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10658 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10660 @item set charset @var{charset}
10661 @kindex set charset
10662 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10663 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10664 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10665 for both host and target.
10668 @kindex show charset
10669 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10671 @item show host-charset
10672 @kindex show host-charset
10673 Show the name of the current host character set.
10675 @item show target-charset
10676 @kindex show target-charset
10677 Show the name of the current target character set.
10679 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10680 @kindex set target-wide-charset
10681 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10682 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10683 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10684 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10686 @item show target-wide-charset
10687 @kindex show target-wide-charset
10688 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10691 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10692 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10693 @file{charset-test.c}:
10699 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10700 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10701 char ibm1047_hello[]
10702 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10703 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10707 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10711 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10712 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10713 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10715 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10718 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10719 $ gdb -nw charset-test
10720 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10721 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10726 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10727 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10731 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10732 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10736 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10737 initial character set:
10739 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10740 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10741 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10745 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10746 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10747 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10748 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10749 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10752 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10753 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10754 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10759 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10760 literals you use in expressions:
10763 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10768 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10771 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10772 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10773 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10776 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10777 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10778 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10783 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10784 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10787 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10788 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10789 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10792 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10793 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10794 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10795 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10796 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10799 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10800 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10801 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10802 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10803 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10804 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10805 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10807 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10808 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10809 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10814 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10815 string literals you use in expressions:
10818 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10823 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10826 @node Caching Target Data
10827 @section Caching Data of Targets
10828 @cindex caching data of targets
10830 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a target.
10831 Each cache is associated with the address space of the inferior.
10832 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}, about inferior and address space.
10833 Such caching generally improves performance in remote debugging
10834 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), because it reduces the overhead of the
10835 remote protocol by bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks.
10836 Unfortunately, simply caching everything would lead to incorrect results,
10837 since @value{GDBN} does not necessarily know anything about volatile
10838 values, memory-mapped I/O addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode
10839 (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command
10841 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10842 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10843 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10844 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10845 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10846 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10847 cacheable; @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10850 @kindex set remotecache
10851 @item set remotecache on
10852 @itemx set remotecache off
10853 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10856 @kindex show remotecache
10857 @item show remotecache
10858 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10860 @kindex set stack-cache
10861 @item set stack-cache on
10862 @itemx set stack-cache off
10863 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{on}, use
10864 caching. By default, this option is @code{on}.
10866 @kindex show stack-cache
10867 @item show stack-cache
10868 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10870 @kindex info dcache
10871 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10872 Print the information about the performance of data cache of the
10873 current inferior's address space. The information displayed
10874 includes the dcache width and depth, and for each cache line, its
10875 number, address, and how many times it was referenced. This
10876 command is useful for debugging the data cache operation.
10878 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10881 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10882 @cindex dcache size
10883 @kindex set dcache size
10884 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10886 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10887 @cindex dcache line-size
10888 @kindex set dcache line-size
10889 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10890 Must be a power of 2.
10892 @item show dcache size
10893 @kindex show dcache size
10894 Show maximum number of dcache entries. @xref{Caching Target Data, info dcache}.
10896 @item show dcache line-size
10897 @kindex show dcache line-size
10898 Show default size of dcache lines.
10902 @node Searching Memory
10903 @section Search Memory
10904 @cindex searching memory
10906 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10907 @code{find} command.
10911 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10912 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10913 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10914 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10915 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10918 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10919 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10922 @item @var{s}, search query size
10923 The size of each search query value.
10929 halfwords (two bytes)
10933 giant words (eight bytes)
10936 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10937 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10938 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10940 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10941 value's type in the current language.
10942 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10943 pattern as a mixture of types.
10944 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10945 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10946 which is typically four bytes.
10948 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10949 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10952 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10954 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10955 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10957 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10958 number of matches found.
10960 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10962 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10964 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10970 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10971 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10972 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10973 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10974 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10979 you get during debugging:
10982 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
10983 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10985 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
10986 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10987 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10989 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
10990 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10992 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
10993 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
10995 (gdb) print $numfound
10998 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
11001 @node Optimized Code
11002 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
11003 @cindex optimized code, debugging
11004 @cindex debugging optimized code
11006 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
11007 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
11008 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
11009 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
11010 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
11011 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
11012 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
11014 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
11015 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
11016 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
11017 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
11019 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
11020 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
11021 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
11022 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
11023 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
11024 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
11026 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
11027 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
11028 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
11029 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
11030 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
11033 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
11034 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
11037 @node Inline Functions
11038 @section Inline Functions
11039 @cindex inline functions, debugging
11041 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
11042 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
11043 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
11044 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
11045 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
11046 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
11047 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
11048 @code{info frame} command.
11050 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
11051 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
11052 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
11053 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
11054 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
11055 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
11056 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
11057 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
11058 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
11059 local variables in the caller.
11061 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
11062 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
11063 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
11064 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
11065 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
11066 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
11067 instructions are executed.
11069 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
11070 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
11071 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
11072 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
11074 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
11075 function calls are the same as normal calls:
11079 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
11080 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
11081 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
11082 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
11083 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
11084 or inside the inlined function instead.
11087 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
11088 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
11089 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
11090 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
11094 @node Tail Call Frames
11095 @section Tail Call Frames
11096 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
11098 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
11099 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
11100 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
11101 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
11102 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
11104 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
11105 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
11106 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
11107 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
11108 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
11109 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
11110 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
11112 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
11113 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
11114 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
11117 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
11118 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
11122 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
11124 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
11125 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
11126 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
11127 source language c++.
11128 Arglist at unknown address.
11129 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
11132 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
11133 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
11134 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
11135 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
11136 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
11137 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
11140 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
11141 @item set debug entry-values
11142 @kindex set debug entry-values
11143 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
11144 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
11145 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
11146 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
11149 @item show debug entry-values
11150 @kindex show debug entry-values
11151 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
11152 values at function entry and tail calls.
11155 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
11156 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
11157 reference by variable @code{x}):
11160 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
11161 void (*x) (void) = c;
11162 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11163 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
11164 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
11166 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
11167 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
11169 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11172 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
11175 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
11179 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
11180 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
11181 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
11182 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
11183 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
11184 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
11185 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
11186 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
11188 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
11189 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
11190 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
11193 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
11194 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
11197 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
11198 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
11200 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
11201 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11202 @set ARROW @click{}
11203 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
11204 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
11206 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11208 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
11209 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
11212 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
11213 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
11214 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
11216 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
11217 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
11218 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
11219 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
11220 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
11221 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
11223 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
11224 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
11225 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
11226 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
11229 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
11234 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
11235 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
11236 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
11237 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
11238 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
11239 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
11242 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
11243 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
11244 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
11245 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
11246 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
11249 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
11250 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
11251 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
11252 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
11253 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
11256 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
11258 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
11259 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
11260 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
11261 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
11262 where it was defined.
11264 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
11265 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
11266 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
11267 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
11269 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
11270 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
11271 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
11272 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
11273 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
11274 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
11277 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
11278 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
11279 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
11283 @kindex macro expand
11284 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
11285 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
11286 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
11287 @item macro expand @var{expression}
11288 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
11289 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
11290 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
11291 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
11292 it can be any string of tokens.
11295 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
11296 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
11297 @cindex expand macro once
11298 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
11299 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
11300 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
11301 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
11302 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
11303 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
11304 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
11305 can be any string of tokens.
11308 @cindex macro definition, showing
11309 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
11310 @cindex macros, from debug info
11311 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
11312 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
11313 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
11314 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
11315 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
11316 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
11318 @kindex info macros
11319 @item info macros @var{linespec}
11320 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
11321 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
11322 command-line where those definitions were established.
11324 @kindex macro define
11325 @cindex user-defined macros
11326 @cindex defining macros interactively
11327 @cindex macros, user-defined
11328 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
11329 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
11330 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
11331 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
11332 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
11333 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
11334 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
11337 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
11338 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
11339 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
11340 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
11341 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
11343 @kindex macro undef
11344 @item macro undef @var{macro}
11345 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
11346 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
11347 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
11348 in the program being debugged.
11352 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
11355 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
11356 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
11357 show our source files:
11362 #include "sample.h"
11365 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11370 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11372 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11374 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11381 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
11382 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
11383 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
11384 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
11385 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
11386 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
11390 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
11394 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
11398 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
11399 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11400 GDB is free software, @dots{}
11404 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
11405 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
11406 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
11409 (@value{GDBP}) list main
11412 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11417 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11419 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11420 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
11421 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
11422 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11423 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
11424 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
11425 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
11427 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
11428 expands to: (42 + 1)
11429 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
11430 expands to: once (M + 1)
11434 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
11435 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
11436 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
11437 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
11439 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
11440 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
11443 (@value{GDBP}) break main
11444 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
11446 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
11448 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
11449 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11453 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
11456 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11457 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
11459 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11460 expands to: 28 < 42
11461 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11466 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
11467 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
11468 thereof) in force at each point:
11471 (@value{GDBP}) next
11473 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11474 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11475 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
11476 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
11477 (@value{GDBP}) next
11479 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11480 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11481 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
11483 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11484 expands to: 1729 < 42
11485 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11490 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
11491 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
11492 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
11493 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
11496 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
11497 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
11504 @chapter Tracepoints
11505 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
11506 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
11508 @cindex tracepoints
11509 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
11510 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
11511 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
11512 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
11513 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
11514 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
11515 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
11517 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
11518 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
11519 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
11520 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
11521 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
11522 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
11523 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
11524 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
11525 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
11526 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
11527 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
11529 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
11530 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
11531 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
11532 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
11533 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
11534 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
11537 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
11538 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
11539 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
11541 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
11544 * Set Tracepoints::
11545 * Analyze Collected Data::
11546 * Tracepoint Variables::
11550 @node Set Tracepoints
11551 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
11553 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
11554 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
11555 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
11556 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
11557 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
11558 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
11559 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
11561 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
11562 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
11563 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
11564 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
11565 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
11566 tracepoint was hit.
11568 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
11569 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
11570 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
11573 @cindex fast tracepoints
11574 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
11575 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
11576 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
11578 @cindex static tracepoints
11579 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
11580 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
11581 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
11582 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
11583 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
11584 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
11585 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
11586 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
11587 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
11588 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
11589 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
11590 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
11591 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
11592 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
11593 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
11594 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
11595 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
11596 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
11597 static tracepoint marker.
11599 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
11600 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
11602 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
11603 conditions and actions.
11606 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
11607 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
11608 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
11609 * Tracepoint Conditions::
11610 * Trace State Variables::
11611 * Tracepoint Actions::
11612 * Listing Tracepoints::
11613 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
11614 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
11615 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
11618 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
11619 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
11622 @cindex set tracepoint
11624 @item trace @var{location}
11625 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
11626 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
11627 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
11628 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
11629 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
11630 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
11631 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
11632 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
11634 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
11635 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11636 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11637 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11638 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11639 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11640 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11641 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11642 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11643 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11644 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11645 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11647 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11650 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11652 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11654 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11656 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11658 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11662 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11664 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11665 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11666 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11667 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11668 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11669 information on tracepoint conditions.
11671 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11672 @cindex set fast tracepoint
11673 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11675 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11676 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11677 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11678 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11679 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11680 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11683 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11686 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11687 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11688 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11689 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11690 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11691 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11692 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11693 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11696 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11700 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11701 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11703 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11704 @cindex set static tracepoint
11705 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
11706 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11708 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11709 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11710 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11711 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11712 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11714 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11715 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11716 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11717 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11718 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11719 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11720 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11721 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11722 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11728 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11733 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11734 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11737 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11738 Cnt Enb ID Address What
11739 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11745 so you may probe the marker above with:
11748 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11751 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11752 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11753 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11754 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11755 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11756 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11757 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11758 the @samp{Data:} field.
11760 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11761 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11762 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11765 @cindex last tracepoint number
11766 @cindex recent tracepoint number
11767 @cindex tracepoint number
11768 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11769 of the most recently set tracepoint.
11771 @kindex delete tracepoint
11772 @cindex tracepoint deletion
11773 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11774 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11775 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11776 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11781 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11783 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11787 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11790 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11791 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11793 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11796 @kindex disable tracepoint
11797 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11798 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11799 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11800 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11801 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11802 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11803 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11804 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11805 next trace experiment.
11807 @kindex enable tracepoint
11808 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11809 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11810 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11811 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11812 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11813 next time a trace experiment is run.
11816 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
11817 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11821 @cindex tracepoint pass count
11822 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11823 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11824 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11825 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11826 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11827 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11828 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11829 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11835 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11836 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11838 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11839 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11840 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11841 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11842 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11843 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11844 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11845 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11846 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11847 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11848 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11852 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11853 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11854 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11855 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11857 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11858 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11859 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11860 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11861 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11862 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11865 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11866 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11867 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11868 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11869 just as with breakpoints.
11871 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11872 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11873 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11874 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11875 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11876 accesses, and so forth.
11878 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11879 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11880 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11881 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11882 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11883 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11887 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11890 @node Trace State Variables
11891 @subsection Trace State Variables
11892 @cindex trace state variables
11894 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11895 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11896 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11897 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11898 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11901 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11902 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11903 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11904 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11906 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11907 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11908 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11909 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11910 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11911 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11912 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11913 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11914 variable with the same name.
11918 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11920 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11921 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11922 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11923 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11924 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11925 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11926 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11927 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11928 value. The default initial value is 0.
11930 @item info tvariables
11931 @kindex info tvariables
11932 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11933 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11936 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11937 @kindex delete tvariable
11938 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11943 @node Tracepoint Actions
11944 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11948 @cindex tracepoint actions
11949 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11950 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11951 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11952 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11953 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11954 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11955 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11956 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11957 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11958 @code{while-stepping}.
11960 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11961 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11962 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11964 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11965 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11966 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11969 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11971 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11973 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11976 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11977 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11978 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11979 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11980 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11981 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11982 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11983 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11986 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11987 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11988 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11991 > while-stepping 12
11992 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11997 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11998 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11999 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
12000 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
12001 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
12002 special arguments are supported:
12006 Collect all registers.
12009 Collect all function arguments.
12012 Collect all local variables.
12015 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
12019 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
12020 tracepoint is located.
12021 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
12023 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
12024 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
12025 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
12026 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
12029 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
12030 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
12031 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
12032 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
12033 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
12034 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
12035 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
12036 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
12037 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
12040 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
12041 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
12044 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
12045 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
12046 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
12050 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
12051 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
12052 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
12054 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
12055 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
12056 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
12057 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
12058 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
12059 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
12060 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
12063 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
12064 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
12066 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
12067 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12068 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
12069 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
12070 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
12071 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
12072 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
12075 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
12076 @item while-stepping @var{n}
12077 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
12078 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
12079 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
12080 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
12083 > while-stepping 12
12084 > collect $regs, myglobal
12090 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
12091 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
12092 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
12095 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12096 @kindex set default-collect
12097 @cindex default collection action
12098 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
12099 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
12100 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
12101 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
12102 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
12103 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
12105 @item show default-collect
12106 @kindex show default-collect
12107 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
12112 @node Listing Tracepoints
12113 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
12116 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12117 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12118 @cindex information about tracepoints
12119 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
12120 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
12121 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
12122 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
12123 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
12124 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
12126 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
12131 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
12134 the state about installed on target of each location
12138 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
12139 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
12140 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
12142 collect globfoo, $regs
12147 2 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
12149 2.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12150 installed on target
12151 2.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12152 installed on target
12153 2.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
12154 3 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
12155 not installed on target
12160 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
12163 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12164 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12167 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
12168 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
12169 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
12170 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
12173 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
12177 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
12180 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
12181 @item Enabled or Disabled
12182 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
12183 that are not enabled.
12185 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
12187 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
12188 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
12189 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
12190 will be left blank.
12194 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
12198 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
12199 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
12201 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
12202 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
12206 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12207 Cnt ID Enb Address What
12208 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
12209 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
12210 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
12211 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
12217 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12218 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12221 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
12222 @cindex start a new trace experiment
12223 @cindex collected data discarded
12225 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
12226 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
12227 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
12228 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
12229 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
12230 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
12231 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
12232 information, and so forth.
12234 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
12235 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
12237 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
12238 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
12239 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
12240 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
12241 needs to be stopped quickly.
12243 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
12244 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
12245 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
12248 @cindex status of trace data collection
12249 @cindex trace experiment, status of
12251 This command displays the status of the current trace data
12255 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
12258 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
12259 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12260 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
12261 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
12262 > while-stepping 11
12266 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12267 [time passes @dots{}]
12268 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
12271 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
12272 @cindex disconnected tracing
12273 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
12274 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
12275 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
12276 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
12277 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
12278 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
12279 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
12280 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
12283 @item set disconnected-tracing on
12284 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
12285 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
12286 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
12287 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
12288 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
12289 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
12290 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
12292 @item show disconnected-tracing
12293 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
12294 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
12298 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
12299 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
12300 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
12301 it will continue after reconnection.
12303 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
12304 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
12305 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
12306 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
12307 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
12308 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
12309 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
12310 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
12311 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
12312 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
12314 @cindex circular trace buffer
12315 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
12316 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
12317 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
12318 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
12319 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
12320 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
12321 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
12322 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
12323 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
12324 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
12328 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
12329 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
12330 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
12331 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
12332 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
12333 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
12334 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
12336 @item show circular-trace-buffer
12337 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
12338 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
12339 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
12340 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
12341 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
12346 @item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
12347 @itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
12348 @kindex set trace-buffer-size
12349 Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
12350 targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
12351 the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
12352 @code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
12353 likes. This is also the default.
12355 @item show trace-buffer-size
12356 @kindex show trace-buffer-size
12357 Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
12358 will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
12359 and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
12360 target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
12361 not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
12362 to get a report of the actual buffer size.
12366 @item set trace-user @var{text}
12367 @kindex set trace-user
12369 @item show trace-user
12370 @kindex show trace-user
12372 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
12373 @kindex set trace-notes
12374 Set the trace run's notes.
12376 @item show trace-notes
12377 @kindex show trace-notes
12378 Show the trace run's notes.
12380 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
12381 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
12382 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
12383 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
12384 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
12386 @item show trace-stop-notes
12387 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
12388 Show the trace run's stop notes.
12392 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
12393 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
12395 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
12396 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
12397 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
12398 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
12399 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
12400 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
12401 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
12402 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
12408 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
12409 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
12410 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
12411 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
12412 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
12413 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
12414 cannot be collected either.
12417 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
12418 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
12419 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
12420 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
12421 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
12422 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
12423 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
12424 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
12425 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
12426 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
12429 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
12430 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
12431 in a misleading way.
12434 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
12435 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
12436 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
12437 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
12438 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
12439 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
12440 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
12444 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
12445 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
12446 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
12447 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
12448 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
12449 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
12450 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
12451 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
12452 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
12453 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
12457 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
12458 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
12459 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
12460 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
12461 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
12462 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
12463 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
12468 @node Analyze Collected Data
12469 @section Using the Collected Data
12471 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
12472 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
12473 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
12474 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
12475 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
12476 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
12477 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
12478 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
12479 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
12480 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
12481 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
12482 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
12483 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
12484 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
12485 the buffer will fail.
12488 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
12489 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
12490 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
12494 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
12497 @cindex select trace snapshot
12498 @cindex find trace snapshot
12499 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
12500 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
12501 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
12502 snapshot is selected.
12504 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
12508 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
12509 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
12512 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
12515 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
12518 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
12521 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
12522 retracing earlier steps.
12524 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
12525 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
12526 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
12527 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
12528 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
12530 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
12531 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
12532 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
12533 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
12534 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
12536 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12537 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
12538 addresses (exclusive).
12540 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12541 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
12542 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
12544 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
12545 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
12546 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
12547 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
12548 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
12549 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
12550 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
12551 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
12554 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
12555 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
12556 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
12557 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
12558 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
12559 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
12560 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
12561 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
12562 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
12563 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
12564 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
12565 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
12566 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
12567 tracepoint as the current one.
12569 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
12570 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
12571 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
12572 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
12573 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
12576 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12577 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12578 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
12579 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
12583 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
12584 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
12585 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
12586 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
12587 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
12588 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
12589 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
12590 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
12591 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
12592 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
12593 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
12596 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
12600 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12601 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12602 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
12612 @subsection @code{tdump}
12614 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
12615 @cindex tracepoint data, display
12617 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
12618 the current trace snapshot.
12621 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
12622 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12623 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
12624 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
12627 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12629 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
12630 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
12632 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
12634 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
12635 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
12636 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
12640 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
12643 d7 0x380035 3670069
12644 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
12645 a1 0x3000668 50333288
12647 a3 0x322000 3284992
12648 a4 0x3000698 50333336
12649 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
12650 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
12651 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
12653 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
12657 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
12664 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
12669 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12670 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12671 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12672 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12674 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12675 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12676 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12677 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12678 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12679 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12680 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12681 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12682 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12683 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12685 @node save tracepoints
12686 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12687 @kindex save tracepoints
12688 @kindex save-tracepoints
12689 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12691 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12692 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12693 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12694 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12695 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12696 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12698 @node Tracepoint Variables
12699 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12700 @cindex tracepoint variables
12701 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12704 @vindex $trace_frame
12705 @item (int) $trace_frame
12706 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12707 snapshot is selected.
12709 @vindex $tracepoint
12710 @item (int) $tracepoint
12711 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12713 @vindex $trace_line
12714 @item (int) $trace_line
12715 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12717 @vindex $trace_file
12718 @item (char []) $trace_file
12719 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12721 @vindex $trace_func
12722 @item (char []) $trace_func
12723 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12726 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12727 use @code{output} instead.
12729 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12730 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12731 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12732 which are managed by the target.
12735 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12737 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12738 > output $trace_file
12739 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12745 @section Using Trace Files
12746 @cindex trace files
12748 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
12749 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
12750 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
12751 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
12752 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
12757 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
12758 @itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
12759 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
12760 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
12761 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
12762 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12763 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12764 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12765 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12766 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12767 By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
12768 You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
12769 format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
12770 that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
12771 @indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
12773 @kindex target tfile
12777 @item target tfile @var{filename}
12778 @itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
12779 Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
12780 a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
12781 a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
12782 @code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
12783 the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
12784 @var{filename} or @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
12788 (@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
12789 (@value{GDBP}) tfind
12790 Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
12791 39 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
12792 (@value{GDBP}) tdump
12793 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
12797 c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
12798 d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
12806 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12809 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12810 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12811 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12815 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12816 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12817 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12818 mapped by asking the inferior.
12819 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12822 @node How Overlays Work
12823 @section How Overlays Work
12824 @cindex mapped overlays
12825 @cindex unmapped overlays
12826 @cindex load address, overlay's
12827 @cindex mapped address
12828 @cindex overlay area
12830 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12831 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12832 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12833 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12834 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12836 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12837 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12838 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12839 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12840 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12841 largest overlay as well.
12843 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12844 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12845 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12848 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12849 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12850 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12854 Data Instruction Larger
12855 Address Space Address Space Address Space
12856 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12858 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12859 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12860 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
12861 | and heap | | | | | |
12862 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12863 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
12864 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12866 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12867 address | | | | | |
12868 | overlay | <-' | | |
12869 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12870 | | <---. | | load address
12871 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12878 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12882 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12883 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12884 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12885 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12886 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12887 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12888 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12889 program and the overlay area.
12891 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12892 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12893 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12894 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12895 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12896 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12897 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12899 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12900 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12901 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12906 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12907 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12908 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12909 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12912 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12913 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12914 your program's performance.
12917 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12918 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12919 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12920 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12921 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12922 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12923 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12926 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12927 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12928 instruction and data spaces.
12932 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12933 improved in many ways:
12938 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12939 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12940 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12941 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12942 area in the usual way.
12945 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12946 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12949 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12950 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12951 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12952 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12953 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12954 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12955 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12960 @node Overlay Commands
12961 @section Overlay Commands
12963 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12964 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12965 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12966 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12967 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12968 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12970 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12971 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12976 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12977 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12978 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12979 overlay support is disabled.
12981 @item overlay manual
12982 @cindex manual overlay debugging
12983 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12984 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12985 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12986 commands described below.
12988 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12989 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12990 @cindex map an overlay
12991 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12992 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12993 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12994 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12995 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12996 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12998 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12999 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
13000 @cindex unmap an overlay
13001 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
13002 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
13003 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
13004 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
13007 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13008 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
13009 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
13010 Overlay Debugging}.
13012 @item overlay load-target
13013 @itemx overlay load
13014 @cindex reloading the overlay table
13015 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
13016 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
13017 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
13018 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
13019 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
13021 @item overlay list-overlays
13022 @itemx overlay list
13023 @cindex listing mapped overlays
13024 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
13025 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
13029 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
13030 of the function the address falls in:
13033 (@value{GDBP}) print main
13034 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
13037 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
13038 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
13039 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
13040 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
13043 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13044 No sections are mapped.
13045 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
13046 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
13049 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
13053 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13054 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
13055 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
13056 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
13057 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
13060 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
13061 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
13062 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
13063 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
13064 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
13068 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
13069 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
13070 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
13071 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
13073 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
13074 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
13075 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
13076 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
13077 breakpoints properly.
13081 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
13082 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
13083 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
13085 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
13086 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
13087 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
13088 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
13089 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
13090 current state of the overlays.
13092 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
13093 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
13097 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
13098 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
13103 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
13106 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
13107 unsigned long size;
13109 /* The overlay's load address. */
13112 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
13114 unsigned long mapped;
13118 @item @code{_novlys}:
13119 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
13120 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
13124 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
13125 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
13126 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
13127 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
13128 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
13131 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
13132 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
13133 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
13134 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
13135 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
13136 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
13137 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
13138 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
13139 are not being executed.
13141 @node Overlay Sample Program
13142 @section Overlay Sample Program
13143 @cindex overlay example program
13145 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
13146 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
13147 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
13148 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
13149 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
13150 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
13151 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
13153 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
13154 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
13155 suite. The program consists of the following files from
13156 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
13160 The main program file.
13162 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
13167 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
13170 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
13171 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
13174 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
13175 cross-compiler like this:
13178 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
13179 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
13180 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
13181 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
13182 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
13183 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
13184 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
13185 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
13188 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
13189 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
13190 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
13194 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
13197 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
13198 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
13199 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
13200 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
13201 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
13202 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
13204 @cindex working language
13205 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
13206 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
13207 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
13208 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
13209 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
13213 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
13214 * Show:: Displaying the language
13215 * Checks:: Type and range checks
13216 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
13217 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
13221 @section Switching Between Source Languages
13223 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
13224 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
13225 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
13226 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
13227 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
13230 In addition to the working language, every source file that
13231 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
13232 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
13233 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
13234 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
13235 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
13236 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
13237 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
13238 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
13239 Displaying the Language}.
13241 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
13242 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
13243 another language. In that case, make the
13244 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
13245 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
13246 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
13249 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
13250 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
13251 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
13255 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
13257 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
13258 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
13276 C@t{++} source file
13282 Objective-C source file
13286 Fortran source file
13289 Modula-2 source file
13293 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
13294 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
13297 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
13298 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
13301 @subsection Setting the Working Language
13303 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
13304 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
13307 @kindex set language
13308 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
13309 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
13310 a language, such as
13311 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
13312 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
13314 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
13315 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
13316 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
13317 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
13318 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
13319 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
13327 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
13328 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
13329 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
13330 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
13332 @node Automatically
13333 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
13335 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
13336 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
13337 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
13338 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
13339 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
13340 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
13341 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
13342 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
13343 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
13345 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
13346 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
13347 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
13348 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
13349 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
13352 @section Displaying the Language
13354 The following commands help you find out which language is the
13355 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
13358 @item show language
13359 @anchor{show language}
13360 @kindex show language
13361 Display the current working language. This is the
13362 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
13363 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
13366 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
13367 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
13368 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
13369 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
13370 information listed here.
13373 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
13374 Display the source language of this source file.
13375 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
13376 information listed here.
13379 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
13380 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
13381 with a language explicitly:
13384 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
13385 @kindex set extension-language
13386 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
13387 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
13389 @item info extensions
13390 @kindex info extensions
13391 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
13395 @section Type and Range Checking
13397 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
13398 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
13399 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
13400 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
13401 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
13402 by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
13403 errors when your program is running.
13405 By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
13406 rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
13407 the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
13408 into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
13411 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
13412 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
13415 @cindex type checking
13416 @cindex checks, type
13417 @node Type Checking
13418 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
13420 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
13421 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
13422 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
13423 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
13426 int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
13428 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
13431 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
13432 Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
13435 The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
13436 @samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
13438 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13439 @value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
13440 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
13441 When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
13442 expressions like the second example above.
13444 Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
13445 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
13446 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
13447 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
13448 with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
13449 little sense to evaluate anyway.
13451 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
13453 @kindex set check type
13454 @kindex show check type
13456 @item set check type on
13457 @itemx set check type off
13458 Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
13459 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
13460 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
13462 @item show check type
13463 Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
13464 is enforcing strict type checking rules.
13467 @cindex range checking
13468 @cindex checks, range
13469 @node Range Checking
13470 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
13472 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
13473 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
13474 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
13475 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
13476 not exceed the bounds of the array.
13478 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13479 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
13480 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
13481 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
13483 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
13484 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
13485 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
13486 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
13487 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
13488 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
13491 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
13494 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
13495 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
13496 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
13498 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
13500 @kindex set check range
13501 @kindex show check range
13503 @item set check range auto
13504 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
13505 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
13508 @item set check range on
13509 @itemx set check range off
13510 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
13511 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
13512 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
13513 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
13515 @item set check range warn
13516 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
13517 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
13518 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
13519 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
13523 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
13524 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
13527 @node Supported Languages
13528 @section Supported Languages
13530 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
13531 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
13532 @c This is false ...
13533 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
13534 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
13535 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
13536 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
13539 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
13540 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
13541 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
13542 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
13543 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
13544 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
13545 language reference or tutorial.
13548 * C:: C and C@t{++}
13551 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
13552 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
13553 * Fortran:: Fortran
13555 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
13560 @subsection C and C@t{++}
13562 @cindex C and C@t{++}
13563 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
13565 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
13566 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
13570 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
13571 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
13572 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
13573 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
13574 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
13575 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
13576 compiler (@code{aCC}).
13579 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
13580 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
13581 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
13582 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
13583 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
13584 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
13585 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
13586 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
13590 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
13592 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
13594 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13595 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13596 often defined on groups of types.
13598 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
13603 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
13604 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
13607 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
13608 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
13611 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
13614 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
13619 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
13620 in order of increasing precedence:
13624 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
13625 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
13626 expression being the last expression evaluated.
13629 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
13630 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
13633 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
13634 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
13635 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
13636 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
13637 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
13640 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
13641 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
13645 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13648 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13651 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13654 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13657 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13660 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
13661 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
13663 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
13664 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
13665 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
13666 and non-zero for true.
13669 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
13672 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13675 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
13678 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
13679 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
13680 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
13684 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
13685 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
13686 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
13687 operation takes place.
13690 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
13694 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13696 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13697 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13698 to examine the address
13699 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13703 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13704 precedence as @code{++}.
13707 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13711 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13716 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13717 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13718 pointer based on the stored type information.
13719 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13722 Dereferences of pointers to members.
13725 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13726 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13729 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13732 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13733 and @code{class} types.
13736 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13737 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13741 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
13742 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
13743 predefined meaning.
13746 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
13748 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
13750 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
13755 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
13756 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
13757 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
13758 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
13762 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13763 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13764 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13765 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13766 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13767 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13768 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13769 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13770 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13774 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13775 integral equivalents.
13778 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13779 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13780 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13781 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13782 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13783 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13784 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13785 @samp{\n} for newline.
13787 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13788 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13789 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13790 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13793 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13794 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13795 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13796 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13799 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13800 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13801 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13804 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13805 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13808 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13809 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13810 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13811 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13814 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
13815 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13817 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13818 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13820 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13821 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
13822 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13823 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13825 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13826 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13827 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13828 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13829 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13830 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13831 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13832 code. @xref{Compilation}.
13837 @cindex member functions
13839 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13842 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13845 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13846 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13848 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13849 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13850 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13851 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13852 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13854 @cindex call overloaded functions
13855 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
13856 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13858 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13859 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13860 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13861 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13862 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13865 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13866 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13867 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13868 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13869 number of function arguments.
13871 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13872 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13873 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13875 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13876 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13878 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13881 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13882 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13884 @cindex reference declarations
13886 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13887 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13890 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13891 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13892 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13893 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13894 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13897 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13898 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13899 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13900 necessary, for example in an expression like
13901 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13902 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13903 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13906 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13911 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13913 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13915 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
13916 defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13917 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13918 selects the working language.
13920 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13921 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13922 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13923 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13924 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13925 for further details.
13928 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13930 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13932 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
13933 checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
13934 will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
13935 constants to pointers.
13937 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13938 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13939 that is not itself an array.
13942 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13944 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13945 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13946 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13947 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13949 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13950 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13953 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13954 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13956 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13958 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13959 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13962 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13963 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13964 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13965 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13966 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13967 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13969 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13970 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13971 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13972 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13974 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13976 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13978 @itemx catch rethrow
13980 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13981 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13983 @cindex inheritance
13984 @item ptype @var{typename}
13985 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13987 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13989 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13990 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13991 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13992 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13993 multiple inheritance is in use.
13995 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13996 @item set print demangle
13997 @itemx show print demangle
13998 @itemx set print asm-demangle
13999 @itemx show print asm-demangle
14000 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
14001 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
14002 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14004 @item set print object
14005 @itemx show print object
14006 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
14007 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14009 @item set print vtbl
14010 @itemx show print vtbl
14011 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
14012 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14013 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
14014 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
14016 @kindex set overload-resolution
14017 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
14018 @item set overload-resolution on
14019 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
14020 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
14021 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
14022 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
14023 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
14024 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
14026 @item set overload-resolution off
14027 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
14028 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14029 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
14030 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
14031 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14032 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
14035 @kindex show overload-resolution
14036 @item show overload-resolution
14037 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
14039 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
14040 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
14041 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
14042 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
14043 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
14044 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
14045 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
14048 @node Decimal Floating Point
14049 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
14050 @cindex decimal floating point format
14052 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
14053 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
14054 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
14055 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
14057 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
14058 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
14059 PowerPC and S/390. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the
14062 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
14063 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
14064 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
14066 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
14067 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
14068 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
14070 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
14071 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
14072 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
14078 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
14079 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
14080 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
14085 @cindex Go (programming language)
14086 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
14087 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
14089 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
14092 @cindex current Go package
14093 @item The current Go package
14094 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
14095 specifying global variables and functions.
14097 For example, given the program:
14101 var myglob = "Shall we?"
14107 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
14111 (gdb) p main.myglob
14114 @cindex builtin Go types
14115 @item Builtin Go types
14116 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
14119 @cindex builtin Go functions
14120 @item Builtin Go functions
14121 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
14122 function and handles it internally.
14124 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
14125 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
14126 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
14127 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
14128 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
14132 @subsection Objective-C
14134 @cindex Objective-C
14135 This section provides information about some commands and command
14136 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
14137 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
14138 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
14141 * Method Names in Commands::
14142 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
14145 @node Method Names in Commands
14146 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
14148 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
14149 names as line specifications:
14151 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
14152 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
14153 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
14154 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
14155 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
14159 @item @code{info line}
14164 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
14167 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
14170 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
14171 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
14172 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
14173 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
14174 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
14175 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
14179 break -[Fruit create]
14182 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
14186 list +[NSText initialize]
14189 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
14190 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
14191 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
14192 is also possible to specify just a method name:
14198 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
14199 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
14200 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
14201 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
14204 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
14205 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
14208 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
14211 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
14212 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
14213 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
14214 @kindex print-object
14215 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
14217 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
14220 print -[@var{object} hash]
14223 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
14224 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
14226 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
14227 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
14228 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
14229 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
14230 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
14231 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
14234 @subsection OpenCL C
14237 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
14240 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
14241 * OpenCL C Expressions::
14242 * OpenCL C Operators::
14245 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
14246 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
14248 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
14249 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
14250 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
14251 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
14252 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
14254 @node OpenCL C Expressions
14255 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
14257 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
14258 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
14259 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
14260 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
14262 @node OpenCL C Operators
14263 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
14265 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
14266 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
14270 @subsection Fortran
14271 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
14273 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
14274 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
14276 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
14277 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
14278 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
14279 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
14280 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
14284 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
14285 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
14286 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
14289 @node Fortran Operators
14290 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
14292 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
14294 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14295 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
14296 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
14300 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
14304 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
14305 represent a section of array.
14308 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
14309 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
14310 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
14314 @node Fortran Defaults
14315 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
14317 @cindex Fortran Defaults
14319 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
14320 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
14321 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
14322 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
14324 @node Special Fortran Commands
14325 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
14327 @cindex Special Fortran commands
14329 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
14330 such as displaying common blocks.
14333 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
14334 @kindex info common
14335 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
14336 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
14337 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
14338 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
14345 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
14346 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
14347 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
14348 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
14351 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
14352 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
14353 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
14356 @subsection Modula-2
14358 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
14360 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
14361 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
14362 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
14363 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14364 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
14367 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
14369 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
14370 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
14371 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
14372 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
14373 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
14374 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
14375 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
14376 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14377 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14381 @subsubsection Operators
14382 @cindex Modula-2 operators
14384 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14385 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14386 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
14387 following definitions hold:
14392 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
14396 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
14399 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
14402 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
14406 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
14409 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
14412 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
14416 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
14417 increasing precedence:
14421 Function argument or array index separator.
14424 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
14428 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
14432 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
14433 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
14434 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
14436 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
14437 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
14438 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
14439 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
14443 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
14444 Same precedence as @code{<}.
14447 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14450 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14453 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14456 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
14457 and difference on set types.
14460 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
14464 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
14465 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
14468 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
14469 precedence as @code{*}.
14472 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
14475 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
14478 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
14482 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
14483 precedence as @code{^}.
14486 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
14489 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
14493 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
14497 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
14498 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
14499 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
14500 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
14504 @node Built-In Func/Proc
14505 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
14506 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
14508 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
14509 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
14514 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
14517 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
14520 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
14523 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
14524 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
14525 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
14528 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
14531 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
14537 represents a variable.
14540 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
14541 explanation of the function for details.
14544 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
14548 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
14551 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
14552 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
14555 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14558 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14560 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
14561 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14564 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14565 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
14568 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
14569 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
14571 @item HIGH(@var{a})
14572 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
14575 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14577 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
14578 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14581 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14582 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
14583 there. Returns the new set.
14586 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
14589 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
14592 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
14595 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
14596 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
14597 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
14598 integral, character and enumerated types.
14600 @item SIZE(@var{x})
14601 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14603 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
14604 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
14606 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
14607 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14609 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
14610 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14614 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
14615 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
14619 @cindex Modula-2 constants
14621 @subsubsection Constants
14623 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
14629 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
14630 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
14631 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
14632 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
14635 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
14636 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
14637 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
14638 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
14639 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
14643 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
14644 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
14645 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
14646 followed by a @samp{C}.
14649 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
14650 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
14651 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
14652 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
14656 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
14659 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
14663 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
14666 Set constants are not yet supported.
14670 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
14671 @cindex Modula-2 types
14673 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
14674 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
14675 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
14676 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
14677 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
14678 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
14680 The first example contains the following section of code:
14689 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
14690 @code{r} and @code{s}.
14693 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14695 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14697 (@value{GDBP}) print r
14699 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14704 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14708 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14712 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14715 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14716 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14720 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14721 expressions using the debugger.
14723 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14724 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14728 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14732 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14733 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14736 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
14737 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
14738 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14741 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14745 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14746 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14754 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14755 and value of a variable.
14758 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14760 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14761 type = [blue..yellow]
14765 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14766 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14767 their @code{C} counterparts.
14771 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14777 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14778 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14779 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14780 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14783 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14784 pointer types as shown in this example:
14788 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14795 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14798 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14799 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14802 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14803 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14814 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14815 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14817 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14821 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14825 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14826 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14829 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14834 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14835 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
14837 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14838 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14839 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14840 selected the working language.
14842 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14843 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14844 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14845 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14848 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14849 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14851 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14852 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14856 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14857 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14858 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14859 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14860 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14861 returned a pointer.)
14864 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14865 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14866 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14867 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14870 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14874 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14878 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14879 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14882 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14885 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14887 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14891 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14892 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14895 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14896 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14899 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14900 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14902 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14903 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14906 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14908 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14909 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14911 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14912 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14915 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14918 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14919 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14924 @var{module} . @var{id}
14925 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14929 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14930 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14931 identifier within your program, except another module.
14933 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14934 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14935 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14936 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14938 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14939 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14940 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14941 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14942 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14946 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14948 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14949 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14950 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14951 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14952 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14953 analogue in Modula-2.
14955 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14956 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14957 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14958 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14959 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14960 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14962 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14963 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14964 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14970 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14971 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14972 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14973 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14977 @cindex expressions in Ada
14979 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14980 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14982 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14983 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14984 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14985 * Ada Exceptions:: Ada Exceptions
14986 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14987 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14988 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14990 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14993 @node Ada Mode Intro
14994 @subsubsection Introduction
14995 @cindex Ada mode, general
14997 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14998 syntax, with some extensions.
14999 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
15003 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
15004 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
15005 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
15006 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
15009 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
15010 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15013 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15016 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
15017 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
15018 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
15019 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
15020 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
15022 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
15023 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
15024 was translated from an Ada source file.
15026 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
15027 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
15028 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
15029 middle (to allow based literals).
15031 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
15032 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
15033 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
15034 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
15035 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
15036 functions to procedures elsewhere.
15038 @node Omissions from Ada
15039 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
15040 @cindex Ada, omissions from
15042 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
15046 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
15050 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
15051 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
15054 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
15057 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
15063 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
15064 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
15067 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
15068 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
15076 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
15077 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
15078 not currently available.
15081 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
15082 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
15083 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
15084 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
15085 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
15086 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
15087 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
15088 indeterminate values.
15091 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
15092 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
15093 are not implemented.
15096 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
15097 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
15098 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
15099 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
15100 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
15103 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
15104 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
15105 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
15106 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
15107 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
15108 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
15112 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
15113 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
15114 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
15115 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
15116 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
15117 declared to have a type such as:
15120 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
15122 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
15126 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
15130 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
15131 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
15134 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
15135 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
15136 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
15137 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
15138 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
15139 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
15140 redundant component associations, although which component values are
15141 assigned in such cases is not defined.
15144 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
15147 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
15148 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
15149 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
15150 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
15151 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
15152 the proper resolution.
15155 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
15158 Entry calls are not implemented.
15161 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
15162 formats are not supported.
15165 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
15168 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
15169 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
15171 Should your program
15172 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
15173 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
15176 @node Additions to Ada
15177 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
15178 @cindex Ada, deviations from
15180 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
15181 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
15185 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
15186 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
15187 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
15188 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
15189 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
15190 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
15191 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
15192 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
15195 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
15196 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
15197 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
15200 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
15201 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
15204 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
15205 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
15208 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
15209 additions specific to Ada:
15213 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
15214 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
15217 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
15218 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
15222 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
15223 the value of its right-hand operand.
15224 This allows, for example,
15225 complex conditional breaks:
15228 (@value{GDBP}) break f
15229 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
15233 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
15234 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
15235 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
15236 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
15237 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
15238 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
15239 in strings. For example,
15241 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
15244 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
15248 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
15249 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
15253 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
15257 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
15258 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
15259 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
15260 of 3 might print as
15267 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
15271 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
15272 multi-character subsequence of
15273 their names (an exact match gets preference).
15274 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
15275 in place of @t{a'length}.
15278 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
15279 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
15280 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
15281 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
15282 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
15283 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
15286 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
15290 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
15291 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
15292 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
15293 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
15298 @node Stopping Before Main Program
15299 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
15301 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
15302 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
15303 before reaching the main procedure.
15304 As defined in the Ada Reference
15305 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
15306 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
15307 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
15308 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
15310 @node Ada Exceptions
15311 @subsubsection Ada Exceptions
15313 A command is provided to list all Ada exceptions:
15316 @kindex info exceptions
15317 @item info exceptions
15318 @itemx info exceptions @var{regexp}
15319 The @code{info exceptions} command allows you to list all Ada exceptions
15320 defined within the program being debugged, as well as their addresses.
15321 With a regular expression, @var{regexp}, as argument, only those exceptions
15322 whose names match @var{regexp} are listed.
15325 Below is a small example, showing how the command can be used, first
15326 without argument, and next with a regular expression passed as an
15330 (@value{GDBP}) info exceptions
15331 All defined Ada exceptions:
15332 constraint_error: 0x613da0
15333 program_error: 0x613d20
15334 storage_error: 0x613ce0
15335 tasking_error: 0x613ca0
15336 const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
15337 (@value{GDBP}) info exceptions const.aint
15338 All Ada exceptions matching regular expression "const.aint":
15339 constraint_error: 0x613da0
15340 const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
15343 It is also possible to ask @value{GDBN} to stop your program's execution
15344 when an exception is raised. For more details, see @ref{Set Catchpoints}.
15347 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
15348 @cindex Ada, tasking
15350 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
15351 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
15356 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
15363 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15364 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15365 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15366 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
15367 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
15368 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
15373 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
15374 task currently being inspected.
15378 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
15384 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
15387 The base priority of the task.
15390 Current state of the task.
15394 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
15398 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
15399 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
15402 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
15403 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
15404 terminated themselves.
15406 @item Child Activation Wait
15407 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
15409 @item Accept Statement
15410 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
15412 @item Waiting on entry call
15413 The task is waiting on an entry call.
15415 @item Async Select Wait
15416 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
15420 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
15423 @item Child Termination Wait
15424 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
15425 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
15426 waiting on a terminate Phase.
15428 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
15429 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
15430 finish terminating.
15432 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
15433 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
15437 Name of the task in the program.
15441 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
15442 @item info task @var{taskno}
15443 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
15444 the following example:
15449 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15450 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15451 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15452 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
15453 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
15454 Ada Task: 0x807c468
15457 Parent: 1 (main_task)
15463 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
15464 @cindex current Ada task ID
15465 This command prints the ID of the current task.
15471 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15472 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15473 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15474 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15475 (@value{GDBP}) task
15476 [Current task is 2]
15479 @item task @var{taskno}
15480 @cindex Ada task switching
15481 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
15482 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
15483 from the current task to the given task.
15489 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15490 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15491 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15492 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15493 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
15494 [Switching to task 1]
15495 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15497 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15498 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
15499 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
15500 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
15501 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
15504 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
15505 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
15506 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
15507 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
15508 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
15509 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
15510 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
15511 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
15512 in @ref{Specify Location}.
15514 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
15515 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
15516 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
15517 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
15518 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
15520 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
15521 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
15524 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
15525 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
15526 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
15534 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15535 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15536 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15537 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
15538 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15539 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
15540 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
15541 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
15542 (@value{GDBP}) cont
15547 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
15549 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15550 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15551 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15552 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
15553 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15554 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
15558 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
15559 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15560 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
15562 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
15563 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
15564 the platform being used.
15565 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
15566 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
15569 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
15570 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
15571 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
15572 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
15573 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
15574 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
15576 @node Ravenscar Profile
15577 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
15578 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
15580 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
15581 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
15585 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
15586 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
15587 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
15588 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15589 Profile. This is the default.
15591 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
15592 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
15593 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15594 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
15595 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
15596 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
15597 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
15599 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
15600 @item show ravenscar task-switching
15601 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
15602 using the Ravenscar Profile.
15607 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
15608 @cindex Ada, problems
15610 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
15611 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
15613 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
15614 and the GNU Ada compiler.
15618 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
15619 storage are invisible to the debugger.
15622 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
15623 argument lists are treated as positional).
15626 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
15629 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
15630 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
15634 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
15635 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
15636 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
15637 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
15638 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
15639 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
15640 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
15641 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
15642 you can usually resolve the confusion
15643 by qualifying the problematic names with package
15644 @code{Standard} explicitly.
15647 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
15648 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
15649 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
15650 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
15651 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
15654 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15655 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15658 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
15659 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
15660 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
15661 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
15662 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
15663 This is the default.
15665 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
15666 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
15667 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
15668 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
15669 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
15670 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
15671 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
15675 @node Unsupported Languages
15676 @section Unsupported Languages
15678 @cindex unsupported languages
15679 @cindex minimal language
15680 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
15681 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
15682 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
15683 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
15684 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
15685 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
15687 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
15688 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
15692 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
15694 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
15695 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
15696 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
15697 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
15698 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
15699 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
15700 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15702 @cindex symbol names
15703 @cindex names of symbols
15704 @cindex quoting names
15705 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
15706 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
15707 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
15708 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
15709 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
15710 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
15711 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
15712 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
15719 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
15722 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
15723 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
15724 @kindex set case-sensitive
15725 @item set case-sensitive on
15726 @itemx set case-sensitive off
15727 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
15728 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
15729 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
15730 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
15731 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
15732 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
15733 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
15734 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
15735 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
15736 case-insensitive matches.
15738 @kindex show case-sensitive
15739 @item show case-sensitive
15740 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
15743 @kindex set print type methods
15744 @item set print type methods
15745 @itemx set print type methods on
15746 @itemx set print type methods off
15747 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
15748 declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15749 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15750 print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15751 display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
15752 cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
15754 @kindex show print type methods
15755 @item show print type methods
15756 This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
15759 @kindex set print type typedefs
15760 @item set print type typedefs
15761 @itemx set print type typedefs on
15762 @itemx set print type typedefs off
15764 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
15765 defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15766 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15767 print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15768 display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
15769 @code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
15770 Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
15771 printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
15774 @kindex show print type typedefs
15775 @item show print type typedefs
15776 This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
15779 @kindex info address
15780 @cindex address of a symbol
15781 @item info address @var{symbol}
15782 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
15783 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
15784 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
15787 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
15788 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
15789 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
15791 @kindex info symbol
15792 @cindex symbol from address
15793 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
15794 @item info symbol @var{addr}
15795 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
15796 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
15797 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
15800 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
15801 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
15805 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
15806 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
15808 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
15809 library containing the symbol is also printed:
15812 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15813 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15814 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15815 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15819 @item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15820 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15821 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15822 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15824 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15825 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15826 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15828 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15829 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15830 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15831 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15832 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15833 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15834 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15835 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15836 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15838 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15839 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15840 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15841 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15842 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15845 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15846 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15847 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15849 @var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
15850 Available flags are:
15854 Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
15855 parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
15856 members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
15859 Do not print methods defined in the class.
15862 Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15863 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
15866 Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
15867 whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
15868 names are substituted when printing other types.
15871 Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15872 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
15876 @item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15877 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15878 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15879 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15881 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15882 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15883 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15884 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15885 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15886 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15887 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15888 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15890 For example, for this variable declaration:
15893 typedef double real_t;
15894 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15895 typedef struct complex complex_t;
15897 real_t *real_pointer_var;
15901 the two commands give this output:
15905 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15907 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15908 type = struct complex @{
15912 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15913 type = struct complex
15914 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15915 type = struct complex
15916 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15917 type = struct complex @{
15921 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15923 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15929 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15930 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15932 @cindex incomplete type
15933 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15934 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15935 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15936 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15937 given these declarations:
15941 struct foo *fooptr;
15945 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15948 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15949 $1 = <incomplete type>
15953 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15954 completely specified.
15957 @item info types @var{regexp}
15959 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15960 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15961 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15962 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15963 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15964 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15965 name is @code{value}.
15967 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15968 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15969 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15971 @kindex info type-printers
15972 @item info type-printers
15973 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
15974 have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
15975 @command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
15976 is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
15979 @code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
15981 @kindex enable type-printer
15982 @kindex disable type-printer
15983 @item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15984 @item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15985 These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
15988 @cindex local variables
15989 @item info scope @var{location}
15990 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15991 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15992 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15993 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15994 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15997 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15998 Scope for command_line_handler:
15999 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
16000 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
16001 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
16002 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
16003 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
16004 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
16005 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
16009 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
16010 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
16013 @kindex info source
16015 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
16016 the function containing the current point of execution:
16019 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
16021 the directory it was compiled in,
16023 its length, in lines,
16025 which programming language it is written in,
16027 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
16028 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
16030 whether the debugging information includes information about
16031 preprocessor macros.
16035 @kindex info sources
16037 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
16038 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
16039 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
16041 @kindex info functions
16042 @item info functions
16043 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
16045 @item info functions @var{regexp}
16046 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
16047 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
16048 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
16049 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
16050 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
16051 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
16052 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
16054 @kindex info variables
16055 @item info variables
16056 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
16057 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
16059 @item info variables @var{regexp}
16060 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
16061 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
16064 @kindex info classes
16065 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
16067 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
16068 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
16069 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16072 @kindex info selectors
16073 @item info selectors
16074 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
16075 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
16076 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16080 This was never implemented.
16081 @kindex info methods
16083 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
16084 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
16085 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
16086 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
16087 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
16088 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
16089 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
16090 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
16093 @cindex opaque data types
16094 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
16095 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
16096 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
16097 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
16098 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
16099 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
16100 another source file. The default is on.
16102 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
16103 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
16105 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
16106 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
16107 is printed as follows:
16109 @{<no data fields>@}
16112 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
16113 @item show opaque-type-resolution
16114 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
16116 @kindex maint print symbols
16117 @cindex symbol dump
16118 @kindex maint print psymbols
16119 @cindex partial symbol dump
16120 @kindex maint print msymbols
16121 @cindex minimal symbol dump
16122 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
16123 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
16124 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
16125 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
16126 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
16127 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
16128 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
16129 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
16130 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
16131 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
16132 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
16133 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
16134 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
16135 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
16136 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
16137 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
16138 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
16140 @kindex maint info symtabs
16141 @kindex maint info psymtabs
16142 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
16143 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16144 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16145 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16146 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16147 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16149 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
16150 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
16151 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
16152 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
16153 structure in more detail. For example:
16156 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
16157 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16158 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16159 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16160 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
16163 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
16164 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
16165 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
16166 dependencies (none)
16169 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16173 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
16174 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
16175 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
16176 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
16177 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
16180 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
16181 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
16183 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16184 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16185 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16186 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16187 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
16190 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
16191 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
16192 debugformat DWARF 2
16201 @chapter Altering Execution
16203 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
16204 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
16205 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
16206 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
16209 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
16210 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
16211 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
16214 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
16215 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
16216 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
16217 * Returning:: Returning from a function
16218 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
16219 * Patching:: Patching your program
16223 @section Assignment to Variables
16226 @cindex setting variables
16227 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
16228 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
16235 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
16236 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
16237 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
16238 information on operators in supported languages.
16240 @kindex set variable
16241 @cindex variables, setting
16242 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
16243 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
16244 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
16245 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
16246 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
16248 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
16249 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
16250 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
16251 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
16252 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
16253 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
16254 command @code{set width}:
16257 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
16259 (@value{GDBP}) p width
16261 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
16262 Invalid syntax in expression.
16266 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
16267 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
16270 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
16273 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
16274 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
16275 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
16276 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
16277 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
16278 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
16282 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
16286 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
16290 The program being debugged has been started already.
16291 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
16292 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
16293 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
16294 Invalid bfd target.
16295 (@value{GDBP}) show g
16296 The current BFD target is "=4".
16301 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
16302 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
16306 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
16309 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
16310 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
16311 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
16312 same length or shorter.
16313 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
16314 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
16316 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
16317 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
16318 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
16319 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
16320 and representation in memory), and
16323 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
16327 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
16330 @section Continuing at a Different Address
16332 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
16333 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
16334 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
16338 @kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
16339 @item jump @var{linespec}
16340 @itemx j @var{linespec}
16341 @itemx jump @var{location}
16342 @itemx j @var{location}
16343 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
16344 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
16345 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
16346 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
16347 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
16348 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
16350 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
16351 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
16352 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
16353 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
16354 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
16355 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
16356 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
16357 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
16358 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
16361 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
16362 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
16363 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
16364 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
16365 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
16373 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
16374 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
16375 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
16377 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
16378 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
16379 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
16384 @section Giving your Program a Signal
16385 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
16389 @item signal @var{signal}
16390 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
16391 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
16392 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
16393 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
16395 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
16396 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
16397 a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
16398 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
16401 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
16402 after executing the command.
16406 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
16407 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
16408 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
16409 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
16410 passes the signal directly to your program.
16414 @section Returning from a Function
16417 @cindex returning from a function
16420 @itemx return @var{expression}
16421 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
16422 command. If you give an
16423 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
16427 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
16428 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
16429 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
16430 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
16432 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
16433 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
16434 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
16435 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
16438 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
16439 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
16440 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
16441 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
16442 selected stack frame returns naturally.
16444 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
16445 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
16446 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
16447 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
16448 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
16449 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
16450 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
16451 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
16452 assignment into the right register(s).
16454 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
16455 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
16456 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
16457 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
16458 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
16459 into a @code{long long int}:
16462 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
16464 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16465 Make func return now? (y or n) y
16466 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
16467 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
16471 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
16472 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
16473 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
16474 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
16475 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
16476 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
16477 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
16478 an appropriate cast explicitly:
16481 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
16482 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16483 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
16484 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
16485 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
16486 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
16487 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
16492 @section Calling Program Functions
16495 @cindex calling functions
16496 @cindex inferior functions, calling
16497 @item print @var{expr}
16498 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
16499 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
16503 @item call @var{expr}
16504 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
16507 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
16508 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
16509 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
16510 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
16511 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
16515 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
16516 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
16517 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
16518 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
16520 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
16521 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
16522 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
16523 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
16524 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
16525 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
16526 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
16527 in that case is controlled by the
16528 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
16531 @item set unwindonsignal
16532 @kindex set unwindonsignal
16533 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
16534 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
16535 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
16536 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
16537 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
16538 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
16539 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
16542 @item show unwindonsignal
16543 @kindex show unwindonsignal
16544 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16547 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16548 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16549 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
16550 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
16551 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
16552 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
16553 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
16554 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
16555 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
16556 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
16558 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16559 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16560 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16565 @cindex weak alias functions
16566 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
16567 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
16568 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
16569 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
16570 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
16571 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
16575 @section Patching Programs
16577 @cindex patching binaries
16578 @cindex writing into executables
16579 @cindex writing into corefiles
16581 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
16582 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
16583 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
16584 patching your program's binary.
16586 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
16587 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
16588 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
16594 @itemx set write off
16595 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
16596 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
16597 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
16599 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
16600 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
16601 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
16605 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
16606 as well as reading.
16610 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
16612 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
16613 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
16614 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
16615 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
16618 * Files:: Commands to specify files
16619 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
16620 * MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
16621 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
16622 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
16623 * Data Files:: GDB data files
16627 @section Commands to Specify Files
16629 @cindex symbol table
16630 @cindex core dump file
16632 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
16633 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
16634 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
16635 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
16637 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
16638 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
16639 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
16640 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
16641 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
16642 new files are useful.
16645 @cindex executable file
16647 @item file @var{filename}
16648 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
16649 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
16650 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
16651 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
16652 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
16653 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
16654 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
16655 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
16657 @cindex unlinked object files
16658 @cindex patching object files
16659 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
16660 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
16661 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
16662 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
16663 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
16664 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
16665 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
16666 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
16669 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
16670 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
16673 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16674 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
16675 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
16676 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
16677 discard information on the executable file.
16679 @kindex symbol-file
16680 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16681 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
16682 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
16683 table and program to run from the same file.
16685 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
16686 program's symbol table.
16688 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
16689 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
16690 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
16691 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
16694 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
16697 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
16698 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
16699 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
16700 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
16701 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
16702 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
16705 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
16706 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
16707 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
16708 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
16709 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
16711 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
16712 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
16713 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
16714 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
16715 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
16716 Warnings and Messages}.)
16718 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
16719 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
16720 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
16721 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
16725 @cindex reading symbols immediately
16726 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
16727 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16728 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16729 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
16730 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
16731 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
16732 entire symbol table available.
16734 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
16735 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
16736 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
16737 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
16738 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
16739 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
16743 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
16745 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
16746 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
16747 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
16748 executable file itself for other parts.
16750 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
16753 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
16754 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
16755 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
16756 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
16757 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
16759 @kindex add-symbol-file
16760 @cindex dynamic linking
16761 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
16762 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
16763 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
16764 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
16765 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
16766 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
16767 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
16768 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
16769 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
16770 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
16771 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
16772 @var{address} as an expression.
16774 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
16775 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
16776 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
16777 thus read is kept in addition to the old.
16779 Changes can be reverted using the command @code{remove-symbol-file}.
16781 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
16782 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
16783 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
16784 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
16785 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
16786 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
16787 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
16788 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
16789 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
16793 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
16794 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
16796 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
16797 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
16799 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
16800 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16804 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
16805 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
16806 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
16807 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
16808 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
16809 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
16810 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
16811 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
16812 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
16815 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16817 @kindex remove-symbol-file
16818 @item remove-symbol-file @var{filename}
16819 @item remove-symbol-file -a @var{address}
16820 Remove a symbol file added via the @code{add-symbol-file} command. The
16821 file to remove can be identified by its @var{filename} or by an @var{address}
16822 that lies within the boundaries of this symbol file in memory. Example:
16825 (gdb) add-symbol-file /home/user/gdb/mylib.so 0x7ffff7ff9480
16826 add symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so" at
16827 .text_addr = 0x7ffff7ff9480
16829 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/mylib.so...done.
16830 (gdb) remove-symbol-file -a 0x7ffff7ff9480
16831 Remove symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so"? (y or n) y
16836 @code{remove-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16838 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
16839 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
16840 @cindex load symbols from memory
16841 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
16842 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
16843 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
16844 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
16845 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
16846 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
16847 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
16848 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
16849 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
16851 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
16853 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
16854 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
16855 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
16856 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
16857 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
16858 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
16859 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
16860 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
16861 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
16862 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
16865 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
16866 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
16867 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
16868 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
16869 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
16870 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
16871 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
16875 @kindex info target
16878 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
16879 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
16880 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
16881 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16882 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16885 @kindex maint info sections
16886 @item maint info sections
16887 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16888 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16889 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16890 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16891 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16892 may be arbitrarily combined):
16896 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16897 @item @var{sections}
16898 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16899 @item @var{section-flags}
16900 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16901 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16904 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16905 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16907 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16908 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16910 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16912 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16914 Section contains executable code only.
16916 Section contains data only (no executable code).
16918 Section will reside in ROM.
16920 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16922 Section is not empty.
16924 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16925 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16926 A notification to the linker that the section contains
16927 COFF shared library information.
16929 Section contains common symbols.
16932 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16933 @cindex read-only sections
16934 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
16935 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16936 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16937 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16938 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16939 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16940 enhancement to debugging performance.
16942 The default is off.
16944 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
16945 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16946 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16947 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16949 @item show trust-readonly-sections
16950 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16953 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16954 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16955 name and remembers it that way.
16957 @cindex shared libraries
16958 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
16959 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16960 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16962 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16963 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16965 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16966 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16967 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16968 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16969 debugging a core file).
16971 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
16972 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
16974 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
16975 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
16976 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
16978 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
16979 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
16980 particularly large or there are many of them.
16982 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16986 @kindex set auto-solib-add
16987 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16988 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16989 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16990 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16991 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16992 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16993 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16995 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
16996 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16997 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16998 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16999 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
17000 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
17001 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
17002 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
17003 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
17005 @kindex show auto-solib-add
17006 @item show auto-solib-add
17007 Display the current autoloading mode.
17010 @cindex load shared library
17011 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
17015 @kindex info sharedlibrary
17017 @item info share @var{regex}
17018 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
17019 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
17020 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
17021 all shared libraries that are loaded.
17023 @kindex sharedlibrary
17025 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
17026 @itemx share @var{regex}
17027 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
17028 Unix regular expression.
17029 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
17030 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
17031 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
17034 @item nosharedlibrary
17035 @kindex nosharedlibrary
17036 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
17037 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
17038 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
17039 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
17043 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
17044 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
17045 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
17048 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
17049 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
17050 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
17051 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
17054 @item set stop-on-solib-events
17055 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
17056 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
17057 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
17058 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
17061 @item show stop-on-solib-events
17062 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
17063 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
17064 library events happen.
17067 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
17068 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
17069 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
17070 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
17071 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
17072 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
17073 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
17076 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
17077 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
17078 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
17079 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
17080 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
17083 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
17084 @cindex system root, alternate
17085 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
17086 @kindex set sysroot
17087 @item set sysroot @var{path}
17088 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
17089 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
17090 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
17091 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
17092 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
17093 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
17096 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
17097 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
17098 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
17099 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
17100 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
17101 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
17102 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
17103 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
17104 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
17106 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
17107 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
17108 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
17109 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
17110 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
17113 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
17116 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
17117 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
17121 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
17124 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
17125 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
17126 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
17130 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
17133 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
17134 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
17135 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
17139 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
17140 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17141 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17145 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
17146 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
17147 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
17149 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
17150 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
17153 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
17156 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
17157 if you don't want or need to.
17159 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
17162 @cindex default system root
17163 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
17164 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
17165 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
17166 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17167 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
17168 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17171 @kindex show sysroot
17173 Display the current shared library prefix.
17175 @kindex set solib-search-path
17176 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
17177 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17178 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
17179 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
17180 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
17181 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
17182 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
17183 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
17184 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
17185 of shared library symbols.
17187 @kindex show solib-search-path
17188 @item show solib-search-path
17189 Display the current shared library search path.
17191 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
17192 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
17193 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
17194 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
17195 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
17197 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
17198 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
17199 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
17200 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
17201 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
17202 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
17203 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
17204 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
17205 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
17206 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
17207 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
17208 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
17209 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
17210 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
17211 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
17212 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
17213 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
17214 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
17215 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
17216 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
17217 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
17218 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
17222 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
17223 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
17224 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
17228 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
17229 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
17230 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
17231 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
17232 considered directory separators.
17235 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
17236 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
17237 This is the default.
17241 @cindex file name canonicalization
17242 @cindex base name differences
17243 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
17244 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
17245 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
17246 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
17247 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
17248 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
17249 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
17250 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
17251 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
17252 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
17253 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
17254 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
17255 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
17256 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
17257 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
17260 @item set basenames-may-differ
17261 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
17262 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17264 @item show basenames-may-differ
17265 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
17266 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17269 @node Separate Debug Files
17270 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
17271 @cindex separate debugging information files
17272 @cindex debugging information in separate files
17273 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
17274 @cindex debugging information directory, global
17275 @cindex global debugging information directories
17276 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
17277 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
17279 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
17280 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
17281 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
17282 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
17283 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
17284 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
17285 install only when they need to debug a problem.
17287 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
17292 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
17293 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
17294 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
17295 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
17296 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
17297 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
17298 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
17299 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
17302 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
17303 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
17304 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
17305 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
17306 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
17307 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
17308 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
17309 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
17313 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
17314 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
17318 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
17319 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
17320 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
17321 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
17322 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
17325 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
17326 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
17327 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
17328 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
17329 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
17330 hex characters, not 10.)
17333 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
17334 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
17335 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
17336 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
17337 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
17338 debug information files, in the indicated order:
17342 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
17344 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
17346 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
17348 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
17351 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
17352 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
17353 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
17354 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
17355 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
17359 @kindex set debug-file-directory
17360 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
17361 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17362 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
17363 concatenating them by a path separator.
17365 @kindex show debug-file-directory
17366 @item show debug-file-directory
17367 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17372 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
17373 @cindex debug link sections
17374 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
17375 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
17379 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
17382 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
17383 boundary within the section, and
17385 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
17386 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
17387 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
17388 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
17391 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
17392 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
17395 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
17396 @cindex build ID sections
17397 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
17398 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
17399 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
17400 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
17401 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
17402 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
17403 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
17404 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
17405 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
17407 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
17408 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
17409 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
17410 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
17411 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
17412 in an ordinary executable.
17414 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
17415 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
17416 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
17417 following commands:
17420 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
17425 These commands remove the debugging
17426 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
17427 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
17432 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
17433 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
17436 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
17439 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
17440 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
17441 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
17442 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
17445 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
17446 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
17447 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
17448 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
17453 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
17454 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
17455 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
17457 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
17458 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
17459 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
17464 <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>
17465 + <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
17471 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
17472 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
17476 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
17477 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
17478 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
17479 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
17482 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
17483 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
17484 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
17485 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
17486 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
17487 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
17489 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
17490 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
17491 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
17492 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
17495 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
17498 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
17499 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
17501 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
17503 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
17504 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
17505 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
17506 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
17507 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
17508 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
17509 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
17510 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
17511 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
17512 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
17513 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
17514 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
17515 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
17516 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
17517 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
17518 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
17519 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
17520 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
17521 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
17522 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
17523 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
17524 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
17525 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
17526 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
17527 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
17528 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
17529 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
17530 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
17531 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
17532 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
17533 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
17534 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
17535 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
17536 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
17537 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
17538 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
17539 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
17540 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
17541 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
17542 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
17543 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
17544 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
17545 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
17546 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
17547 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
17548 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
17549 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
17550 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
17551 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
17552 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
17553 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
17556 unsigned char *end;
17558 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17559 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
17560 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
17561 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17566 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
17568 @node MiniDebugInfo
17569 @section Debugging information in a special section
17570 @cindex separate debug sections
17571 @cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
17573 Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
17574 special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
17575 @dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
17576 is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
17578 The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
17579 information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
17580 replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
17581 Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
17582 @value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
17583 debugging information might be included in the section.
17585 @value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
17586 then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
17587 can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
17589 This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
17590 standard utilities:
17593 # Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
17594 # to also have these in the normal symbol table.
17595 nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17596 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
17598 # Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo.
17599 # (Note that we actually also accept "D" symbols, for the benefit
17600 # of platforms like PowerPC64 that use function descriptors.)
17601 nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17602 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t" || $2 == "D") print $1 @}' \
17605 # Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
17607 comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
17609 # Separate full debug info into debug binary.
17610 objcopy --only-keep-debug @var{binary} debug
17612 # Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
17613 # removing some unnecessary sections.
17614 objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
17615 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols debug mini_debuginfo
17617 # Drop the full debug info from the original binary.
17618 strip --strip-all -R .comment @var{binary}
17620 # Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
17623 objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
17627 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
17628 @cindex index files
17629 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
17631 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
17632 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
17633 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
17634 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
17635 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
17638 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
17639 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
17640 using @command{objcopy}.
17642 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
17645 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
17646 @kindex save gdb-index
17647 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
17648 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
17649 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
17653 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
17654 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
17657 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
17658 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
17661 @value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
17662 sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
17663 they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
17664 To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
17665 specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
17666 The default is @code{off}.
17667 This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
17668 @xref{Index Section Format}.
17670 @emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
17671 must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
17674 $ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17677 Instead you must do, for example,
17680 $ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17683 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
17684 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
17685 currently work for programs using Ada.
17687 @node Symbol Errors
17688 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
17690 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
17691 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
17692 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
17693 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
17694 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
17695 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
17696 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
17697 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
17698 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
17699 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17702 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
17705 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
17707 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
17708 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
17709 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
17710 in its outer scope blocks.
17712 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
17713 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
17714 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
17717 @item block at @var{address} out of order
17719 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
17720 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
17723 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
17724 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
17725 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
17726 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17729 @item bad block start address patched
17731 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
17732 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
17733 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
17735 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
17736 starting on the previous source line.
17738 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
17741 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
17742 larger than the size of the string table.
17744 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
17745 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
17748 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
17750 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
17751 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
17752 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
17754 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
17755 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
17756 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
17757 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
17758 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
17759 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
17761 @item stub type has NULL name
17763 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
17765 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
17766 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
17767 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
17770 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
17772 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
17777 @section GDB Data Files
17779 @cindex prefix for data files
17780 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
17781 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
17783 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
17784 is currently using.
17787 @kindex set data-directory
17788 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
17789 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
17790 to @var{directory}.
17792 @kindex show data-directory
17793 @item show data-directory
17794 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
17797 @cindex default data directory
17798 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
17799 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
17800 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
17801 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17802 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
17803 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17806 The data directory may also be specified with the
17807 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
17808 @xref{Mode Options}.
17811 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
17813 @cindex debugging target
17814 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
17816 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
17817 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
17818 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
17819 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
17820 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
17821 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
17822 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
17823 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
17825 @cindex target architecture
17826 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
17827 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
17828 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
17832 @kindex set architecture
17833 @kindex show architecture
17834 @item set architecture @var{arch}
17835 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
17836 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
17837 supported architectures.
17839 @item show architecture
17840 Show the current target architecture.
17842 @item set processor
17844 @kindex set processor
17845 @kindex show processor
17846 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
17847 and @code{show architecture}.
17851 * Active Targets:: Active targets
17852 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
17853 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
17856 @node Active Targets
17857 @section Active Targets
17859 @cindex stacking targets
17860 @cindex active targets
17861 @cindex multiple targets
17863 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
17864 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
17865 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
17866 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
17867 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
17868 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
17869 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
17870 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
17871 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
17873 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
17874 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
17875 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
17876 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
17878 @node Target Commands
17879 @section Commands for Managing Targets
17882 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
17883 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
17884 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
17885 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
17886 protocol of the target machine.
17888 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
17889 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
17890 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
17892 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
17893 after executing the command.
17895 @kindex help target
17897 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
17898 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
17899 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17901 @item help target @var{name}
17902 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
17905 @kindex set gnutarget
17906 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
17907 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
17908 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
17909 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
17910 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
17911 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
17914 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
17915 you must know the actual BFD name.
17919 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
17921 @kindex show gnutarget
17922 @item show gnutarget
17923 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
17924 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
17925 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
17926 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
17929 @cindex common targets
17930 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
17935 @item target exec @var{program}
17936 @cindex executable file target
17937 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
17938 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
17940 @item target core @var{filename}
17941 @cindex core dump file target
17942 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
17943 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
17945 @item target remote @var{medium}
17946 @cindex remote target
17947 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
17948 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
17949 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
17951 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
17952 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
17955 target remote /dev/ttya
17958 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
17959 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
17960 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
17961 clobbered by the download.
17963 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17964 @cindex built-in simulator target
17965 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
17973 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
17974 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
17975 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
17976 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
17981 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
17982 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
17984 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
17985 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
17986 various aspects of this process.
17991 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17992 @cindex hash mark while downloading
17993 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
17994 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
17995 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
17999 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
18000 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
18002 @item set debug monitor
18003 @kindex set debug monitor
18004 @cindex display remote monitor communications
18005 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
18006 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
18008 @item show debug monitor
18009 @kindex show debug monitor
18010 Show the current status of displaying communications between
18011 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
18016 @kindex load @var{filename}
18017 @item load @var{filename}
18019 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
18020 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
18021 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
18022 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
18023 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
18024 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
18026 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
18027 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
18028 target is @dots{}}''
18030 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
18031 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
18032 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
18033 specifies a fixed address.
18034 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
18036 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
18037 load programs into flash memory.
18039 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
18043 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
18045 @cindex choosing target byte order
18046 @cindex target byte order
18048 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
18049 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
18050 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
18051 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
18052 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
18053 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
18057 @item set endian big
18058 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
18060 @item set endian little
18061 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
18063 @item set endian auto
18064 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
18068 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
18072 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
18073 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
18077 @node Remote Debugging
18078 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
18079 @cindex remote debugging
18081 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
18082 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
18083 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
18084 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
18085 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
18087 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
18088 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
18089 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
18090 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
18091 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
18092 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
18094 Other remote targets may be available in your
18095 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
18098 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
18099 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
18100 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
18101 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
18102 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
18106 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
18108 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
18109 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
18110 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
18111 program as the first argument.
18113 @cindex @code{target remote}
18114 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
18115 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
18116 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
18117 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
18118 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
18119 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
18123 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
18124 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
18125 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
18126 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
18129 target remote /dev/ttyb
18132 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
18133 @samp{--baud} option, or use the @code{set serial baud} command
18134 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set serial baud}) before the
18135 @code{target} command.
18137 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
18138 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18139 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
18140 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
18141 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
18142 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
18143 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
18144 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
18147 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
18151 target remote manyfarms:2828
18154 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
18155 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
18156 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
18157 port 1234 on your local machine:
18160 target remote :1234
18164 Note that the colon is still required here.
18166 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18167 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
18168 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
18169 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
18172 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
18175 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
18176 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
18177 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
18178 cause havoc with your debugging session.
18180 @item target remote | @var{command}
18181 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
18182 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
18183 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
18184 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
18185 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
18186 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
18187 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
18188 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
18190 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
18191 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
18192 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
18196 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
18197 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
18198 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
18199 need to use @kbd{run}.
18201 @cindex interrupting remote programs
18202 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
18203 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
18204 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
18205 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
18206 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
18207 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
18210 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
18211 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
18214 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
18215 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
18216 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
18217 goes back to waiting.
18220 @kindex detach (remote)
18222 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
18223 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
18224 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
18225 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
18226 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
18230 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
18231 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
18232 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
18233 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
18236 @cindex send command to remote monitor
18237 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
18238 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
18240 @item monitor @var{cmd}
18241 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
18242 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
18243 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
18244 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
18248 @node File Transfer
18249 @section Sending files to a remote system
18250 @cindex remote target, file transfer
18251 @cindex file transfer
18252 @cindex sending files to remote systems
18254 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
18255 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
18256 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
18257 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
18258 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
18259 the only way to upload or download files.
18261 Not all remote targets support these commands.
18265 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
18266 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
18267 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
18270 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
18271 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
18272 on the host system.
18274 @kindex remote delete
18275 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
18276 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
18281 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
18284 @cindex remote connection without stubs
18285 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
18286 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
18287 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
18289 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
18290 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
18291 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
18292 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
18293 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
18294 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
18295 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
18296 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
18297 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
18298 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
18299 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
18300 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
18301 choice for debugging.
18303 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
18304 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
18308 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
18309 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
18310 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
18311 target system with the same privileges as the user running
18315 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
18316 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
18317 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
18319 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
18320 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
18321 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
18322 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
18323 system does all the symbol handling.
18325 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
18326 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
18330 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
18333 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
18334 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
18335 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
18336 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
18337 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
18341 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
18344 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
18347 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
18350 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
18353 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
18354 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
18355 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
18356 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
18357 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
18358 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
18359 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
18360 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
18361 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
18362 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
18363 @code{target remote} command.
18365 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
18369 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
18372 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
18373 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
18374 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
18375 You could elide it if you want to.
18377 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
18378 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
18379 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
18380 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
18382 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
18383 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
18384 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
18386 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
18387 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
18390 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
18393 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
18394 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
18397 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
18398 @code{pidof} utility:
18401 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
18404 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
18405 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
18406 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
18408 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
18409 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
18410 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
18412 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
18413 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
18414 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
18415 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
18417 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
18418 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
18419 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
18420 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
18421 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
18422 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
18423 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
18424 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
18425 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
18427 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
18428 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
18429 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
18430 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
18431 the program you want to debug.
18433 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
18434 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
18435 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
18436 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
18437 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
18438 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
18440 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
18442 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
18444 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
18445 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
18446 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
18447 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
18448 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
18449 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
18450 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
18451 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
18453 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
18454 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
18455 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
18457 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
18458 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
18459 subsequent connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
18460 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
18461 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
18462 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
18463 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
18464 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
18465 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
18466 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
18467 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
18468 instance closes its port after the first connection.
18470 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
18472 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18473 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
18474 status information about the debugging process.
18475 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18476 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
18477 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
18478 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
18480 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
18481 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
18482 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
18483 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
18484 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
18486 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
18487 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
18488 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
18489 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
18491 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
18492 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
18493 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
18494 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
18496 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
18497 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
18501 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
18504 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
18506 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
18508 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
18509 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
18510 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
18511 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
18513 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
18514 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
18515 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
18516 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
18517 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
18518 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
18521 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18522 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
18523 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
18524 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
18525 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
18526 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
18527 already on the target.
18529 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
18530 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
18531 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
18533 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
18534 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
18535 Here are the available commands.
18539 List the available monitor commands.
18541 @item monitor set debug 0
18542 @itemx monitor set debug 1
18543 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
18545 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
18546 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
18547 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
18548 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
18550 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
18551 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
18552 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18553 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
18554 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
18555 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
18557 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
18558 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
18561 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
18562 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
18563 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
18564 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
18565 of a multi-process mode debug session.
18569 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18570 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18572 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
18573 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
18575 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
18576 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
18577 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
18578 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
18579 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
18580 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
18581 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
18582 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
18583 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
18584 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
18585 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
18586 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
18588 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
18591 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
18593 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
18594 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
18595 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
18597 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
18599 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
18600 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
18601 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
18602 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
18603 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
18604 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
18606 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
18608 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
18609 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
18610 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
18611 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
18612 command for that. For example:
18615 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
18618 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
18619 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
18622 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
18623 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
18624 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
18625 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
18626 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
18627 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
18628 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
18629 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
18630 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
18631 @code{gdbserver} like so:
18634 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
18637 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
18641 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
18642 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
18643 (@value{GDBP}) b main
18644 (@value{GDBP}) continue
18647 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
18648 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
18649 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
18650 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
18651 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
18654 @node Remote Configuration
18655 @section Remote Configuration
18658 @kindex show remote
18659 This section documents the configuration options available when
18660 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
18661 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
18662 system-call-allowed}.
18665 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
18666 @cindex address size for remote targets
18667 @cindex bits in remote address
18668 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
18669 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
18670 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
18671 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
18673 @item show remoteaddresssize
18674 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
18676 @item set serial baud @var{n}
18677 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
18678 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
18679 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
18682 @item show serial baud
18683 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
18685 @item set remotebreak
18686 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18687 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
18688 @anchor{set remotebreak}
18689 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
18690 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
18691 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
18692 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
18693 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
18695 @item show remotebreak
18696 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
18697 interrupt the remote program.
18699 @item set remoteflow on
18700 @itemx set remoteflow off
18701 @kindex set remoteflow
18702 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
18703 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
18705 @item show remoteflow
18706 @kindex show remoteflow
18707 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
18709 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
18710 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
18711 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
18712 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
18715 @item show remotelogbase
18716 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
18719 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
18720 @cindex record serial communications on file
18721 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
18722 default is not to record at all.
18724 @item show remotelogfile.
18725 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
18726 serial communications.
18728 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
18729 @cindex timeout for serial communications
18730 @cindex remote timeout
18731 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
18732 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
18734 @item show remotetimeout
18735 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
18738 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
18739 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
18740 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
18741 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
18742 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
18743 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
18744 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
18745 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
18747 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
18748 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
18749 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
18750 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
18751 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
18752 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
18755 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
18756 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
18757 a remote hardware watchpoint.
18759 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
18760 @itemx show remote exec-file
18761 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
18762 @cindex executable file, for remote target
18763 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
18764 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
18765 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
18766 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
18768 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
18769 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18770 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
18771 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
18772 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
18773 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
18774 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
18775 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
18776 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
18777 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
18779 @item show interrupt-sequence
18780 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
18781 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
18782 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
18783 also known as Magic SysRq g.
18785 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
18786 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
18787 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
18788 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
18789 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
18790 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
18792 @item show interrupt-on-connect
18793 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
18794 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
18798 @item set tcp auto-retry on
18799 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
18800 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
18801 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
18802 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
18803 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
18804 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
18805 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
18806 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
18808 @item set tcp auto-retry off
18809 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
18811 @item show tcp auto-retry
18812 Show the current auto-retry setting.
18814 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
18815 @itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
18816 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
18817 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
18818 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
18819 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
18820 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
18821 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
18822 value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
18823 @value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
18824 unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
18826 @item show tcp connect-timeout
18827 Show the current connection timeout setting.
18830 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
18831 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
18832 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
18833 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
18834 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
18835 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
18836 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
18837 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
18838 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
18840 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
18841 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
18842 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
18843 @value{GDBN} developers.
18845 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
18846 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
18849 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
18852 @tab Related Features
18854 @item @code{fetch-register}
18856 @tab @code{info registers}
18858 @item @code{set-register}
18862 @item @code{binary-download}
18864 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
18866 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
18867 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
18868 @tab @code{info auxv}
18870 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
18871 @tab @code{qSymbol}
18872 @tab Detecting multiple threads
18874 @item @code{attach}
18875 @tab @code{vAttach}
18878 @item @code{verbose-resume}
18880 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
18886 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
18890 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
18894 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
18898 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
18902 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
18906 @item @code{target-features}
18907 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
18908 @tab @code{set architecture}
18910 @item @code{library-info}
18911 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
18912 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
18914 @item @code{memory-map}
18915 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
18916 @tab @code{info mem}
18918 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
18919 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
18920 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
18922 @item @code{read-spu-object}
18923 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
18924 @tab @code{info spu}
18926 @item @code{write-spu-object}
18927 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
18928 @tab @code{info spu}
18930 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
18931 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
18932 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
18934 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
18935 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
18936 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
18938 @item @code{threads}
18939 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
18940 @tab @code{info threads}
18942 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
18943 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
18944 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
18946 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
18947 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
18948 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
18950 @item @code{search-memory}
18951 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
18954 @item @code{supported-packets}
18955 @tab @code{qSupported}
18956 @tab Remote communications parameters
18958 @item @code{pass-signals}
18959 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
18960 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18962 @item @code{program-signals}
18963 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18964 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18966 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18967 @tab @code{vFile:close}
18968 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18970 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18971 @tab @code{vFile:open}
18972 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18974 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
18975 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
18976 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18978 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
18979 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
18980 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18982 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
18983 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
18984 @tab @code{remote delete}
18986 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
18987 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
18990 @item @code{noack-packet}
18991 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
18992 @tab Packet acknowledgment
18994 @item @code{osdata}
18995 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
18996 @tab @code{info os}
18998 @item @code{query-attached}
18999 @tab @code{qAttached}
19000 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
19002 @item @code{trace-buffer-size}
19003 @tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
19004 @tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
19006 @item @code{trace-status}
19007 @tab @code{qTStatus}
19008 @tab @code{tstatus}
19010 @item @code{traceframe-info}
19011 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
19012 @tab Traceframe info
19014 @item @code{install-in-trace}
19015 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
19016 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
19018 @item @code{disable-randomization}
19019 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
19020 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
19022 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
19023 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
19024 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
19028 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
19030 @cindex debugging stub, example
19031 @cindex remote stub, example
19032 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
19033 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
19034 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
19035 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
19036 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
19037 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
19038 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
19039 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
19041 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
19042 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
19043 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
19044 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
19049 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
19050 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
19051 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
19054 A C subroutine library to support your program's
19055 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
19058 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
19059 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
19060 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
19064 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
19065 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
19066 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
19070 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
19071 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
19072 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
19074 @item On the target,
19075 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
19076 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
19077 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
19079 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
19080 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
19081 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
19084 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
19085 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
19088 @cindex remote serial stub list
19089 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
19094 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
19097 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
19100 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
19101 @cindex Motorola 680x0
19103 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
19106 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
19109 For Renesas SH architectures.
19112 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
19114 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
19116 @item sparcl-stub.c
19117 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
19120 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
19124 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
19125 recently added stubs.
19128 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
19129 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
19130 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
19133 @node Stub Contents
19134 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
19136 @cindex remote serial stub
19137 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
19141 @item set_debug_traps
19142 @findex set_debug_traps
19143 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
19144 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
19145 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
19146 program's startup code.
19148 @item handle_exception
19149 @findex handle_exception
19150 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
19151 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
19152 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
19153 run when a trap is triggered.
19155 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
19156 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
19157 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
19158 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
19159 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
19160 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
19161 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
19162 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
19163 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
19167 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
19168 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
19169 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
19170 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
19171 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
19172 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
19173 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
19174 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
19175 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
19176 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
19177 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
19179 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
19180 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
19181 start of your debugging session.
19184 @node Bootstrapping
19185 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
19187 @cindex remote stub, support routines
19188 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
19189 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
19190 debugging target machine.
19192 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
19196 @item int getDebugChar()
19197 @findex getDebugChar
19198 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
19199 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
19200 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19202 @item void putDebugChar(int)
19203 @findex putDebugChar
19204 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
19205 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
19206 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19209 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
19210 @cindex interrupting remote targets
19211 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
19212 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
19213 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
19214 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
19215 remote system to stop.
19217 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
19218 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
19219 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
19220 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
19222 Other routines you need to supply are:
19225 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
19226 @findex exceptionHandler
19227 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
19228 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
19229 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
19230 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
19231 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
19232 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
19233 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
19234 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
19235 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
19236 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
19237 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
19238 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
19239 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
19241 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
19242 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
19243 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
19244 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
19245 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
19247 @item void flush_i_cache()
19248 @findex flush_i_cache
19249 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
19250 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
19251 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
19253 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
19254 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
19258 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
19261 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
19263 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
19264 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
19265 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
19266 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
19269 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
19270 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
19271 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
19272 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
19275 @node Debug Session
19276 @subsection Putting it All Together
19278 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
19279 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
19284 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
19285 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
19287 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
19288 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
19292 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
19293 procedure is called:
19300 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
19301 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
19302 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
19303 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
19304 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
19305 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
19309 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
19310 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
19313 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
19317 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
19318 function in your program, that function is called when
19319 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
19320 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
19321 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
19324 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
19325 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
19328 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
19329 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
19332 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
19333 @c document that. FIXME.
19334 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
19335 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
19338 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
19339 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
19343 @node Configurations
19344 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
19346 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
19347 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
19348 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
19350 There are three major categories of configurations: native
19351 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
19352 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
19353 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
19354 are quite different from each other.
19359 * Embedded Processors::
19366 This section describes details specific to particular native
19371 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
19372 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
19373 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
19374 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
19375 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
19376 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
19382 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
19383 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
19384 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
19387 @node BSD libkvm Interface
19388 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
19391 @cindex kernel memory image
19392 @cindex kernel crash dump
19394 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
19395 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
19396 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
19397 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
19398 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
19399 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
19400 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
19404 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
19407 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
19411 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
19414 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
19420 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
19423 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
19424 modern FreeBSD systems.
19427 @node SVR4 Process Information
19428 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
19430 @cindex examine process image
19431 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
19433 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
19434 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
19435 process using file-system subroutines.
19437 If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
19438 facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
19439 information about the process running your program, or about any
19440 process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
19441 @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital Unix), Solaris, and Irix, but
19442 not HP-UX, for example.
19444 This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
19445 that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
19451 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
19452 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
19453 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
19454 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
19455 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
19456 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
19457 executable file's absolute file name.
19459 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
19460 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
19461 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
19462 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
19463 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
19464 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
19466 @item info proc cmdline
19467 @cindex info proc cmdline
19468 Show the original command line of the process. This command is
19469 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19471 @item info proc cwd
19472 @cindex info proc cwd
19473 Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
19474 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19476 @item info proc exe
19477 @cindex info proc exe
19478 Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
19481 @item info proc mappings
19482 @cindex memory address space mappings
19483 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
19484 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
19485 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
19486 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
19487 memory access rights to that range.
19489 @item info proc stat
19490 @itemx info proc status
19491 @cindex process detailed status information
19492 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
19493 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
19494 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
19495 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
19496 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
19497 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
19498 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
19500 @item info proc all
19501 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
19502 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
19505 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
19506 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
19507 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
19508 @kindex info proc times
19509 @item info proc times
19510 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
19513 @kindex info proc id
19515 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
19516 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
19519 @item set procfs-trace
19520 @kindex set procfs-trace
19521 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
19522 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
19524 @item show procfs-trace
19525 @kindex show procfs-trace
19526 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
19528 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
19529 @kindex set procfs-file
19530 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
19531 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
19532 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
19535 @item show procfs-file
19536 @kindex show procfs-file
19537 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
19539 @item proc-trace-entry
19540 @itemx proc-trace-exit
19541 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
19542 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
19543 @kindex proc-trace-entry
19544 @kindex proc-trace-exit
19545 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
19546 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
19547 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
19548 from the @code{syscall} interface.
19551 @kindex info pidlist
19552 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
19553 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
19554 processes and all the threads within each process.
19557 @kindex info meminfo
19558 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
19559 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
19563 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
19564 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
19565 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
19566 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
19569 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
19570 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
19571 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
19572 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
19574 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
19575 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
19576 subsection describes those commands.
19581 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
19582 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19585 @cindex MS-DOS system info
19586 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
19587 @item info dos sysinfo
19588 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
19589 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
19590 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
19595 @cindex segment descriptor tables
19596 @cindex descriptor tables display
19598 @itemx info dos ldt
19599 @itemx info dos idt
19600 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
19601 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
19602 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
19603 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
19604 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
19605 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
19608 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
19609 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
19610 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
19611 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
19612 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
19614 @cindex garbled pointers
19615 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
19616 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
19617 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
19618 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
19619 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
19620 debugged program's data segment:
19623 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
19624 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
19628 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
19629 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
19631 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
19633 @itemx info dos pte
19634 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
19635 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
19636 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
19637 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
19638 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
19639 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
19640 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
19641 that is currently in use.
19643 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
19644 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
19645 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
19646 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
19647 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
19648 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
19649 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
19651 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
19652 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
19653 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
19656 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
19658 @cindex physical address from linear address
19659 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
19660 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
19661 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
19662 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
19663 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
19664 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
19665 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
19668 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
19669 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
19670 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
19674 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
19675 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
19676 attributes of that page.
19678 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
19679 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
19680 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
19681 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
19682 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
19683 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
19685 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
19689 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
19690 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
19691 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
19695 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
19696 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
19697 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
19698 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
19699 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
19701 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
19704 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
19705 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
19706 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
19707 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
19710 @kindex set com1base
19711 @kindex set com1irq
19712 @kindex set com2base
19713 @kindex set com2irq
19714 @kindex set com3base
19715 @kindex set com3irq
19716 @kindex set com4base
19717 @kindex set com4irq
19718 @item set com1base @var{addr}
19719 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
19722 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
19723 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
19724 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
19726 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
19727 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
19730 @kindex show com1base
19731 @kindex show com1irq
19732 @kindex show com2base
19733 @kindex show com2irq
19734 @kindex show com3base
19735 @kindex show com3irq
19736 @kindex show com4base
19737 @kindex show com4irq
19738 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
19739 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
19740 lines used by the COM ports.
19743 @kindex info serial
19744 @cindex DOS serial port status
19745 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
19746 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
19747 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
19748 counts of various errors encountered so far.
19752 @node Cygwin Native
19753 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
19754 @cindex MS Windows debugging
19755 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
19756 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
19758 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
19759 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
19761 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
19762 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
19763 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
19764 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
19765 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
19766 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
19767 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
19770 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
19771 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
19772 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
19777 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
19778 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19780 @item info w32 selector
19781 This command displays information returned by
19782 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
19783 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
19784 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
19785 Without argument, this command displays information
19786 about the six segment registers.
19788 @item info w32 thread-information-block
19789 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
19790 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
19791 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
19795 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
19797 @kindex dll-symbols
19799 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
19800 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
19802 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
19803 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
19804 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
19805 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
19806 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
19807 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
19808 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
19809 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
19810 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
19811 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
19812 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
19814 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
19815 @item show cygwin-exceptions
19816 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
19817 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
19819 @kindex set new-console
19820 @item set new-console @var{mode}
19821 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
19822 be started in a new console on next start.
19823 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
19824 be started in the same console as the debugger.
19826 @kindex show new-console
19827 @item show new-console
19828 Displays whether a new console is used
19829 when the debuggee is started.
19831 @kindex set new-group
19832 @item set new-group @var{mode}
19833 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
19834 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
19835 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
19838 @kindex show new-group
19839 @item show new-group
19840 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
19842 @kindex set debugevents
19843 @item set debugevents
19844 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
19845 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
19846 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
19847 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
19848 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
19850 @kindex set debugexec
19851 @item set debugexec
19852 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
19853 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
19855 @kindex set debugexceptions
19856 @item set debugexceptions
19857 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
19858 debuggee seen by the debugger.
19860 @kindex set debugmemory
19861 @item set debugmemory
19862 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
19863 and writes by the debugger.
19867 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
19868 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
19872 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
19877 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
19880 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
19881 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
19882 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
19883 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
19885 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
19886 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
19887 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
19888 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
19889 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
19890 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
19891 ``minimal symbols''.
19893 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
19894 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
19895 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
19896 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
19897 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
19898 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
19899 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
19900 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
19901 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
19902 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
19904 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
19906 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
19907 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
19908 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
19909 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
19910 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
19911 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
19912 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
19913 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
19914 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
19916 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
19917 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
19918 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
19919 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
19920 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
19921 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
19924 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
19925 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
19927 Non-debugging symbols:
19928 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
19929 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
19933 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
19934 All functions matching regular expression "!":
19936 Non-debugging symbols:
19937 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
19938 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
19939 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
19943 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
19945 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
19946 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
19947 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
19948 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
19949 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
19950 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
19951 a function within a DLL without a running program.
19953 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
19954 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
19955 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
19956 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
19960 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
19965 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
19966 0x10021610: "\230y\""
19969 And two possible solutions:
19972 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
19973 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19977 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
19978 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
19979 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
19980 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
19981 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
19982 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19985 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
19986 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
19987 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
19988 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
19989 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
19992 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
19993 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
19996 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
19997 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
20001 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
20002 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
20004 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
20005 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
20010 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
20011 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
20012 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
20013 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
20014 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
20019 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
20020 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
20021 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
20023 @item set signal-thread
20024 @itemx set sigthread
20025 @kindex set signal-thread
20026 @kindex set sigthread
20027 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
20028 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
20029 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
20032 @item show signal-thread
20033 @itemx show sigthread
20034 @kindex show signal-thread
20035 @kindex show sigthread
20036 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
20037 delivered a signal.
20040 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
20041 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
20042 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
20043 continued by delivering a signal to it.
20046 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
20047 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
20050 @item set exceptions
20051 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
20052 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
20053 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
20054 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
20057 @item show exceptions
20058 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
20059 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
20061 @item set task pause
20062 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
20063 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20064 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20065 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
20066 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
20067 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
20068 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
20069 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
20070 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
20072 @item show task pause
20073 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
20074 Show the current state of task suspension.
20076 @item set task detach-suspend-count
20077 @cindex task suspend count
20078 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20079 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
20080 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
20082 @item show task detach-suspend-count
20083 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
20085 @item set task exception-port
20086 @itemx set task excp
20087 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20088 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
20089 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
20090 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
20092 @item set noninvasive
20093 @cindex noninvasive task options
20094 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
20095 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
20096 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
20097 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
20099 @item info send-rights
20100 @itemx info receive-rights
20101 @itemx info port-rights
20102 @itemx info port-sets
20103 @itemx info dead-names
20106 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20107 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20108 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20109 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20110 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20111 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
20112 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
20113 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
20114 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
20116 @item set thread pause
20117 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
20118 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20119 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20120 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
20121 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
20122 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
20123 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
20124 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
20125 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
20126 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
20127 only the current thread.
20129 @item show thread pause
20130 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
20131 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
20133 @item set thread run
20134 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20136 @item show thread run
20137 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20139 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
20140 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20141 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20142 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
20143 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
20144 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
20145 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
20147 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
20148 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
20151 @item set thread exception-port
20152 @itemx set thread excp
20153 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
20154 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
20155 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
20157 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
20158 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
20159 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
20160 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
20162 @item set thread default
20163 @itemx show thread default
20164 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20165 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
20166 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
20167 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
20168 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
20169 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
20170 the non-default commands.
20177 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
20180 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
20181 @kindex set debug darwin
20182 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
20183 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
20185 @item show debug darwin
20186 @kindex show debug darwin
20187 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
20189 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
20190 @kindex set debug mach-o
20191 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
20192 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
20193 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
20194 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
20195 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
20198 @item show debug mach-o
20199 @kindex show debug mach-o
20200 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
20202 @item set mach-exceptions on
20203 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
20204 @kindex set mach-exceptions
20205 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
20206 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
20207 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
20208 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
20210 @item show mach-exceptions
20211 @kindex show mach-exceptions
20212 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
20217 @section Embedded Operating Systems
20219 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
20220 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
20224 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
20227 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
20228 various real-time operating systems.
20231 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
20237 @kindex target vxworks
20238 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
20239 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
20240 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
20244 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
20245 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
20247 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
20248 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
20249 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20250 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
20251 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
20252 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
20253 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
20256 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
20257 @kindex vxworks-timeout
20258 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
20259 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20260 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
20261 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
20262 of a thin network line.
20265 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
20266 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
20269 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
20270 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
20271 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
20272 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
20273 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
20274 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
20275 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
20276 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
20278 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
20280 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
20281 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20282 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
20283 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
20285 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20292 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
20293 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
20294 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
20297 @node VxWorks Connection
20298 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
20300 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
20301 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
20304 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
20308 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20311 Attaching remote machine across net...
20316 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
20317 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
20318 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
20319 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
20320 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
20323 prog.o: No such file or directory.
20326 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
20327 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
20330 @node VxWorks Download
20331 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
20333 @cindex download to VxWorks
20334 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
20335 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
20336 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
20337 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
20338 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
20339 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
20340 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
20341 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
20342 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
20343 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
20344 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
20345 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
20346 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
20347 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
20348 program, type this on VxWorks:
20351 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
20355 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20358 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
20359 (vxgdb) load prog.o
20362 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
20365 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
20368 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
20369 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
20370 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
20371 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
20372 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
20373 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
20376 @node VxWorks Attach
20377 @subsubsection Running Tasks
20379 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
20380 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
20384 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
20388 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
20389 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
20390 the time of attachment.
20392 @node Embedded Processors
20393 @section Embedded Processors
20395 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
20398 @cindex send command to simulator
20399 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
20400 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
20403 @item sim @var{command}
20404 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
20405 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
20406 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
20407 acceptable commands.
20413 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
20414 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
20415 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
20416 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
20417 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
20418 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
20419 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
20420 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
20421 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
20424 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
20433 @item target rdi @var{dev}
20434 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
20435 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
20436 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
20439 @item target rdp @var{dev}
20444 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
20447 @item set arm disassembler
20449 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
20450 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
20452 @item show arm disassembler
20454 Show the current disassembly style.
20456 @item set arm apcs32
20457 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
20458 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
20460 @item show arm apcs32
20461 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
20463 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
20464 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
20465 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
20469 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
20471 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
20474 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
20476 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
20482 Show the current type of the FPU.
20485 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
20488 Show the currently used ABI.
20490 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20491 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
20492 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
20493 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
20494 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
20495 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
20498 @item show arm fallback-mode
20499 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
20501 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20502 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
20503 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
20504 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
20505 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
20507 @item show arm force-mode
20508 Show the current forced instruction mode.
20510 @item set debug arm
20511 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
20512 target support subsystem.
20514 @item show debug arm
20515 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
20518 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
20519 using the RDI interface:
20522 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20524 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
20525 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
20526 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
20527 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
20530 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
20531 @kindex rdilogenable
20532 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
20533 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
20534 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
20535 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
20536 are logged to a file.
20538 @item set rdiromatzero
20539 @kindex set rdiromatzero
20540 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
20541 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
20542 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
20543 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
20544 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
20546 @item show rdiromatzero
20547 @kindex show rdiromatzero
20548 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
20550 @item set rdiheartbeat
20551 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
20552 @cindex RDI heartbeat
20553 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
20554 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
20555 well as the Angel monitor.
20557 @item show rdiheartbeat
20558 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
20559 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
20563 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
20564 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
20567 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
20568 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
20569 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
20570 The default value is @code{all}.
20583 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
20586 @kindex target m32r
20587 @item target m32r @var{dev}
20588 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
20590 @kindex target m32rsdi
20591 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
20592 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
20595 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
20598 @item set download-path @var{path}
20599 @kindex set download-path
20600 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
20601 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20603 @item show download-path
20604 @kindex show download-path
20605 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20607 @item set board-address @var{addr}
20608 @kindex set board-address
20609 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
20610 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
20612 @item show board-address
20613 @kindex show board-address
20614 Show the current IP address of the target board.
20616 @item set server-address @var{addr}
20617 @kindex set server-address
20618 @cindex download server address (M32R)
20619 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
20622 @item show server-address
20623 @kindex show server-address
20624 Display the IP address of the download server.
20626 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20627 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
20628 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
20629 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
20630 executable file is uploaded.
20632 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20633 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
20634 Test the @code{upload} command.
20637 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
20642 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
20643 This command resets the SDI connection.
20647 This command shows the SDI connection status.
20650 @kindex debug_chaos
20651 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
20652 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
20654 @item use_debug_dma
20655 @kindex use_debug_dma
20656 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
20659 @kindex use_mon_code
20660 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
20663 @kindex use_ib_break
20664 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
20666 @item use_dbt_break
20667 @kindex use_dbt_break
20668 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
20674 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
20675 target command for the following ROM monitor.
20679 @kindex target dbug
20680 @item target dbug @var{dev}
20681 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
20686 @subsection MicroBlaze
20687 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
20688 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
20690 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
20691 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
20692 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
20693 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
20694 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
20695 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
20696 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
20697 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
20698 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
20699 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
20700 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
20702 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
20705 @item target remote :1234
20706 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
20707 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
20709 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
20710 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
20711 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
20714 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
20716 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
20717 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
20719 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
20720 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
20723 @node MIPS Embedded
20724 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
20726 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
20727 @value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
20728 @acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
20729 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
20732 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
20735 @item target mips @var{port}
20736 @kindex target mips @var{port}
20737 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
20738 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
20739 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
20740 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
20741 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
20742 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
20744 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
20745 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
20749 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
20750 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
20751 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
20752 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
20756 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
20757 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
20758 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
20759 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
20760 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
20762 @item target pmon @var{port}
20763 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
20766 @item target ddb @var{port}
20767 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
20768 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
20770 @item target lsi @var{port}
20771 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
20772 LSI variant of PMON.
20774 @kindex target r3900
20775 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
20776 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
20778 @kindex target array
20779 @item target array @var{dev}
20780 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
20786 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
20789 @item set mipsfpu double
20790 @itemx set mipsfpu single
20791 @itemx set mipsfpu none
20792 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
20793 @itemx show mipsfpu
20794 @kindex set mipsfpu
20795 @kindex show mipsfpu
20796 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
20797 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
20798 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
20799 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
20800 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
20801 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
20802 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
20803 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
20804 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
20805 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
20806 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
20807 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
20808 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
20810 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
20811 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
20812 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
20814 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
20815 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
20817 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
20818 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
20819 @itemx show timeout
20820 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
20821 @cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20822 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20823 @kindex set timeout
20824 @kindex show timeout
20825 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
20826 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
20827 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
20828 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
20829 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
20830 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
20831 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
20832 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
20833 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
20834 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
20836 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
20837 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
20838 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
20839 to run before stopping.
20841 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
20842 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20843 @cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
20844 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
20845 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
20846 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
20848 @item show syn-garbage-limit
20849 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20850 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
20851 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
20853 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
20854 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20855 @cindex remote monitor prompt
20856 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
20857 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
20867 @item show monitor-prompt
20868 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20869 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
20872 @item set monitor-warnings
20873 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20874 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
20875 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
20876 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
20877 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
20879 @item show monitor-warnings
20880 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20881 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
20883 @item pmon @var{command}
20884 @kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20885 @cindex send PMON command
20886 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
20887 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
20890 @node PowerPC Embedded
20891 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
20893 @cindex DVC register
20894 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20895 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20898 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20899 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20902 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20903 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20904 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20905 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20906 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20909 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20910 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20911 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20912 watching variables of scalar types.
20914 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20915 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20918 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20919 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20922 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20923 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20925 @cindex ranged breakpoint
20926 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20927 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20928 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20929 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20930 use the @code{break-range} command.
20932 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20935 @kindex break-range
20936 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20937 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20938 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20939 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20940 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20941 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20942 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20943 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20944 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20946 @kindex set powerpc
20947 @item set powerpc soft-float
20948 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
20949 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20950 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20951 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20953 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20954 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20955 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20956 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20957 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20958 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20959 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20960 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20962 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20963 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20964 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20965 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20966 address of its first byte.
20968 @kindex target dink32
20969 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20970 DINK32 ROM monitor.
20972 @kindex target ppcbug
20973 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20974 @kindex target ppcbug1
20975 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20976 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20979 @item target sds @var{dev}
20980 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20983 @cindex SDS protocol
20984 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20988 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20989 @kindex set sdstimeout
20990 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20991 default is 2 seconds.
20993 @item show sdstimeout
20994 @kindex show sdstimeout
20995 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20997 @item sds @var{command}
20998 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
20999 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
21004 @subsection HP PA Embedded
21008 @kindex target op50n
21009 @item target op50n @var{dev}
21010 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
21012 @kindex target w89k
21013 @item target w89k @var{dev}
21014 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
21019 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
21023 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
21024 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
21025 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
21026 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
21027 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
21030 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
21031 @kindex remotetimeout
21032 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
21033 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
21034 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
21037 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
21038 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
21039 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
21040 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
21041 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
21044 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
21047 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
21050 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
21053 @cindex running, on Sparclet
21055 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
21056 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
21057 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
21059 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
21066 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
21067 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
21068 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
21069 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
21072 @node Sparclet File
21073 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
21075 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
21078 (gdbslet) file prog
21082 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
21083 @value{GDBN} locates
21084 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
21086 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
21087 files will be searched as well.
21088 @value{GDBN} locates
21089 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
21090 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
21092 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
21095 prog: No such file or directory.
21098 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
21099 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
21100 @code{target} command again.
21102 @node Sparclet Connection
21103 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
21105 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
21106 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
21109 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
21110 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
21111 main () at ../prog.c:3
21115 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
21121 @node Sparclet Download
21122 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
21124 @cindex download to Sparclet
21125 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
21126 you can use the @value{GDBN}
21127 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
21128 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
21130 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
21131 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
21132 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
21133 of each of the file's sections.
21134 For instance, if the program
21135 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
21136 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
21139 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
21140 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
21143 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
21144 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
21145 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
21147 @node Sparclet Execution
21148 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
21150 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
21151 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
21152 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
21153 manual for the list of commands.
21157 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
21159 Starting program: prog
21160 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
21161 3 char *symarg = 0;
21163 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
21168 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
21172 @kindex target sparclite
21173 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
21174 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
21175 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
21176 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
21182 @subsection Zilog Z8000
21185 @cindex simulator, Z8000
21186 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
21188 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
21191 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
21192 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
21193 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
21194 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
21197 @item target sim @var{args}
21199 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
21200 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
21201 options, specify them via @var{args}.
21205 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
21206 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
21207 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
21208 to run your program, and so on.
21210 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
21211 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
21212 additional items of information as specially named registers:
21217 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
21220 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
21223 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
21227 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
21228 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
21229 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
21230 simulated clock ticks.
21233 @subsection Atmel AVR
21236 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
21237 following AVR-specific commands:
21240 @item info io_registers
21241 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
21242 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
21243 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
21244 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
21251 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
21252 following CRIS-specific commands:
21255 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
21256 @cindex CRIS version
21257 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
21258 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
21259 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
21261 @item show cris-version
21262 Show the current CRIS version.
21264 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
21265 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
21266 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
21267 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
21270 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
21271 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
21273 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
21275 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
21276 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
21277 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
21279 @item show cris-mode
21280 Show the current CRIS mode.
21284 @subsection Renesas Super-H
21287 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
21291 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
21292 @kindex set sh calling-convention
21293 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
21294 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
21295 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
21296 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
21297 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
21298 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
21299 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
21300 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
21301 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
21302 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
21304 @item show sh calling-convention
21305 @kindex show sh calling-convention
21306 Show the current calling convention setting.
21311 @node Architectures
21312 @section Architectures
21314 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
21315 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
21322 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
21323 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21329 @subsection AArch64
21330 @cindex AArch64 support
21332 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
21333 following special commands:
21336 @item set debug aarch64
21337 @kindex set debug aarch64
21338 This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
21339 messages are to be displayed.
21341 @item show debug aarch64
21342 Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
21347 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
21350 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
21351 @kindex set struct-convention
21352 @cindex struct return convention
21353 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
21354 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
21355 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
21356 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
21357 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
21358 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
21359 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
21360 be returned in a register.
21362 @item show struct-convention
21363 @kindex show struct-convention
21364 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
21371 See the following section.
21374 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
21376 @cindex stack on Alpha
21377 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
21378 @cindex Alpha stack
21379 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
21380 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
21381 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
21382 find the beginning of a function.
21384 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
21385 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
21386 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
21387 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
21391 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
21392 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
21393 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
21394 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
21395 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
21396 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
21397 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
21398 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
21400 @item show heuristic-fence-post
21401 Display the current limit.
21405 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
21406 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
21408 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
21412 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
21413 @kindex set mips abi
21414 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
21415 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
21416 values of @var{arg} are:
21420 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
21430 @item show mips abi
21431 @kindex show mips abi
21432 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21434 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
21435 @kindex set mips compression
21436 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
21437 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
21438 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
21439 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
21440 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
21441 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
21442 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
21443 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
21444 provided by the executable.
21446 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
21447 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
21448 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
21449 identified as such.
21451 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
21452 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
21453 implicitly from an executable.
21455 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
21456 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
21457 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
21458 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
21459 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
21461 @item show mips compression
21462 @kindex show mips compression
21463 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
21464 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21467 @itemx show mipsfpu
21468 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
21470 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
21471 @kindex set mips mask-address
21472 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
21473 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
21474 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
21475 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
21476 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
21478 @item show mips mask-address
21479 @kindex show mips mask-address
21480 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
21483 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21484 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21485 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
21486 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
21487 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
21488 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
21490 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21491 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21492 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
21494 @item set debug mips
21495 @kindex set debug mips
21496 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
21497 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21499 @item show debug mips
21500 @kindex show debug mips
21501 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
21507 @cindex HPPA support
21509 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
21510 following special commands:
21513 @item set debug hppa
21514 @kindex set debug hppa
21515 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
21516 messages are to be displayed.
21518 @item show debug hppa
21519 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
21521 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
21522 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
21523 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
21524 given @var{address}.
21530 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21531 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
21534 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
21535 it provides the following special commands:
21538 @item info spu event
21540 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
21541 and pending event status.
21543 @item info spu signal
21544 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
21545 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
21546 notification channels.
21548 @item info spu mailbox
21549 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
21550 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
21551 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
21554 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21555 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21556 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21558 @item info spu proxydma
21559 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21560 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21561 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21565 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
21566 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
21570 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
21572 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
21573 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
21574 function. The default is @code{off}.
21576 @item show spu stop-on-load
21578 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
21580 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
21581 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
21582 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
21583 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
21584 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
21585 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
21587 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
21588 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
21593 @subsection PowerPC
21594 @cindex PowerPC architecture
21596 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
21597 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
21598 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
21599 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
21600 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
21602 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
21603 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
21604 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
21606 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
21607 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
21610 @subsection Nios II
21611 @cindex Nios II architecture
21613 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
21614 it provides the following special commands:
21618 @item set debug nios2
21619 @kindex set debug nios2
21620 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
21621 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21623 @item show debug nios2
21624 @kindex show debug nios2
21625 Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
21628 @node Controlling GDB
21629 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
21631 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
21632 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
21633 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
21638 * Editing:: Command editing
21639 * Command History:: Command history
21640 * Screen Size:: Screen size
21641 * Numbers:: Numbers
21642 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
21643 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
21644 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
21645 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
21646 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
21654 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
21655 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
21656 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
21657 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
21658 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
21659 which one you are talking to.
21661 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
21662 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
21663 or a prompt that does not.
21667 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
21668 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
21670 @kindex show prompt
21672 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
21675 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
21676 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
21680 @kindex set extended-prompt
21681 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
21682 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
21683 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
21684 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
21685 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
21691 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
21694 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
21695 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
21697 @kindex show extended-prompt
21698 @item show extended-prompt
21699 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
21700 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
21701 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
21705 @section Command Editing
21707 @cindex command line editing
21709 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
21710 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
21711 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
21712 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
21713 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
21714 debugging sessions.
21716 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
21717 command @code{set}.
21720 @kindex set editing
21723 @itemx set editing on
21724 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
21726 @item set editing off
21727 Disable command line editing.
21729 @kindex show editing
21731 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
21734 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21735 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
21737 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21738 @xref{Command Line Editing},
21740 for more details about the Readline
21741 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
21742 encouraged to read that chapter.
21744 @node Command History
21745 @section Command History
21746 @cindex command history
21748 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
21749 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
21750 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
21753 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
21754 package, to provide the history facility.
21755 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21756 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
21758 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21759 @xref{Using History Interactively},
21761 for the detailed description of the History library.
21763 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
21764 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
21765 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
21766 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
21767 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
21768 pressed on a line by itself.
21770 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
21771 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
21772 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
21773 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
21775 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
21779 @cindex history substitution
21780 @cindex history file
21781 @kindex set history filename
21782 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
21783 @item set history filename @var{fname}
21784 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
21785 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
21786 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
21787 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
21788 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
21789 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
21790 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
21793 @cindex save command history
21794 @kindex set history save
21795 @item set history save
21796 @itemx set history save on
21797 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
21798 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
21800 @item set history save off
21801 Stop recording command history in a file.
21803 @cindex history size
21804 @kindex set history size
21805 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
21806 @item set history size @var{size}
21807 @itemx set history size unlimited
21808 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
21809 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
21810 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set. If @var{size}
21811 is @code{unlimited}, the number of commands @value{GDBN} keeps in the
21812 history list is unlimited.
21815 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
21816 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21817 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
21819 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21820 @xref{Event Designators},
21824 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
21825 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
21826 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
21827 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
21828 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
21829 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
21830 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
21831 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
21833 The commands to control history expansion are:
21836 @item set history expansion on
21837 @itemx set history expansion
21838 @kindex set history expansion
21839 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
21841 @item set history expansion off
21842 Disable history expansion.
21845 @kindex show history
21847 @itemx show history filename
21848 @itemx show history save
21849 @itemx show history size
21850 @itemx show history expansion
21851 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
21852 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
21857 @kindex show commands
21858 @cindex show last commands
21859 @cindex display command history
21860 @item show commands
21861 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
21863 @item show commands @var{n}
21864 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
21866 @item show commands +
21867 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
21871 @section Screen Size
21872 @cindex size of screen
21873 @cindex pauses in output
21875 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
21876 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
21877 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
21878 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
21879 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
21880 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
21881 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
21882 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
21884 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
21885 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
21886 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
21887 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
21888 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
21895 @kindex show height
21896 @item set height @var{lpp}
21897 @itemx set height unlimited
21899 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
21900 @itemx set width unlimited
21902 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
21903 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
21904 commands display the current settings.
21906 If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
21907 @value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
21908 output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
21911 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
21912 width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
21914 @item set pagination on
21915 @itemx set pagination off
21916 @kindex set pagination
21917 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
21918 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
21919 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
21920 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
21922 @item show pagination
21923 @kindex show pagination
21924 Show the current pagination mode.
21929 @cindex number representation
21930 @cindex entering numbers
21932 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21933 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21934 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21935 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21936 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
21937 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21938 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
21939 both input and output with the commands described below.
21942 @kindex set input-radix
21943 @item set input-radix @var{base}
21944 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
21945 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21946 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
21950 set input-radix 012
21951 set input-radix 10.
21952 set input-radix 0xa
21956 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
21957 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
21958 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
21959 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
21960 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
21963 @kindex set output-radix
21964 @item set output-radix @var{base}
21965 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
21966 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21967 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
21969 @kindex show input-radix
21970 @item show input-radix
21971 Display the current default base for numeric input.
21973 @kindex show output-radix
21974 @item show output-radix
21975 Display the current default base for numeric display.
21977 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
21981 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
21982 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
21983 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
21984 default value of 10.
21989 @section Configuring the Current ABI
21991 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
21992 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
21993 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
21999 @cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
22001 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
22002 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
22003 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
22004 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
22005 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
22006 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
22007 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
22010 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
22011 ``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
22012 @code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
22013 The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
22017 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
22020 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
22022 @item set osabi @var{abi}
22023 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
22026 @cindex float promotion
22028 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
22029 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
22030 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
22031 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
22032 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
22033 @code{double} and then passed.
22035 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
22036 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
22037 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
22040 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
22041 @item set coerce-float-to-double
22042 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
22043 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
22044 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
22046 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
22047 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
22050 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
22051 @item show coerce-float-to-double
22052 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
22056 @kindex show cp-abi
22057 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
22058 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
22059 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
22060 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
22061 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
22062 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
22063 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
22064 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
22065 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
22066 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
22071 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
22074 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
22076 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
22077 @itemx set cp-abi auto
22078 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
22082 @section Automatically loading associated files
22083 @cindex auto-loading
22085 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
22086 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
22087 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
22088 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
22089 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
22092 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
22093 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
22094 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22096 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
22097 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
22100 @anchor{set auto-load off}
22101 @kindex set auto-load off
22102 @item set auto-load off
22103 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
22104 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
22105 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
22107 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
22110 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
22111 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
22112 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
22113 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
22114 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
22115 @code{set auto-load no}.
22117 @anchor{show auto-load}
22118 @kindex show auto-load
22119 @item show auto-load
22120 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
22124 (gdb) show auto-load
22125 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
22126 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
22127 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
22129 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
22130 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22131 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22132 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
22133 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22136 @anchor{info auto-load}
22137 @kindex info auto-load
22138 @item info auto-load
22139 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
22143 (gdb) info auto-load
22146 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
22147 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
22148 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
22152 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
22156 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
22160 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22162 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22164 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
22165 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22167 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
22168 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22170 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
22173 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
22175 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
22176 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
22177 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
22178 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
22179 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
22180 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
22181 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
22182 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22183 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22184 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22185 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22186 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22187 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22188 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22189 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22190 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
22191 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22192 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
22193 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22194 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22195 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22196 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
22197 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22198 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22199 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
22200 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22201 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
22202 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22203 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
22204 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
22205 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
22206 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
22207 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
22208 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
22209 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
22210 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
22211 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
22212 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
22213 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
22214 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
22215 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
22219 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22220 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
22221 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
22222 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
22223 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
22224 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
22227 @node Init File in the Current Directory
22228 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
22229 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
22231 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
22232 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
22233 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
22235 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
22236 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22239 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
22240 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
22241 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
22242 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
22243 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
22245 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
22246 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
22247 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
22248 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22249 current directory is enabled or disabled.
22251 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22252 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
22253 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
22254 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22255 current directory have been auto-loaded.
22258 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
22259 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
22260 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
22262 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
22264 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
22265 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
22267 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
22268 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
22269 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
22270 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
22271 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
22274 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
22275 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22278 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
22279 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
22280 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
22281 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
22283 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
22284 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
22285 @item show auto-load libthread-db
22286 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
22287 enabled or disabled.
22289 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
22290 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
22291 @item info auto-load libthread-db
22292 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
22293 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
22296 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
22297 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
22298 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
22300 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
22301 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
22302 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
22304 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
22305 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22307 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
22308 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
22311 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
22312 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
22313 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
22314 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
22316 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
22317 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
22318 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
22319 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
22322 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
22323 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
22324 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
22325 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
22326 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
22330 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
22331 matching names are printed.
22333 @node Auto-loading safe path
22334 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
22335 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
22337 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
22338 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
22339 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
22340 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
22341 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
22343 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
22348 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
22349 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
22350 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22351 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22352 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
22353 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22354 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22358 To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
22359 invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
22362 $ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
22365 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
22368 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
22369 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
22370 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
22371 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
22372 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
22373 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
22374 directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
22375 (@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
22376 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
22377 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
22379 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
22380 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
22381 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
22383 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
22384 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
22385 @item show auto-load safe-path
22386 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
22389 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
22390 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
22391 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
22392 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
22393 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
22394 host platform path separator in use.
22397 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
22398 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
22399 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22400 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
22401 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
22403 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
22404 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
22405 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
22406 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
22407 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
22408 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
22409 init file in the current directory
22410 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
22412 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
22413 example, you could use one of the following ways:
22416 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
22417 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
22418 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
22419 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
22421 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
22422 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
22423 @value{GDBN} session.
22425 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
22426 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22427 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
22428 from trusted sources.
22430 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
22431 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
22432 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
22436 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
22437 also suppresses any such warning messages:
22440 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
22441 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22443 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
22444 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
22445 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
22446 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
22449 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
22450 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
22451 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
22452 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
22453 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
22454 recommended to be entered.
22456 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
22457 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
22458 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
22460 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
22461 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
22462 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
22463 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
22466 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22467 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
22468 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
22471 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
22472 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
22473 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
22474 for objfile "/tmp/true".
22475 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
22476 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
22477 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
22478 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
22479 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
22483 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
22484 @kindex set debug auto-load
22485 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
22486 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
22488 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
22489 @kindex show debug auto-load
22490 @item show debug auto-load
22491 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
22495 @node Messages/Warnings
22496 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
22498 @cindex verbose operation
22499 @cindex optional warnings
22500 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
22501 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
22502 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
22503 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
22505 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
22506 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
22507 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22510 @kindex set verbose
22511 @item set verbose on
22512 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22514 @item set verbose off
22515 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22517 @kindex show verbose
22519 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
22522 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
22523 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
22524 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
22529 @kindex set complaints
22530 @item set complaints @var{limit}
22531 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
22532 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
22533 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
22534 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
22536 @kindex show complaints
22537 @item show complaints
22538 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
22542 @anchor{confirmation requests}
22543 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
22544 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
22545 you try to run a program which is already running:
22549 The program being debugged has been started already.
22550 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
22553 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
22554 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
22558 @kindex set confirm
22560 @cindex confirmation
22561 @cindex stupid questions
22562 @item set confirm off
22563 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
22564 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
22565 automatically disables confirmation requests.
22567 @item set confirm on
22568 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
22570 @kindex show confirm
22572 Displays state of confirmation requests.
22576 @cindex command tracing
22577 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
22578 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
22579 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
22580 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
22583 @kindex set trace-commands
22584 @cindex command scripts, debugging
22585 @item set trace-commands on
22586 Enable command tracing.
22587 @item set trace-commands off
22588 Disable command tracing.
22589 @item show trace-commands
22590 Display the current state of command tracing.
22593 @node Debugging Output
22594 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
22595 @cindex optional debugging messages
22597 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
22598 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
22599 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
22600 section documents those commands.
22603 @kindex set exec-done-display
22604 @item set exec-done-display
22605 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
22606 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
22607 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
22608 @kindex show exec-done-display
22609 @item show exec-done-display
22610 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
22613 @cindex ARM AArch64
22614 @item set debug aarch64
22615 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
22616 The default is off.
22618 @item show debug aarch64
22619 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22621 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
22622 @cindex architecture debugging info
22623 @item set debug arch
22624 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
22625 @item show debug arch
22626 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
22627 @item set debug aix-solib
22628 @cindex AIX shared library debugging
22629 Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
22630 support module. The default is off.
22631 @item show debug aix-thread
22632 Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
22633 @item set debug aix-thread
22634 @cindex AIX threads
22635 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
22637 @item show debug aix-thread
22638 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
22639 @item set debug check-physname
22641 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
22642 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
22643 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
22644 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
22645 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
22646 both ways and display any discrepancies.
22647 @item show debug check-physname
22648 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
22649 @item set debug coff-pe-read
22650 @cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
22651 Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
22652 exported symbols. The default is off.
22653 @item show debug coff-pe-read
22654 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22655 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22656 @item set debug dwarf2-die
22657 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
22658 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
22659 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
22660 A value of zero turns off the display.
22661 @item show debug dwarf2-die
22662 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
22663 @item set debug dwarf2-read
22664 @cindex DWARF2 Reading
22665 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
22666 DWARF debug info. The default is 0 (off).
22667 A value of 1 provides basic information.
22668 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
22669 @item show debug dwarf2-read
22670 Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
22671 @item set debug displaced
22672 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
22673 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
22674 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
22675 @item show debug displaced
22676 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
22677 related to displaced stepping.
22678 @item set debug event
22679 @cindex event debugging info
22680 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
22682 @item show debug event
22683 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
22685 @item set debug expression
22686 @cindex expression debugging info
22687 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
22688 expression parsing. The default is off.
22689 @item show debug expression
22690 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
22691 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
22692 @item set debug frame
22693 @cindex frame debugging info
22694 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
22696 @item show debug frame
22697 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
22699 @item set debug gnu-nat
22700 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
22701 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
22702 @item show debug gnu-nat
22703 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
22704 @item set debug infrun
22705 @cindex inferior debugging info
22706 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
22707 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
22708 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
22709 @item show debug infrun
22710 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
22711 @item set debug jit
22712 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
22713 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
22714 @item show debug jit
22715 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
22716 @item set debug lin-lwp
22717 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
22718 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
22719 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
22720 @item show debug lin-lwp
22721 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
22722 @item set debug mach-o
22723 @cindex Mach-O symbols processing
22724 Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
22725 processing. The default is off.
22726 @item show debug mach-o
22727 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22728 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22729 @item set debug notification
22730 @cindex remote async notification debugging info
22731 Turns on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
22732 The default is off.
22733 @item show debug notification
22734 Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
22735 @item set debug observer
22736 @cindex observer debugging info
22737 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
22738 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
22739 @item show debug observer
22740 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
22741 @item set debug overload
22742 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
22743 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
22744 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
22746 @item show debug overload
22747 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
22749 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
22750 @cindex debug expression parser
22751 @item set debug parser
22752 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
22753 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
22754 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
22755 details. The default is off.
22756 @item show debug parser
22757 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
22758 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
22759 @cindex serial connections, debugging
22760 @cindex debug remote protocol
22761 @cindex remote protocol debugging
22762 @cindex display remote packets
22763 @item set debug remote
22764 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
22765 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
22766 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
22767 @item show debug remote
22768 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
22769 @item set debug serial
22770 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
22772 @item show debug serial
22773 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
22775 @item set debug solib-frv
22776 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
22777 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
22778 @item show debug solib-frv
22779 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
22781 @item set debug symfile
22782 @cindex symbol file functions
22783 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol file functions.
22784 The default is off. @xref{Files}.
22785 @item show debug symfile
22786 Show the current state of symbol file debugging messages.
22787 @item set debug symtab-create
22788 @cindex symbol table creation
22789 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
22790 The default is 0 (off).
22791 A value of 1 provides basic information.
22792 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
22793 @item show debug symtab-create
22794 Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
22795 @item set debug target
22796 @cindex target debugging info
22797 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
22798 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
22799 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
22800 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
22801 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
22802 @item show debug target
22803 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
22805 @item set debug timestamp
22806 @cindex timestampping debugging info
22807 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
22808 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
22810 @item show debug timestamp
22811 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
22813 @item set debugvarobj
22814 @cindex variable object debugging info
22815 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
22816 info. The default is off.
22817 @item show debugvarobj
22818 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
22820 @item set debug xml
22821 @cindex XML parser debugging
22822 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
22823 @item show debug xml
22824 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
22827 @node Other Misc Settings
22828 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
22829 @cindex miscellaneous settings
22832 @kindex set interactive-mode
22833 @item set interactive-mode
22834 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
22835 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
22836 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
22837 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
22838 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
22839 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
22840 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
22841 is, non-interactively otherwise.
22843 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
22844 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
22845 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
22846 inside a cygwin window.
22848 @kindex show interactive-mode
22849 @item show interactive-mode
22850 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
22853 @node Extending GDB
22854 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
22855 @cindex extending GDB
22857 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
22858 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
22859 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
22862 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
22863 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
22864 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
22865 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
22866 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22867 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
22869 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
22873 @kindex set script-extension
22874 @kindex show script-extension
22875 @item set script-extension off
22876 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22878 @item set script-extension soft
22879 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22880 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
22881 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
22882 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
22884 @item set script-extension strict
22885 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22886 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
22887 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
22889 @item show script-extension
22890 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
22895 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
22896 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22897 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
22901 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
22903 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
22904 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
22905 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
22909 * Define:: How to define your own commands
22910 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
22911 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
22912 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
22916 @subsection User-defined Commands
22918 @cindex user-defined command
22919 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
22920 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
22921 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
22922 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
22923 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
22924 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
22928 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22933 To execute the command use:
22940 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
22941 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
22942 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
22945 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
22946 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
22947 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
22948 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
22953 print $arg0 + $arg1
22956 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22964 @item define @var{commandname}
22965 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
22966 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
22967 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
22968 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
22969 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
22970 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
22972 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
22973 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
22974 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22977 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
22978 @item document @var{commandname}
22979 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
22980 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
22981 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
22982 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
22983 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
22984 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
22986 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
22987 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
22988 does not change the documentation.
22990 @kindex dont-repeat
22991 @cindex don't repeat command
22993 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
22994 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
22995 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
22997 @kindex help user-defined
22998 @item help user-defined
22999 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
23000 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
23005 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
23006 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
23007 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
23008 definitions for all user-defined commands.
23009 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
23011 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
23012 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
23013 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
23014 @item show max-user-call-depth
23015 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
23016 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
23017 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
23018 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
23019 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
23022 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
23023 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
23025 When user-defined commands are executed, the
23026 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
23027 stops execution of the user-defined command.
23029 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
23030 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
23031 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
23032 messages when used in a user-defined command.
23035 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
23036 @cindex command hooks
23037 @cindex hooks, for commands
23038 @cindex hooks, pre-command
23041 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
23042 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
23043 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
23044 before that command.
23046 @cindex hooks, post-command
23048 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
23049 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
23050 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
23051 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
23052 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
23054 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
23055 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
23057 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
23058 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
23060 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
23061 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
23062 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
23063 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
23064 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
23066 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
23067 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
23072 handle SIGALRM nopass
23076 handle SIGALRM pass
23079 define hook-continue
23080 handle SIGALRM pass
23084 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
23085 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
23093 define hookpost-echo
23097 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
23098 <<<---Hello World--->>>
23103 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
23104 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
23105 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
23106 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
23108 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
23109 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
23110 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
23112 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
23113 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
23114 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
23116 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
23117 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
23119 @node Command Files
23120 @subsection Command Files
23122 @cindex command files
23123 @cindex scripting commands
23124 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
23125 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
23126 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
23127 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
23130 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
23131 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
23132 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
23133 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
23134 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
23138 @cindex execute commands from a file
23139 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
23140 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
23143 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
23144 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
23145 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
23146 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
23147 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
23149 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
23150 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
23151 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
23152 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
23153 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
23154 is not relevant to scripts.
23156 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
23157 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
23158 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
23159 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
23160 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23161 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
23162 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
23163 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
23164 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23165 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
23166 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
23167 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
23168 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
23169 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
23171 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
23172 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
23173 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
23175 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
23176 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
23177 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
23178 when called from command files.
23180 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
23181 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
23182 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
23183 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
23187 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
23190 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
23191 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
23192 would be directed to @file{log}.
23194 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
23195 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
23196 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
23197 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
23198 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
23199 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
23200 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
23201 conditionally, etc.
23208 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
23209 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
23210 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
23211 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
23212 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
23213 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
23214 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23218 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
23219 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
23220 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
23221 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
23222 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
23223 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
23227 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
23228 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
23231 @kindex loop_continue
23232 @item loop_continue
23233 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
23234 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
23235 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
23236 the controlling expression.
23238 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
23240 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
23241 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
23246 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
23248 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
23249 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
23250 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
23251 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
23256 @item echo @var{text}
23257 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
23258 @c because it is not in ANSI.
23259 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
23260 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
23261 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
23262 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
23263 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
23264 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
23265 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
23266 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
23267 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
23269 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
23270 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
23273 echo This is some text\n\
23274 which is continued\n\
23275 onto several lines.\n
23278 produces the same output as
23281 echo This is some text\n
23282 echo which is continued\n
23283 echo onto several lines.\n
23287 @item output @var{expression}
23288 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
23289 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
23290 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
23293 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
23294 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
23295 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
23296 Formats}, for more information.
23299 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23300 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23301 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
23302 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
23303 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
23304 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
23305 executing the code below:
23308 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
23311 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
23312 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
23313 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
23314 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
23315 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
23318 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
23321 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
23324 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
23325 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
23326 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
23330 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
23333 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
23337 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
23338 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
23341 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
23345 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
23348 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
23352 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
23353 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
23354 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
23355 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
23357 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
23358 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
23359 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
23360 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
23363 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
23364 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
23365 together with a floating point specifier.
23370 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
23373 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
23376 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
23379 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
23380 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
23381 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
23383 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
23384 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
23386 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
23388 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
23392 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23393 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23394 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
23399 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
23400 @cindex python scripting
23401 @cindex scripting with python
23403 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
23404 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
23405 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
23407 @cindex python directory
23408 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
23409 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
23410 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
23411 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
23412 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
23413 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
23415 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
23416 are written in Python and are located in the
23417 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
23418 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
23419 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
23422 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
23423 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
23424 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
23425 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
23428 @node Python Commands
23429 @subsection Python Commands
23430 @cindex python commands
23431 @cindex commands to access python
23433 @value{GDBN} provides two commands for accessing the Python interpreter,
23434 and one related setting:
23437 @kindex python-interactive
23439 @item python-interactive @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23440 @itemx pi @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23441 Without an argument, the @code{python-interactive} command can be used
23442 to start an interactive Python prompt. To return to @value{GDBN},
23443 type the @code{EOF} character (e.g., @kbd{Ctrl-D} on an empty prompt).
23445 Alternatively, a single-line Python command can be given as an
23446 argument and evaluated. If the command is an expression, the result
23447 will be printed; otherwise, nothing will be printed. For example:
23450 (@value{GDBP}) python-interactive 2 + 3
23456 @item python @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23457 @itemx py @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23458 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
23460 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
23461 argument as a Python command. For example:
23464 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
23468 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
23469 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
23470 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
23471 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
23472 containing @code{end}. For example:
23475 (@value{GDBP}) python
23477 End with a line saying just "end".
23483 @kindex set python print-stack
23484 @item set python print-stack
23485 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
23486 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
23487 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
23488 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
23489 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
23490 the message component of the error is printed.
23493 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
23497 @item source @file{script-name}
23498 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
23499 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
23500 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
23502 @item python execfile ("script-name")
23503 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
23504 and thus is always available.
23508 @subsection Python API
23510 @cindex programming in python
23512 You can get quick online help for @value{GDBN}'s Python API by issuing
23513 the command @w{@kbd{python help (gdb)}}.
23515 Functions and methods which have two or more optional arguments allow
23516 them to be specified using keyword syntax. This allows passing some
23517 optional arguments while skipping others. Example:
23518 @w{@code{gdb.some_function ('foo', bar = 1, baz = 2)}}.
23521 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
23522 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
23523 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
23524 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
23525 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
23526 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
23527 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
23528 * Type Printing API:: Pretty-printing types.
23529 * Frame Filter API:: Filtering Frames.
23530 * Frame Decorator API:: Decorating Frames.
23531 * Writing a Frame Filter:: Writing a Frame Filter.
23532 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
23533 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
23534 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
23535 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
23536 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
23537 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
23538 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
23539 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
23540 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23541 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing blocks from Python.
23542 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
23543 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
23544 * Line Tables In Python:: Python representation of line tables.
23545 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
23546 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
23548 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
23549 * Architectures In Python:: Python representation of architectures.
23553 @subsubsection Basic Python
23555 @cindex python stdout
23556 @cindex python pagination
23557 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
23558 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
23559 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
23560 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
23561 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
23563 Some care must be taken when writing Python code to run in
23564 @value{GDBN}. Two things worth noting in particular:
23568 @value{GDBN} install handlers for @code{SIGCHLD} and @code{SIGINT}.
23569 Python code must not override these, or even change the options using
23570 @code{sigaction}. If your program changes the handling of these
23571 signals, @value{GDBN} will most likely stop working correctly. Note
23572 that it is unfortunately common for GUI toolkits to install a
23573 @code{SIGCHLD} handler.
23576 @value{GDBN} takes care to mark its internal file descriptors as
23577 close-on-exec. However, this cannot be done in a thread-safe way on
23578 all platforms. Your Python programs should be aware of this and
23579 should both create new file descriptors with the close-on-exec flag
23580 set and arrange to close unneeded file descriptors before starting a
23584 @cindex python functions
23585 @cindex python module
23587 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
23588 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
23589 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
23590 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
23592 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
23593 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
23594 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
23597 @findex gdb.execute
23598 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
23599 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23600 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
23601 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
23603 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
23604 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
23605 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
23607 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
23608 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
23609 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
23610 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
23611 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
23612 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
23613 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
23616 @findex gdb.breakpoints
23617 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
23618 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
23619 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
23622 @findex gdb.parameter
23623 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
23624 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
23625 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
23626 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
23627 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
23629 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
23630 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
23631 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
23632 type, and returned.
23635 @findex gdb.history
23636 @defun gdb.history (number)
23637 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
23638 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
23639 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
23640 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
23641 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
23642 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
23643 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
23646 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
23647 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
23650 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
23651 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
23652 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
23653 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23654 @var{expression} must be a string.
23656 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
23657 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
23658 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
23659 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
23660 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23663 @findex gdb.find_pc_line
23664 @defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
23665 Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
23666 @var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
23667 value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
23668 @code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
23669 will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
23672 @findex gdb.post_event
23673 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
23674 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
23675 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
23676 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
23677 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
23678 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
23679 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
23681 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
23682 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
23683 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
23687 (@value{GDBP}) python
23691 > def __init__(self, message):
23692 > self.message = message;
23693 > def __call__(self):
23694 > gdb.write(self.message)
23696 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
23698 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
23700 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
23702 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
23704 >MyThread1().start()
23705 >MyThread2().start()
23707 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
23712 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
23713 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
23714 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
23715 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
23722 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23727 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23732 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23735 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23736 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
23741 @defun gdb.flush ()
23742 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
23743 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
23744 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
23745 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
23746 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
23753 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23758 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23763 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23767 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23768 call this function for the relevant stream.
23771 @findex gdb.target_charset
23772 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
23773 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
23774 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
23775 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
23778 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
23779 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
23780 Return the name of the current target wide character set
23781 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
23782 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
23786 @findex gdb.solib_name
23787 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
23788 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
23789 as a string, or @code{None}.
23792 @findex gdb.decode_line
23793 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
23794 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
23795 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
23796 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
23797 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
23798 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
23799 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
23800 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
23801 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
23802 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
23803 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
23806 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
23807 @anchor{prompt_hook}
23809 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
23810 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
23813 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
23814 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
23815 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
23816 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
23817 the current prompt.
23819 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
23820 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
23821 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
23824 @node Exception Handling
23825 @subsubsection Exception Handling
23826 @cindex python exceptions
23827 @cindex exceptions, python
23829 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
23830 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
23831 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
23832 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
23833 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
23834 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
23835 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
23838 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
23839 Traceback (most recent call last):
23840 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
23841 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
23844 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
23845 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
23846 Python exception depends on the error.
23850 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
23851 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
23852 versions of @value{GDBN}.
23854 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
23855 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
23857 @item gdb.MemoryError
23858 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
23859 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
23861 @item KeyboardInterrupt
23862 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
23863 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
23866 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
23867 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
23868 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
23871 @findex gdb.GdbError
23872 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
23873 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
23874 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
23875 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
23876 to handle this case. Example:
23880 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23881 > """Greet the whole world."""
23882 > def __init__ (self):
23883 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
23884 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
23885 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
23886 > if len (argv) != 0:
23887 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
23888 > print "Hello, World!"
23891 (gdb) hello-world 42
23892 hello-world takes no arguments
23895 @node Values From Inferior
23896 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
23897 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
23898 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
23900 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
23901 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
23902 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
23903 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
23904 fetching values when necessary.
23906 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
23907 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
23908 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
23915 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
23916 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
23918 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
23919 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
23920 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
23921 can access its @code{foo} element with:
23924 bar = some_val['foo']
23927 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
23929 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
23930 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
23931 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
23934 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
23935 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
23936 execute this function, call it like so:
23939 result = some_val (10,20)
23942 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
23945 The following attributes are provided:
23947 @defvar Value.address
23948 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
23949 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
23950 this attribute holds @code{None}.
23953 @cindex optimized out value in Python
23954 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
23955 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
23956 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
23960 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
23961 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
23964 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
23965 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
23966 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
23967 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
23968 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
23969 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
23970 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
23971 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
23974 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
23975 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
23976 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
23977 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
23980 @defvar Value.is_lazy
23981 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
23982 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
23983 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
23987 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
23990 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
23991 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
23995 The following methods are provided:
23997 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
23998 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
23999 this object initializer. Specifically:
24002 @item Python boolean
24003 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
24006 @item Python integer
24007 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
24008 current architecture.
24011 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
24012 current architecture.
24015 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
24016 current architecture.
24018 @item Python string
24019 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
24022 @item @code{gdb.Value}
24023 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
24025 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
24026 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
24027 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
24028 its result is used.
24032 @defun Value.cast (type)
24033 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
24034 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
24035 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
24036 reason, this method throws an exception.
24039 @defun Value.dereference ()
24040 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
24041 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
24042 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
24049 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
24050 @code{foo} points to like this:
24053 bar = foo.dereference ()
24056 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
24057 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
24059 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
24060 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
24061 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
24062 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
24063 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
24064 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
24065 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
24066 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
24070 typedef int *intptr;
24074 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
24077 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
24078 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
24079 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
24080 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
24081 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
24082 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
24085 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
24086 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
24087 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
24090 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
24091 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
24092 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
24093 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
24094 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
24095 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
24096 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
24097 example). The results are however identical when applied on
24098 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
24099 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
24102 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
24103 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
24104 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
24105 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
24106 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
24107 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
24108 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
24109 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
24110 in your C@t{++} program as
24118 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
24119 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
24120 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
24121 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
24124 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
24125 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
24126 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
24129 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
24130 corresponding to @code{val}.
24133 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
24134 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
24135 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
24138 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
24139 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
24140 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
24143 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
24144 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
24145 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
24146 throw an exception.
24148 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
24149 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
24152 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
24153 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
24154 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
24155 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
24156 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
24158 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
24159 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
24160 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
24161 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
24162 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
24163 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
24164 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
24165 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
24166 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
24168 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
24169 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
24171 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
24172 fetched and converted to the given length.
24175 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
24176 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
24177 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
24178 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
24180 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
24181 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
24182 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
24183 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
24184 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
24186 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
24187 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
24188 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
24189 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
24190 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
24191 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
24193 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
24194 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
24195 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
24196 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
24199 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
24200 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
24201 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
24202 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
24203 will produce a Python exception.
24205 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
24208 This method does not return a value.
24212 @node Types In Python
24213 @subsubsection Types In Python
24214 @cindex types in Python
24215 @cindex Python, working with types
24218 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
24221 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24224 @findex gdb.lookup_type
24225 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
24226 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
24227 type to look up. It must be a string.
24229 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24230 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24232 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
24233 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
24236 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
24237 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
24238 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
24239 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
24242 bar = some_type['foo']
24245 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
24246 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
24247 @code{gdb.Field} class.
24249 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
24252 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
24253 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
24256 @defvar Type.sizeof
24257 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
24258 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
24259 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
24263 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
24264 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
24265 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
24266 @code{None} is returned.
24269 The following methods are provided:
24271 @defun Type.fields ()
24272 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
24273 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
24274 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
24275 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
24276 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
24277 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
24279 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
24282 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
24283 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
24284 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
24285 enumeration member's integer representation.
24288 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
24291 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
24292 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
24293 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
24295 @item is_base_class
24296 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
24297 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
24298 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
24299 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
24302 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
24303 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
24304 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
24307 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
24308 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
24312 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24313 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
24314 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24315 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24316 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
24317 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
24318 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24321 @defun Type.vector (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24322 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a vector of this
24323 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24324 the vector; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24325 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the vector, and the
24326 second argument is the upper bound of the vector. A vector's length
24327 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24329 The difference between an @code{array} and a @code{vector} is that
24330 arrays behave like in C: when used in expressions they decay to a pointer
24331 to the first element whereas vectors are treated as first class values.
24334 @defun Type.const ()
24335 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24336 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
24339 @defun Type.volatile ()
24340 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24341 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
24344 @defun Type.unqualified ()
24345 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
24346 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
24350 @defun Type.range ()
24351 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
24352 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
24353 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
24354 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24357 @defun Type.reference ()
24358 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
24362 @defun Type.pointer ()
24363 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
24367 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
24368 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
24369 after removing all layers of typedefs.
24372 @defun Type.target ()
24373 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
24376 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
24377 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
24378 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
24379 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
24380 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
24381 target type is the aliased type.
24383 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
24387 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
24388 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
24389 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
24390 @var{n}th template argument.
24392 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
24393 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
24395 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24396 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24400 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
24401 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
24402 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24405 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
24406 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24407 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24408 The type is a pointer.
24410 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24411 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24412 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24413 The type is an array.
24415 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24416 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24417 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24418 The type is a structure.
24420 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
24421 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24422 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24423 The type is a union.
24425 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24426 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24427 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24428 The type is an enum.
24430 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24431 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24432 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24433 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
24435 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24436 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24437 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24438 The type is a function.
24440 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
24441 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24442 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24443 The type is an integer type.
24445 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
24446 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24447 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24448 A floating point type.
24450 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
24451 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24452 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24453 The special type @code{void}.
24455 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
24456 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24457 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24460 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24461 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24462 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24463 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
24465 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
24466 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24467 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24468 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
24469 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
24471 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24472 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24473 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24474 A string of bits. It is deprecated.
24476 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24477 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24478 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24479 An unknown or erroneous type.
24481 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24482 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24483 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24484 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
24486 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24487 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24488 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24489 A pointer-to-member-function.
24491 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24492 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24493 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24494 A pointer-to-member.
24496 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
24497 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24498 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24501 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24502 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24503 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24506 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24507 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24508 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24511 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24512 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24513 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24514 A complex float type.
24516 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24517 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24518 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24519 A typedef to some other type.
24521 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24522 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24523 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24524 A C@t{++} namespace.
24526 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24527 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24528 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24529 A decimal floating point type.
24531 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24532 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24533 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24534 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
24535 convenience functions.
24538 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
24539 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
24541 @node Pretty Printing API
24542 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
24544 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
24546 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
24547 specific interface, defined here.
24549 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
24550 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
24551 children of the pretty-printer's value.
24553 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24554 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
24555 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
24556 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
24557 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
24559 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
24560 as though the value has no children.
24563 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
24564 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
24565 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
24566 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
24569 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
24572 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
24576 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
24577 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
24578 @code{set print array}.
24581 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
24582 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
24586 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
24587 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
24588 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
24589 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
24590 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
24591 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
24595 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
24596 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
24597 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
24599 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
24600 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
24601 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
24602 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
24603 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
24604 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
24605 the result of @code{children}.
24607 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
24609 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
24610 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
24611 another pretty-printer.
24613 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
24614 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
24615 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
24616 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
24617 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
24619 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
24620 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
24622 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
24625 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
24626 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
24628 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
24629 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
24630 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
24631 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
24632 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
24635 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
24636 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
24638 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
24639 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
24640 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
24641 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
24642 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
24643 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
24646 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
24647 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
24648 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
24649 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
24652 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
24653 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
24654 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
24655 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
24656 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
24657 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
24658 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
24659 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
24660 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
24661 object is returned.
24663 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
24664 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
24665 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
24666 object is returned.
24668 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
24669 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
24670 the pretty-printer is out of date.
24672 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
24673 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
24674 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
24675 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
24676 with a broken printer.
24678 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
24679 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
24680 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
24681 the printer is enabled.
24683 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
24684 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
24685 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
24687 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
24688 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
24690 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
24691 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
24695 class StdStringPrinter(object):
24696 "Print a std::string"
24698 def __init__(self, val):
24701 def to_string(self):
24702 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
24704 def display_hint(self):
24708 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
24709 example above might be written.
24712 def str_lookup_function(val):
24713 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
24714 if lookup_tag == None:
24716 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
24717 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
24718 return StdStringPrinter(val)
24722 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
24723 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
24724 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
24725 returns @code{None}.
24727 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
24728 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
24729 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
24730 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
24731 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
24734 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
24735 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
24736 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
24737 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
24738 the current objfile.
24740 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
24741 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
24742 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
24743 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
24744 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
24745 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
24746 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
24747 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
24750 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
24751 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
24754 def register_printers(objfile):
24755 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
24759 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
24762 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
24763 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
24766 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
24767 There are a few things that can be improved on.
24768 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
24769 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
24770 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
24772 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
24773 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
24774 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
24775 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
24776 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
24777 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
24779 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
24780 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
24781 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
24783 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
24786 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
24787 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
24790 Here are the printers:
24794 """Print a foo object."""
24796 def __init__(self, val):
24799 def to_string(self):
24800 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
24801 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
24804 """Print a bar object."""
24806 def __init__(self, val):
24809 def to_string(self):
24810 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
24811 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
24814 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
24815 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
24816 the object that handles the lookup.
24819 import gdb.printing
24821 def build_pretty_printer():
24822 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
24824 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
24825 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
24829 And here is the autoload support:
24832 import gdb.printing
24834 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
24835 gdb.current_objfile(),
24836 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
24839 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
24840 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
24843 (gdb) info pretty-printer
24850 @node Type Printing API
24851 @subsubsection Type Printing API
24852 @cindex type printing API for Python
24854 @value{GDBN} provides a way for Python code to customize type display.
24855 This is mainly useful for substituting canonical typedef names for
24858 @cindex type printer
24859 A @dfn{type printer} is just a Python object conforming to a certain
24860 protocol. A simple base class implementing the protocol is provided;
24861 see @ref{gdb.types}. A type printer must supply at least:
24863 @defivar type_printer enabled
24864 A boolean which is True if the printer is enabled, and False
24865 otherwise. This is manipulated by the @code{enable type-printer}
24866 and @code{disable type-printer} commands.
24869 @defivar type_printer name
24870 The name of the type printer. This must be a string. This is used by
24871 the @code{enable type-printer} and @code{disable type-printer}
24875 @defmethod type_printer instantiate (self)
24876 This is called by @value{GDBN} at the start of type-printing. It is
24877 only called if the type printer is enabled. This method must return a
24878 new object that supplies a @code{recognize} method, as described below.
24882 When displaying a type, say via the @code{ptype} command, @value{GDBN}
24883 will compute a list of type recognizers. This is done by iterating
24884 first over the per-objfile type printers (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}),
24885 followed by the per-progspace type printers (@pxref{Progspaces In
24886 Python}), and finally the global type printers.
24888 @value{GDBN} will call the @code{instantiate} method of each enabled
24889 type printer. If this method returns @code{None}, then the result is
24890 ignored; otherwise, it is appended to the list of recognizers.
24892 Then, when @value{GDBN} is going to display a type name, it iterates
24893 over the list of recognizers. For each one, it calls the recognition
24894 function, stopping if the function returns a non-@code{None} value.
24895 The recognition function is defined as:
24897 @defmethod type_recognizer recognize (self, type)
24898 If @var{type} is not recognized, return @code{None}. Otherwise,
24899 return a string which is to be printed as the name of @var{type}.
24900 @var{type} will be an instance of @code{gdb.Type} (@pxref{Types In
24904 @value{GDBN} uses this two-pass approach so that type printers can
24905 efficiently cache information without holding on to it too long. For
24906 example, it can be convenient to look up type information in a type
24907 printer and hold it for a recognizer's lifetime; if a single pass were
24908 done then type printers would have to make use of the event system in
24909 order to avoid holding information that could become stale as the
24912 @node Frame Filter API
24913 @subsubsection Filtering Frames.
24914 @cindex frame filters api
24916 Frame filters are Python objects that manipulate the visibility of a
24917 frame or frames when a backtrace (@pxref{Backtrace}) is printed by
24920 Only commands that print a backtrace, or, in the case of @sc{gdb/mi}
24921 commands (@pxref{GDB/MI}), those that return a collection of frames
24922 are affected. The commands that work with frame filters are:
24924 @code{backtrace} (@pxref{backtrace-command,, The backtrace command}),
24925 @code{-stack-list-frames}
24926 (@pxref{-stack-list-frames,, The -stack-list-frames command}),
24927 @code{-stack-list-variables} (@pxref{-stack-list-variables,, The
24928 -stack-list-variables command}), @code{-stack-list-arguments}
24929 @pxref{-stack-list-arguments,, The -stack-list-arguments command}) and
24930 @code{-stack-list-locals} (@pxref{-stack-list-locals,, The
24931 -stack-list-locals command}).
24933 A frame filter works by taking an iterator as an argument, applying
24934 actions to the contents of that iterator, and returning another
24935 iterator (or, possibly, the same iterator it was provided in the case
24936 where the filter does not perform any operations). Typically, frame
24937 filters utilize tools such as the Python's @code{itertools} module to
24938 work with and create new iterators from the source iterator.
24939 Regardless of how a filter chooses to apply actions, it must not alter
24940 the underlying @value{GDBN} frame or frames, or attempt to alter the
24941 call-stack within @value{GDBN}. This preserves data integrity within
24942 @value{GDBN}. Frame filters are executed on a priority basis and care
24943 should be taken that some frame filters may have been executed before,
24944 and that some frame filters will be executed after.
24946 An important consideration when designing frame filters, and well
24947 worth reflecting upon, is that frame filters should avoid unwinding
24948 the call stack if possible. Some stacks can run very deep, into the
24949 tens of thousands in some cases. To search every frame when a frame
24950 filter executes may be too expensive at that step. The frame filter
24951 cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it may have to
24952 iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
24953 @value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames. If
24954 the filter can defer unwinding frames until frame decorators are
24955 executed, after the last filter has executed, it should. @xref{Frame
24956 Decorator API}, for more information on decorators. Also, there are
24957 examples for both frame decorators and filters in later chapters.
24958 @xref{Writing a Frame Filter}, for more information.
24960 The Python dictionary @code{gdb.frame_filters} contains key/object
24961 pairings that comprise a frame filter. Frame filters in this
24962 dictionary are called @code{global} frame filters, and they are
24963 available when debugging all inferiors. These frame filters must
24964 register with the dictionary directly. In addition to the
24965 @code{global} dictionary, there are other dictionaries that are loaded
24966 with different inferiors via auto-loading (@pxref{Python
24967 Auto-loading}). The two other areas where frame filter dictionaries
24968 can be found are: @code{gdb.Progspace} which contains a
24969 @code{frame_filters} dictionary attribute, and each @code{gdb.Objfile}
24970 object which also contains a @code{frame_filters} dictionary
24973 When a command is executed from @value{GDBN} that is compatible with
24974 frame filters, @value{GDBN} combines the @code{global},
24975 @code{gdb.Progspace} and all @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries currently
24976 loaded. All of the @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries are combined, as
24977 several frames, and thus several object files, might be in use.
24978 @value{GDBN} then prunes any frame filter whose @code{enabled}
24979 attribute is @code{False}. This pruned list is then sorted according
24980 to the @code{priority} attribute in each filter.
24982 Once the dictionaries are combined, pruned and sorted, @value{GDBN}
24983 creates an iterator which wraps each frame in the call stack in a
24984 @code{FrameDecorator} object, and calls each filter in order. The
24985 output from the previous filter will always be the input to the next
24988 Frame filters have a mandatory interface which each frame filter must
24989 implement, defined here:
24991 @defun FrameFilter.filter (iterator)
24992 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a frame filter when it has
24993 reached the order in the priority list for that filter.
24995 For example, if there are four frame filters:
25006 The order that the frame filters will be called is:
25009 Filter3 -> Filter2 -> Filter1 -> Filter4
25012 Note that the output from @code{Filter3} is passed to the input of
25013 @code{Filter2}, and so on.
25015 This @code{filter} method is passed a Python iterator. This iterator
25016 contains a sequence of frame decorators that wrap each
25017 @code{gdb.Frame}, or a frame decorator that wraps another frame
25018 decorator. The first filter that is executed in the sequence of frame
25019 filters will receive an iterator entirely comprised of default
25020 @code{FrameDecorator} objects. However, after each frame filter is
25021 executed, the previous frame filter may have wrapped some or all of
25022 the frame decorators with their own frame decorator. As frame
25023 decorators must also conform to a mandatory interface, these
25024 decorators can be assumed to act in a uniform manner (@pxref{Frame
25027 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
25028 protocol. Each item in the iterator must be an object conforming to
25029 the frame decorator interface. If a frame filter does not wish to
25030 perform any operations on this iterator, it should return that
25031 iterator untouched.
25033 This method is not optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will
25034 raise and print an error.
25037 @defvar FrameFilter.name
25038 The @code{name} attribute must be Python string which contains the
25039 name of the filter displayed by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Frame Filter
25040 Management}). This attribute may contain any combination of letters
25041 or numbers. Care should be taken to ensure that it is unique. This
25042 attribute is mandatory.
25045 @defvar FrameFilter.enabled
25046 The @code{enabled} attribute must be Python boolean. This attribute
25047 indicates to @value{GDBN} whether the frame filter is enabled, and
25048 should be considered when frame filters are executed. If
25049 @code{enabled} is @code{True}, then the frame filter will be executed
25050 when any of the backtrace commands detailed earlier in this chapter
25051 are executed. If @code{enabled} is @code{False}, then the frame
25052 filter will not be executed. This attribute is mandatory.
25055 @defvar FrameFilter.priority
25056 The @code{priority} attribute must be Python integer. This attribute
25057 controls the order of execution in relation to other frame filters.
25058 There are no imposed limits on the range of @code{priority} other than
25059 it must be a valid integer. The higher the @code{priority} attribute,
25060 the sooner the frame filter will be executed in relation to other
25061 frame filters. Although @code{priority} can be negative, it is
25062 recommended practice to assume zero is the lowest priority that a
25063 frame filter can be assigned. Frame filters that have the same
25064 priority are executed in unsorted order in that priority slot. This
25065 attribute is mandatory.
25068 @node Frame Decorator API
25069 @subsubsection Decorating Frames.
25070 @cindex frame decorator api
25072 Frame decorators are sister objects to frame filters (@pxref{Frame
25073 Filter API}). Frame decorators are applied by a frame filter and can
25074 only be used in conjunction with frame filters.
25076 The purpose of a frame decorator is to customize the printed content
25077 of each @code{gdb.Frame} in commands where frame filters are executed.
25078 This concept is called decorating a frame. Frame decorators decorate
25079 a @code{gdb.Frame} with Python code contained within each API call.
25080 This separates the actual data contained in a @code{gdb.Frame} from
25081 the decorated data produced by a frame decorator. This abstraction is
25082 necessary to maintain integrity of the data contained in each
25085 Frame decorators have a mandatory interface, defined below.
25087 @value{GDBN} already contains a frame decorator called
25088 @code{FrameDecorator}. This contains substantial amounts of
25089 boilerplate code to decorate the content of a @code{gdb.Frame}. It is
25090 recommended that other frame decorators inherit and extend this
25091 object, and only to override the methods needed.
25093 @defun FrameDecorator.elided (self)
25095 The @code{elided} method groups frames together in a hierarchical
25096 system. An example would be an interpreter, where multiple low-level
25097 frames make up a single call in the interpreted language. In this
25098 example, the frame filter would elide the low-level frames and present
25099 a single high-level frame, representing the call in the interpreted
25100 language, to the user.
25102 The @code{elided} function must return an iterable and this iterable
25103 must contain the frames that are being elided wrapped in a suitable
25104 frame decorator. If no frames are being elided this function may
25105 return an empty iterable, or @code{None}. Elided frames are indented
25106 from normal frames in a @code{CLI} backtrace, or in the case of
25107 @code{GDB/MI}, are placed in the @code{children} field of the eliding
25110 It is the frame filter's task to also filter out the elided frames from
25111 the source iterator. This will avoid printing the frame twice.
25114 @defun FrameDecorator.function (self)
25116 This method returns the name of the function in the frame that is to
25119 This method must return a Python string describing the function, or
25122 If this function returns @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print any
25123 data for this field.
25126 @defun FrameDecorator.address (self)
25128 This method returns the address of the frame that is to be printed.
25130 This method must return a Python numeric integer type of sufficient
25131 size to describe the address of the frame, or @code{None}.
25133 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25134 any data for this field.
25137 @defun FrameDecorator.filename (self)
25139 This method returns the filename and path associated with this frame.
25141 This method must return a Python string containing the filename and
25142 the path to the object file backing the frame, or @code{None}.
25144 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25145 any data for this field.
25148 @defun FrameDecorator.line (self):
25150 This method returns the line number associated with the current
25151 position within the function addressed by this frame.
25153 This method must return a Python integer type, or @code{None}.
25155 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25156 any data for this field.
25159 @defun FrameDecorator.frame_args (self)
25160 @anchor{frame_args}
25162 This method must return an iterable, or @code{None}. Returning an
25163 empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame arguments will not be
25164 printed for this frame. This iterable must contain objects that
25165 implement two methods, described here.
25167 This object must implement a @code{argument} method which takes a
25168 single @code{self} parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Symbol}
25169 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}), or a Python string. The object must also
25170 implement a @code{value} method which takes a single @code{self}
25171 parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From
25172 Inferior}), a Python value, or @code{None}. If the @code{value}
25173 method returns @code{None}, and the @code{argument} method returns a
25174 @code{gdb.Symbol}, @value{GDBN} will look-up and print the value of
25175 the @code{gdb.Symbol} automatically.
25180 class SymValueWrapper():
25182 def __init__(self, symbol, value):
25192 class SomeFrameDecorator()
25195 def frame_args(self):
25198 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
25202 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Only add
25203 # symbols that are arguments.
25205 if not sym.is_argument:
25207 args.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
25209 # Add example synthetic argument.
25210 args.append(SymValueWrapper(``foo'', 42))
25216 @defun FrameDecorator.frame_locals (self)
25218 This method must return an iterable or @code{None}. Returning an
25219 empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame local arguments will not be
25220 printed for this frame.
25222 The object interface, the description of the various strategies for
25223 reading frame locals, and the example are largely similar to those
25224 described in the @code{frame_args} function, (@pxref{frame_args,,The
25225 frame filter frame_args function}). Below is a modified example:
25228 class SomeFrameDecorator()
25231 def frame_locals(self):
25234 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
25238 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Add all
25239 # symbols, except arguments.
25241 if sym.is_argument:
25243 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
25245 # Add an example of a synthetic local variable.
25246 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(``bar'', 99))
25252 @defun FrameDecorator.inferior_frame (self):
25254 This method must return the underlying @code{gdb.Frame} that this
25255 frame decorator is decorating. @value{GDBN} requires the underlying
25256 frame for internal frame information to determine how to print certain
25257 values when printing a frame.
25260 @node Writing a Frame Filter
25261 @subsubsection Writing a Frame Filter
25262 @cindex writing a frame filter
25264 There are three basic elements that a frame filter must implement: it
25265 must correctly implement the documented interface (@pxref{Frame Filter
25266 API}), it must register itself with @value{GDBN}, and finally, it must
25267 decide if it is to work on the data provided by @value{GDBN}. In all
25268 cases, whether it works on the iterator or not, each frame filter must
25269 return an iterator. A bare-bones frame filter follows the pattern in
25270 the following example.
25275 class FrameFilter():
25277 def __init__(self):
25278 # Frame filter attribute creation.
25280 # 'name' is the name of the filter that GDB will display.
25282 # 'priority' is the priority of the filter relative to other
25285 # 'enabled' is a boolean that indicates whether this filter is
25286 # enabled and should be executed.
25289 self.priority = 100
25290 self.enabled = True
25292 # Register this frame filter with the global frame_filters
25294 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25296 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25297 # Just return the iterator.
25301 The frame filter in the example above implements the three
25302 requirements for all frame filters. It implements the API, self
25303 registers, and makes a decision on the iterator (in this case, it just
25304 returns the iterator untouched).
25306 The first step is attribute creation and assignment, and as shown in
25307 the comments the filter assigns the following attributes: @code{name},
25308 @code{priority} and whether the filter should be enabled with the
25309 @code{enabled} attribute.
25311 The second step is registering the frame filter with the dictionary or
25312 dictionaries that the frame filter has interest in. As shown in the
25313 comments, this filter just registers itself with the global dictionary
25314 @code{gdb.frame_filters}. As noted earlier, @code{gdb.frame_filters}
25315 is a dictionary that is initialized in the @code{gdb} module when
25316 @value{GDBN} starts. What dictionary a filter registers with is an
25317 important consideration. Generally, if a filter is specific to a set
25318 of code, it should be registered either in the @code{objfile} or
25319 @code{progspace} dictionaries as they are specific to the program
25320 currently loaded in @value{GDBN}. The global dictionary is always
25321 present in @value{GDBN} and is never unloaded. Any filters registered
25322 with the global dictionary will exist until @value{GDBN} exits. To
25323 avoid filters that may conflict, it is generally better to register
25324 frame filters against the dictionaries that more closely align with
25325 the usage of the filter currently in question. @xref{Python
25326 Auto-loading}, for further information on auto-loading Python scripts.
25328 @value{GDBN} takes a hands-off approach to frame filter registration,
25329 therefore it is the frame filter's responsibility to ensure
25330 registration has occurred, and that any exceptions are handled
25331 appropriately. In particular, you may wish to handle exceptions
25332 relating to Python dictionary key uniqueness. It is mandatory that
25333 the dictionary key is the same as frame filter's @code{name}
25334 attribute. When a user manages frame filters (@pxref{Frame Filter
25335 Management}), the names @value{GDBN} will display are those contained
25336 in the @code{name} attribute.
25338 The final step of this example is the implementation of the
25339 @code{filter} method. As shown in the example comments, we define the
25340 @code{filter} method and note that the method must take an iterator,
25341 and also must return an iterator. In this bare-bones example, the
25342 frame filter is not very useful as it just returns the iterator
25343 untouched. However this is a valid operation for frame filters that
25344 have the @code{enabled} attribute set, but decide not to operate on
25347 In the next example, the frame filter operates on all frames and
25348 utilizes a frame decorator to perform some work on the frames.
25349 @xref{Frame Decorator API}, for further information on the frame
25350 decorator interface.
25352 This example works on inlined frames. It highlights frames which are
25353 inlined by tagging them with an ``[inlined]'' tag. By applying a
25354 frame decorator to all frames with the Python @code{itertools imap}
25355 method, the example defers actions to the frame decorator. Frame
25356 decorators are only processed when @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace.
25358 This introduces a new decision making topic: whether to perform
25359 decision making operations at the filtering step, or at the printing
25360 step. In this example's approach, it does not perform any filtering
25361 decisions at the filtering step beyond mapping a frame decorator to
25362 each frame. This allows the actual decision making to be performed
25363 when each frame is printed. This is an important consideration, and
25364 well worth reflecting upon when designing a frame filter. An issue
25365 that frame filters should avoid is unwinding the stack if possible.
25366 Some stacks can run very deep, into the tens of thousands in some
25367 cases. To search every frame to determine if it is inlined ahead of
25368 time may be too expensive at the filtering step. The frame filter
25369 cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it would have
25370 to iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
25371 @value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames.
25373 In this example decision making can be deferred to the printing step.
25374 As each frame is printed, the frame decorator can examine each frame
25375 in turn when @value{GDBN} iterates. From a performance viewpoint,
25376 this is the most appropriate decision to make as it avoids duplicating
25377 the effort that the printing step would undertake anyway. Also, if
25378 there are many frame filters unwinding the stack during filtering, it
25379 can substantially delay the printing of the backtrace which will
25380 result in large memory usage, and a poor user experience.
25383 class InlineFilter():
25385 def __init__(self):
25386 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25387 self.priority = 100
25388 self.enabled = True
25389 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25391 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25392 frame_iter = itertools.imap(InlinedFrameDecorator,
25397 This frame filter is somewhat similar to the earlier example, except
25398 that the @code{filter} method applies a frame decorator object called
25399 @code{InlinedFrameDecorator} to each element in the iterator. The
25400 @code{imap} Python method is light-weight. It does not proactively
25401 iterate over the iterator, but rather creates a new iterator which
25402 wraps the existing one.
25404 Below is the frame decorator for this example.
25407 class InlinedFrameDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25409 def __init__(self, fobj):
25410 super(InlinedFrameDecorator, self).__init__(fobj)
25412 def function(self):
25413 frame = fobj.inferior_frame()
25414 name = str(frame.name())
25416 if frame.type() == gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25417 name = name + " [inlined]"
25422 This frame decorator only defines and overrides the @code{function}
25423 method. It lets the supplied @code{FrameDecorator}, which is shipped
25424 with @value{GDBN}, perform the other work associated with printing
25427 The combination of these two objects create this output from a
25431 #0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25432 #1 0x00400566 in max [inlined] (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:21
25433 #2 0x00400566 in main () at inline.c:31
25436 So in the case of this example, a frame decorator is applied to all
25437 frames, regardless of whether they may be inlined or not. As
25438 @value{GDBN} iterates over the iterator produced by the frame filters,
25439 @value{GDBN} executes each frame decorator which then makes a decision
25440 on what to print in the @code{function} callback. Using a strategy
25441 like this is a way to defer decisions on the frame content to printing
25444 @subheading Eliding Frames
25446 It might be that the above example is not desirable for representing
25447 inlined frames, and a hierarchical approach may be preferred. If we
25448 want to hierarchically represent frames, the @code{elided} frame
25449 decorator interface might be preferable.
25451 This example approaches the issue with the @code{elided} method. This
25452 example is quite long, but very simplistic. It is out-of-scope for
25453 this section to write a complete example that comprehensively covers
25454 all approaches of finding and printing inlined frames. However, this
25455 example illustrates the approach an author might use.
25457 This example comprises of three sections.
25460 class InlineFrameFilter():
25462 def __init__(self):
25463 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25464 self.priority = 100
25465 self.enabled = True
25466 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25468 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25469 return ElidingInlineIterator(frame_iter)
25472 This frame filter is very similar to the other examples. The only
25473 difference is this frame filter is wrapping the iterator provided to
25474 it (@code{frame_iter}) with a custom iterator called
25475 @code{ElidingInlineIterator}. This again defers actions to when
25476 @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace, as the iterator is not traversed
25479 The iterator for this example is as follows. It is in this section of
25480 the example where decisions are made on the content of the backtrace.
25483 class ElidingInlineIterator:
25484 def __init__(self, ii):
25485 self.input_iterator = ii
25487 def __iter__(self):
25491 frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25493 if frame.inferior_frame().type() != gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25497 eliding_frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25498 except StopIteration:
25500 return ElidingFrameDecorator(eliding_frame, [frame])
25503 This iterator implements the Python iterator protocol. When the
25504 @code{next} function is called (when @value{GDBN} prints each frame),
25505 the iterator checks if this frame decorator, @code{frame}, is wrapping
25506 an inlined frame. If it is not, it returns the existing frame decorator
25507 untouched. If it is wrapping an inlined frame, it assumes that the
25508 inlined frame was contained within the next oldest frame,
25509 @code{eliding_frame}, which it fetches. It then creates and returns a
25510 frame decorator, @code{ElidingFrameDecorator}, which contains both the
25511 elided frame, and the eliding frame.
25514 class ElidingInlineDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25516 def __init__(self, frame, elided_frames):
25517 super(ElidingInlineDecorator, self).__init__(frame)
25519 self.elided_frames = elided_frames
25522 return iter(self.elided_frames)
25525 This frame decorator overrides one function and returns the inlined
25526 frame in the @code{elided} method. As before it lets
25527 @code{FrameDecorator} do the rest of the work involved in printing
25528 this frame. This produces the following output.
25531 #0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25532 #2 0x00400529 in main () at inline.c:25
25533 #1 0x00400529 in max (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:15
25536 In that output, @code{max} which has been inlined into @code{main} is
25537 printed hierarchically. Another approach would be to combine the
25538 @code{function} method, and the @code{elided} method to both print a
25539 marker in the inlined frame, and also show the hierarchical
25542 @node Inferiors In Python
25543 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
25544 @cindex inferiors in Python
25546 @findex gdb.Inferior
25547 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
25548 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
25549 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
25550 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
25552 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25555 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
25556 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
25559 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
25560 Return an object representing the current inferior.
25563 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
25565 @defvar Inferior.num
25566 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
25569 @defvar Inferior.pid
25570 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
25574 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
25575 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
25576 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
25579 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
25581 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
25582 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
25583 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
25584 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
25585 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
25586 at the time the method is called.
25589 @defun Inferior.threads ()
25590 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
25591 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
25592 return an empty tuple.
25595 @findex Inferior.read_memory
25596 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
25597 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
25598 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
25599 or a string. It can be modified and given to the
25600 @code{Inferior.write_memory} function. In @code{Python} 3, the return
25601 value is a @code{memoryview} object.
25604 @findex Inferior.write_memory
25605 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
25606 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
25607 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
25608 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25609 object returned from @code{Inferior.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
25610 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
25613 @findex gdb.search_memory
25614 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
25615 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
25616 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
25617 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
25618 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25619 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
25620 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
25621 the pattern could not be found.
25624 @node Events In Python
25625 @subsubsection Events In Python
25626 @cindex inferior events in Python
25628 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
25629 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
25632 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
25633 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
25634 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
25636 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
25637 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
25638 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
25639 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
25641 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
25642 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
25643 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
25646 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
25647 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
25648 will no longer receive notifications of events.
25651 Here is an example:
25654 def exit_handler (event):
25655 print "event type: exit"
25656 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
25658 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
25661 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
25662 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
25663 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
25664 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
25665 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
25668 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
25669 details of the events they emit:
25674 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25676 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25677 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
25678 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
25679 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
25680 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
25681 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
25683 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
25684 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
25685 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
25688 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25690 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
25691 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
25693 @item events.exited
25694 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
25695 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
25696 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
25697 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
25698 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
25699 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
25700 the attribute does not exist.
25702 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
25703 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
25707 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25709 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
25710 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
25711 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25712 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
25714 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25716 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
25717 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
25719 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
25720 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
25721 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
25722 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25725 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25727 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
25728 been hit, and has the following attributes:
25730 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
25731 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
25732 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
25733 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
25735 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
25736 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
25737 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
25738 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
25741 @item events.new_objfile
25742 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
25743 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
25745 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
25746 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
25747 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
25752 @node Threads In Python
25753 @subsubsection Threads In Python
25754 @cindex threads in python
25756 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
25757 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
25758 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
25760 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25763 @findex gdb.selected_thread
25764 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
25765 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
25766 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
25769 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
25771 @defvar InferiorThread.name
25772 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
25773 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
25774 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
25775 returns @code{None}.
25777 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
25778 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
25779 user-specified thread name.
25782 @defvar InferiorThread.num
25783 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
25786 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
25787 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
25788 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
25789 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
25790 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
25791 does not use that identifier.
25794 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
25796 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
25797 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
25798 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
25799 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
25800 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
25801 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25804 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
25805 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
25809 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
25810 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
25813 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
25814 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
25817 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
25818 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
25821 @node Commands In Python
25822 @subsubsection Commands In Python
25824 @cindex commands in python
25825 @cindex python commands
25826 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
25827 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
25828 class, most commonly using a subclass.
25830 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
25831 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
25832 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
25833 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
25835 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
25836 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
25837 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
25838 an exception is raised.
25840 There is no support for multi-line commands.
25842 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
25843 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
25844 new command in the help system.
25846 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
25847 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
25848 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
25849 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
25850 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
25851 error will occur when completion is attempted.
25853 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
25854 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
25857 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
25858 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
25859 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
25860 not documented.'' is used.
25863 @cindex don't repeat Python command
25864 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
25865 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
25866 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
25867 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
25868 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
25871 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
25872 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
25874 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
25875 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
25877 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
25878 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
25879 that the command came from elsewhere.
25881 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
25882 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
25884 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
25885 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
25886 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
25887 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
25888 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
25889 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
25893 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
25894 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
25899 @cindex completion of Python commands
25900 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
25901 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
25902 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
25903 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
25904 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
25907 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
25908 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
25909 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
25910 using a word-breaking heuristic.
25912 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
25915 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
25916 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
25917 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
25918 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
25919 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
25920 sequence are ignored.
25923 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
25924 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
25925 function is invoked, and its result is used.
25928 All other results are treated as though there were no available
25933 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
25934 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
25935 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
25936 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
25937 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
25938 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
25941 @findex COMMAND_NONE
25942 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
25943 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
25944 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
25945 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
25947 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
25948 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
25949 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
25950 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
25951 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
25952 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25953 commands in this category.
25955 @findex COMMAND_DATA
25956 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
25957 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
25958 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
25959 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
25960 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
25963 @findex COMMAND_STACK
25964 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
25965 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
25966 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
25967 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
25968 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
25969 list of commands in this category.
25971 @findex COMMAND_FILES
25972 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
25973 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
25974 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
25975 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
25976 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25977 commands in this category.
25979 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
25980 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
25981 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
25982 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
25983 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
25984 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
25985 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
25986 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25987 commands in this category.
25989 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
25990 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
25991 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
25992 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
25993 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
25994 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
25995 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
25997 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25998 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25999 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
26000 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
26001 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
26002 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
26005 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
26006 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
26007 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
26008 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
26009 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
26010 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26011 commands in this category.
26013 @findex COMMAND_USER
26014 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
26015 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
26016 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
26017 does not fit in one of the other categories.
26018 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
26019 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
26020 (@pxref{Sequences}).
26022 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
26023 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
26024 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
26025 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
26026 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
26027 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
26028 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
26031 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
26032 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
26033 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
26034 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
26035 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
26036 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26037 commands in this category.
26040 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
26041 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
26042 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
26043 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
26046 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
26047 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
26048 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
26049 This constant means that no completion should be done.
26051 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
26052 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
26053 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
26054 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
26056 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
26057 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
26058 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
26059 This constant means that location completion should be done.
26060 @xref{Specify Location}.
26062 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
26063 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
26064 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
26065 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
26068 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
26069 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
26070 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
26071 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
26074 @findex COMPLETE_EXPRESSION
26075 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_EXPRESSION
26076 @item gdb.COMPLETE_EXPRESSION
26077 This constant means that completion should be done on expressions.
26078 Often this means completing on symbol names, but some language
26079 parsers also have support for completing on field names.
26082 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
26083 implemented in Python:
26086 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
26087 """Greet the whole world."""
26089 def __init__ (self):
26090 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
26092 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
26093 print "Hello, World!"
26098 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26099 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26100 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26101 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
26103 @node Parameters In Python
26104 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
26106 @cindex parameters in python
26107 @cindex python parameters
26108 @tindex gdb.Parameter
26110 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
26111 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
26114 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
26115 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
26117 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
26118 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
26119 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
26120 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
26121 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
26123 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
26124 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
26125 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
26126 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
26128 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
26129 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
26130 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
26131 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
26132 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
26133 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
26134 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
26136 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
26137 can be found, an exception is raised.
26139 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
26140 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
26141 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
26143 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
26144 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
26145 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
26148 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
26149 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
26150 represent the possible values for the parameter.
26152 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
26153 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
26155 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
26156 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
26157 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
26160 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
26161 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
26162 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
26163 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
26167 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
26168 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
26169 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
26170 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
26174 @defvar Parameter.value
26175 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
26176 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
26177 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
26180 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
26181 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
26183 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
26184 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
26185 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
26186 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
26187 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
26190 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
26191 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
26192 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
26193 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
26194 current value. This method must return a string.
26197 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
26198 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
26202 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
26203 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
26204 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
26205 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
26206 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
26208 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26209 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26210 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26211 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
26212 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
26213 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
26215 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
26216 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
26217 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
26218 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
26219 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
26221 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
26222 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
26223 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
26224 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
26225 to mean ``unlimited''.
26227 @findex PARAM_STRING
26228 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
26229 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
26230 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
26231 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
26232 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
26235 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26236 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26237 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26238 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
26239 passed through untranslated.
26241 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26242 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26243 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26244 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
26246 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
26247 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
26248 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
26249 The value is a filename. This is just like
26250 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
26252 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
26253 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
26254 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
26255 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
26256 is interpreted as itself.
26259 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
26260 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
26261 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
26262 constants provided when the parameter is created.
26265 @node Functions In Python
26266 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
26268 @cindex writing convenience functions
26269 @cindex convenience functions in python
26270 @cindex python convenience functions
26271 @tindex gdb.Function
26273 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
26274 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
26275 class @code{gdb.Function}.
26277 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
26278 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
26279 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
26280 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
26281 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
26282 the given @var{name}.
26284 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
26285 string for the new class.
26288 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
26289 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
26290 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
26291 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
26292 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
26293 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
26294 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
26295 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
26297 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
26298 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
26299 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
26302 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
26303 be implemented in Python:
26306 class Greet (gdb.Function):
26307 """Return string to greet someone.
26308 Takes a name as argument."""
26310 def __init__ (self):
26311 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
26313 def invoke (self, name):
26314 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
26319 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26320 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26321 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26322 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
26324 Now you can use the function in an expression:
26327 (gdb) print $greet("Bob")
26331 @node Progspaces In Python
26332 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
26334 @cindex progspaces in python
26335 @tindex gdb.Progspace
26337 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
26338 of an address space.
26339 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
26340 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26341 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
26342 about program spaces.
26344 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
26347 @findex gdb.current_progspace
26348 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
26349 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
26350 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
26353 @findex gdb.progspaces
26354 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
26355 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
26358 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
26361 @defvar Progspace.filename
26362 The file name of the progspace as a string.
26365 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
26366 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26367 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26368 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26369 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26370 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26374 @defvar Progspace.type_printers
26375 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26376 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26379 @defvar Progspace.frame_filters
26380 The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26381 objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26384 @node Objfiles In Python
26385 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
26387 @cindex objfiles in python
26388 @tindex gdb.Objfile
26390 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
26391 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
26392 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
26393 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
26394 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
26396 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
26399 @findex gdb.current_objfile
26400 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
26401 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
26402 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
26403 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
26404 this function returns @code{None}.
26407 @findex gdb.objfiles
26408 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
26409 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
26410 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26413 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
26416 @defvar Objfile.filename
26417 The file name of the objfile as a string.
26420 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
26421 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26422 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26423 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26424 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26425 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26429 @defvar Objfile.type_printers
26430 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26431 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26434 @defvar Objfile.frame_filters
26435 The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26436 objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26439 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
26441 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
26442 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
26443 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
26444 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
26445 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
26446 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26449 @node Frames In Python
26450 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
26452 @cindex frames in python
26453 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
26454 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
26455 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
26456 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
26457 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
26458 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
26460 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
26464 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
26468 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
26470 @findex gdb.selected_frame
26471 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
26472 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
26475 @findex gdb.newest_frame
26476 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
26477 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
26480 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26481 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
26482 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
26483 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
26486 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
26488 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
26489 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
26490 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
26491 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
26492 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26495 @defun Frame.name ()
26496 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
26500 @defun Frame.architecture ()
26501 Returns the @code{gdb.Architecture} object corresponding to the frame's
26502 architecture. @xref{Architectures In Python}.
26505 @defun Frame.type ()
26506 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
26508 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
26509 An ordinary stack frame.
26511 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
26512 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
26513 inferior function call.
26515 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
26516 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
26517 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
26519 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
26520 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
26522 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
26523 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
26524 it calls into a signal handler.
26526 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
26527 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
26529 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
26530 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
26535 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
26536 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
26537 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
26538 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
26539 function to a string. The value can be one of:
26542 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
26543 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
26545 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
26546 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
26548 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
26549 This frame is the outermost.
26551 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
26552 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
26553 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
26555 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
26556 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
26557 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
26558 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
26560 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
26561 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
26562 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
26563 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
26564 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
26567 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
26568 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
26569 one to unwind further.
26571 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
26572 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
26573 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
26574 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
26575 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
26576 versions. Using it, you could write:
26578 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
26579 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26580 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
26581 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
26588 Returns the frame's resume address.
26591 @defun Frame.block ()
26592 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26595 @defun Frame.function ()
26596 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
26597 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
26600 @defun Frame.older ()
26601 Return the frame that called this frame.
26604 @defun Frame.newer ()
26605 Return the frame called by this frame.
26608 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
26609 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
26610 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
26613 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
26614 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
26615 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
26616 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
26617 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
26618 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
26619 @code{gdb.Block} object.
26622 @defun Frame.select ()
26623 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
26627 @node Blocks In Python
26628 @subsubsection Accessing blocks from Python.
26630 @cindex blocks in python
26633 In @value{GDBN}, symbols are stored in blocks. A block corresponds
26634 roughly to a scope in the source code. Blocks are organized
26635 hierarchically, and are represented individually in Python as a
26636 @code{gdb.Block}. Blocks rely on debugging information being
26639 A frame has a block. Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more
26640 in-depth discussion of frames.
26642 The outermost block is known as the @dfn{global block}. The global
26643 block typically holds public global variables and functions.
26645 The block nested just inside the global block is the @dfn{static
26646 block}. The static block typically holds file-scoped variables and
26649 @value{GDBN} provides a method to get a block's superblock, but there
26650 is currently no way to examine the sub-blocks of a block, or to
26651 iterate over all the blocks in a symbol table (@pxref{Symbol Tables In
26654 Here is a short example that should help explain blocks:
26657 /* This is in the global block. */
26660 /* This is in the static block. */
26661 static int file_scope;
26663 /* 'function' is in the global block, and 'argument' is
26664 in a block nested inside of 'function'. */
26665 int function (int argument)
26667 /* 'local' is in a block inside 'function'. It may or may
26668 not be in the same block as 'argument'. */
26672 /* 'inner' is in a block whose superblock is the one holding
26676 /* If this call is expanded by the compiler, you may see
26677 a nested block here whose function is 'inline_function'
26678 and whose superblock is the one holding 'inner'. */
26679 inline_function ();
26684 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
26685 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
26686 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
26687 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
26688 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
26691 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26694 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
26695 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
26696 Return the innermost @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc}
26697 value. If the block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified,
26698 the function will return @code{None}.
26701 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
26703 @defun Block.is_valid ()
26704 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
26705 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
26706 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
26707 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
26708 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
26709 during iteration over symbols of the block.
26712 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
26714 @defvar Block.start
26715 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26719 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26722 @defvar Block.function
26723 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
26724 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
26725 attribute is not writable.
26727 For ordinary function blocks, the superblock is the static block.
26728 However, you should note that it is possible for a function block to
26729 have a superblock that is not the static block -- for instance this
26730 happens for an inlined function.
26733 @defvar Block.superblock
26734 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
26735 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26738 @defvar Block.global_block
26739 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26743 @defvar Block.static_block
26744 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26748 @defvar Block.is_global
26749 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
26750 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
26754 @defvar Block.is_static
26755 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
26756 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
26759 @node Symbols In Python
26760 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
26762 @cindex symbols in python
26765 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
26766 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
26767 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
26768 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
26770 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26773 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
26774 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
26775 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
26776 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
26779 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
26780 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
26781 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
26782 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
26783 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
26784 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
26785 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
26788 The result is a tuple of two elements.
26789 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26791 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
26792 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
26793 otherwise it is @code{False}.
26794 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
26797 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
26798 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
26799 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
26800 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
26802 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
26803 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
26804 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
26805 module and described later in this chapter.
26807 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26811 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
26813 @defvar Symbol.type
26814 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
26815 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
26816 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26819 @defvar Symbol.symtab
26820 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
26821 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
26822 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26825 @defvar Symbol.line
26826 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
26827 This is an integer.
26830 @defvar Symbol.name
26831 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
26834 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
26835 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
26836 This attribute is not writable.
26839 @defvar Symbol.print_name
26840 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
26841 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
26842 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
26845 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
26846 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
26847 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
26848 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
26851 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
26852 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
26853 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
26854 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
26857 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
26858 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
26861 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
26862 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
26865 @defvar Symbol.is_function
26866 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
26869 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
26870 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
26873 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
26875 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
26876 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
26877 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
26878 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
26879 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
26880 invalid at the time the method is called.
26883 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
26884 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
26885 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
26886 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
26887 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
26888 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
26892 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26893 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26896 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26897 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26898 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26899 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
26900 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
26901 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26902 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26903 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26904 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26905 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
26907 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26908 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26909 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26910 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
26911 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26912 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26913 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26914 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
26915 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26916 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26917 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26918 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
26919 contains everything minus functions and types.
26920 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26921 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26922 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
26923 This domain contains all functions.
26924 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26925 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26926 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26927 This domain contains all types.
26930 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26931 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26934 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26935 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26936 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26937 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
26938 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26939 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26940 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26941 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26942 Value is constant int.
26943 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26944 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26945 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26946 Value is at a fixed address.
26947 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26948 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26949 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26950 Value is in a register.
26951 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26952 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26953 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26954 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
26955 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
26956 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26957 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26958 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26959 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
26960 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
26961 offset, not the value itself.
26962 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26963 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26964 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26965 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
26966 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
26968 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26969 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26970 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26971 Value is a local variable.
26972 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26973 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26974 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26975 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
26977 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26978 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26979 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26981 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26982 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26983 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26984 Value is a byte-sequence.
26985 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26986 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26987 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26988 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
26989 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
26991 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26992 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26993 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26994 The value does not actually exist in the program.
26995 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26996 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26997 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26998 The value's address is a computed location.
27001 @node Symbol Tables In Python
27002 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
27004 @cindex symbol tables in python
27006 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
27008 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
27009 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
27010 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
27011 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
27012 @xref{Frames In Python}.
27014 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
27015 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
27017 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
27019 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
27020 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
27021 This attribute is not writable.
27024 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
27025 Indicates the start of the address range occupied by code for the
27026 current source line. This attribute is not writable.
27029 @defvar Symtab_and_line.last
27030 Indicates the end of the address range occupied by code for the current
27031 source line. This attribute is not writable.
27034 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
27035 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
27036 attribute is not writable.
27039 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
27041 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
27042 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
27043 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
27044 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
27045 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
27046 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
27047 invalid at the time the method is called.
27050 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
27052 @defvar Symtab.filename
27053 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
27056 @defvar Symtab.objfile
27057 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
27058 This attribute is not writable.
27061 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
27063 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
27064 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
27065 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
27066 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
27067 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
27068 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
27071 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
27072 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
27075 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
27076 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
27077 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
27080 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
27081 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
27082 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
27085 @defun Symtab.linetable ()
27086 Return the line table associated with the symbol table.
27087 @xref{Line Tables In Python}.
27090 @node Line Tables In Python
27091 @subsubsection Manipulating line tables using Python
27093 @cindex line tables in python
27094 @tindex gdb.LineTable
27096 Python code can request and inspect line table information from a
27097 symbol table that is loaded in @value{GDBN}. A line table is a
27098 mapping of source lines to their executable locations in memory. To
27099 acquire the line table information for a particular symbol table, use
27100 the @code{linetable} function (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}).
27102 A @code{gdb.LineTable} is iterable. The iterator returns
27103 @code{LineTableEntry} objects that correspond to the source line and
27104 address for each line table entry. @code{LineTableEntry} objects have
27105 the following attributes:
27107 @defvar LineTableEntry.line
27108 The source line number for this line table entry. This number
27109 corresponds to the actual line of source. This attribute is not
27113 @defvar LineTableEntry.pc
27114 The address that is associated with the line table entry where the
27115 executable code for that source line resides in memory. This
27116 attribute is not writable.
27119 As there can be multiple addresses for a single source line, you may
27120 receive multiple @code{LineTableEntry} objects with matching
27121 @code{line} attributes, but with different @code{pc} attributes. The
27122 iterator is sorted in ascending @code{pc} order. Here is a small
27123 example illustrating iterating over a line table.
27126 symtab = gdb.selected_frame().find_sal().symtab
27127 linetable = symtab.linetable()
27128 for line in linetable:
27129 print "Line: "+str(line.line)+" Address: "+hex(line.pc)
27132 This will have the following output:
27135 Line: 33 Address: 0x4005c8L
27136 Line: 37 Address: 0x4005caL
27137 Line: 39 Address: 0x4005d2L
27138 Line: 40 Address: 0x4005f8L
27139 Line: 42 Address: 0x4005ffL
27140 Line: 44 Address: 0x400608L
27141 Line: 42 Address: 0x40060cL
27142 Line: 45 Address: 0x400615L
27145 In addition to being able to iterate over a @code{LineTable}, it also
27146 has the following direct access methods:
27148 @defun LineTable.line (line)
27149 Return a Python @code{Tuple} of @code{LineTableEntry} objects for any
27150 entries in the line table for the given @var{line}. @var{line} refers
27151 to the source code line. If there are no entries for that source code
27152 @var{line}, the Python @code{None} is returned.
27155 @defun LineTable.has_line (line)
27156 Return a Python @code{Boolean} indicating whether there is an entry in
27157 the line table for this source line. Return @code{True} if an entry
27158 is found, or @code{False} if not.
27161 @defun LineTable.source_lines ()
27162 Return a Python @code{List} of the source line numbers in the symbol
27163 table. Only lines with executable code locations are returned. The
27164 contents of the @code{List} will just be the source line entries
27165 represented as Python @code{Long} values.
27168 @node Breakpoints In Python
27169 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
27171 @cindex breakpoints in python
27172 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
27174 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
27177 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal @r{[},temporary@r{]]]]})
27178 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the location
27179 of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a watchpoint. The
27180 contents can be any location recognized by the @code{break} command,
27181 or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch} command. The
27182 optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create from the types
27183 defined later in this chapter. This argument can be either:
27184 @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
27185 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal}
27186 argument allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The
27187 breakpoint will neither be reported when created, nor will it be
27188 listed in the output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed
27189 with the @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional
27190 @var{temporary} argument makes the breakpoint a temporary breakpoint.
27191 Temporary breakpoints are deleted after they have been hit. Any
27192 further access to the Python breakpoint after it has been hit will
27193 result in a runtime error (as that breakpoint has now been
27194 automatically deleted). The optional @var{wp_class} argument defines
27195 the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
27196 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it
27197 is assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
27200 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
27201 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
27202 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
27203 If this method is defined in a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
27204 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
27205 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
27206 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
27207 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
27209 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
27210 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
27211 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
27212 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
27213 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
27214 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
27216 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
27217 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
27218 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
27219 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
27222 Example @code{stop} implementation:
27225 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
27227 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
27234 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
27239 @findex gdb.WP_READ
27241 Read only watchpoint.
27244 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
27246 Write only watchpoint.
27249 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
27250 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
27251 Read/Write watchpoint.
27254 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
27255 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
27256 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
27257 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
27258 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
27259 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
27260 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
27263 @defun Breakpoint.delete
27264 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
27265 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
27266 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
27269 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
27270 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
27271 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
27274 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
27275 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
27276 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
27278 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
27279 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
27280 @code{silent} attribute.
27283 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
27284 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
27285 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
27286 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
27289 @defvar Breakpoint.task
27290 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
27291 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
27292 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
27296 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
27297 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
27298 This attribute is writable.
27301 @defvar Breakpoint.number
27302 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
27303 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
27306 @defvar Breakpoint.type
27307 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
27308 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
27312 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
27313 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
27314 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
27315 attribute is not writable.
27318 @defvar Breakpoint.temporary
27319 This attribute indicates whether the breakpoint was created as a
27320 temporary breakpoint. Temporary breakpoints are automatically deleted
27321 after that breakpoint has been hit. Access to this attribute, and all
27322 other attributes and functions other than the @code{is_valid}
27323 function, will result in an error after the breakpoint has been hit
27324 (as it has been automatically deleted). This attribute is not
27328 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
27332 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
27333 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
27334 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
27335 Normal code breakpoint.
27337 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
27338 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
27339 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
27340 Watchpoint breakpoint.
27342 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27343 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27344 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27345 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
27347 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27348 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27349 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27350 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
27352 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27353 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27354 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27355 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
27358 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
27359 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
27360 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
27363 @defvar Breakpoint.location
27364 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
27365 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
27366 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
27367 attribute is not writable.
27370 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
27371 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
27372 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
27373 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
27374 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27377 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
27378 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
27379 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
27380 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
27383 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
27384 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
27385 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
27386 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
27387 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27390 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
27391 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
27393 @cindex python finish breakpoints
27394 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
27396 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
27397 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
27398 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
27399 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
27400 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
27401 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
27404 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
27405 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
27406 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
27407 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
27408 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
27409 details about this argument.
27412 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
27413 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
27414 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
27415 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
27416 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
27418 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
27422 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
27424 print "normal finish"
27427 def out_of_scope ():
27428 print "abnormal finish"
27432 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
27433 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
27434 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
27435 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
27436 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
27437 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
27441 @node Lazy Strings In Python
27442 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
27444 @cindex lazy strings in python
27445 @tindex gdb.LazyString
27447 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
27448 encoded until it is needed.
27450 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
27451 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
27452 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
27453 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
27454 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
27455 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
27456 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
27457 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
27458 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
27460 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
27462 @defun LazyString.value ()
27463 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
27464 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
27465 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
27466 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
27469 @defvar LazyString.address
27470 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
27474 @defvar LazyString.length
27475 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
27476 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
27477 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
27480 @defvar LazyString.encoding
27481 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
27482 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
27483 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
27484 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
27488 @defvar LazyString.type
27489 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
27490 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
27491 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
27492 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
27496 @node Architectures In Python
27497 @subsubsection Python representation of architectures
27498 @cindex Python architectures
27500 @value{GDBN} uses architecture specific parameters and artifacts in a
27501 number of its various computations. An architecture is represented
27502 by an instance of the @code{gdb.Architecture} class.
27504 A @code{gdb.Architecture} class has the following methods:
27506 @defun Architecture.name ()
27507 Return the name (string value) of the architecture.
27510 @defun Architecture.disassemble (@var{start_pc} @r{[}, @var{end_pc} @r{[}, @var{count}@r{]]})
27511 Return a list of disassembled instructions starting from the memory
27512 address @var{start_pc}. The optional arguments @var{end_pc} and
27513 @var{count} determine the number of instructions in the returned list.
27514 If both the optional arguments @var{end_pc} and @var{count} are
27515 specified, then a list of at most @var{count} disassembled instructions
27516 whose start address falls in the closed memory address interval from
27517 @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If @var{end_pc} is not
27518 specified, but @var{count} is specified, then @var{count} number of
27519 instructions starting from the address @var{start_pc} are returned. If
27520 @var{count} is not specified but @var{end_pc} is specified, then all
27521 instructions whose start address falls in the closed memory address
27522 interval from @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If neither
27523 @var{end_pc} nor @var{count} are specified, then a single instruction at
27524 @var{start_pc} is returned. For all of these cases, each element of the
27525 returned list is a Python @code{dict} with the following string keys:
27530 The value corresponding to this key is a Python long integer capturing
27531 the memory address of the instruction.
27534 The value corresponding to this key is a string value which represents
27535 the instruction with assembly language mnemonics. The assembly
27536 language flavor used is the same as that specified by the current CLI
27537 variable @code{disassembly-flavor}. @xref{Machine Code}.
27540 The value corresponding to this key is the length (integer value) of the
27541 instruction in bytes.
27546 @node Python Auto-loading
27547 @subsection Python Auto-loading
27548 @cindex Python auto-loading
27550 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
27551 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
27552 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
27553 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
27554 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27555 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27557 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
27558 debugging commands and scripts.
27560 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
27561 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
27564 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
27565 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
27566 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
27567 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
27569 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
27570 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
27571 @item show auto-load python-scripts
27572 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
27574 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
27575 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
27576 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
27577 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
27578 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
27580 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
27581 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
27582 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27583 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
27584 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
27585 an error message for each one is problematic.
27587 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
27592 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
27594 Yes py-section-script.py
27595 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
27596 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
27600 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
27601 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
27602 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
27603 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers and frame-filters.
27606 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27607 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27608 * Which flavor to choose?::
27611 @node objfile-gdb.py file
27612 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27613 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
27615 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
27616 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
27617 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
27618 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
27619 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
27620 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
27622 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
27623 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
27625 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27626 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27628 For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
27629 scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
27630 found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
27631 its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
27632 is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
27633 between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
27636 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
27637 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
27638 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
27639 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
27640 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
27641 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
27643 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
27644 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
27646 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
27647 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
27648 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
27649 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
27651 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
27652 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
27653 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
27654 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
27655 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
27656 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
27659 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
27660 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
27661 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
27663 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
27664 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
27665 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
27666 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
27669 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
27670 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
27671 @var{objfile} is opened.
27672 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
27673 is evaluated more than once.
27675 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
27676 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27677 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27679 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
27680 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
27681 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
27682 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
27684 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
27685 current directory and then along the source search path
27686 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
27687 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
27688 directory is not relevant to scripts.
27690 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
27691 for example, this GCC macro:
27694 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
27695 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
27697 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
27699 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
27705 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
27708 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
27711 The script name may include directories if desired.
27713 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27714 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27716 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
27717 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
27719 @node Which flavor to choose?
27720 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
27722 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
27723 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
27725 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
27729 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
27732 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
27734 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
27735 in the source search path.
27736 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
27737 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
27740 Doesn't require source code additions.
27743 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
27747 Works with static linking.
27749 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
27750 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
27751 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
27752 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
27755 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
27757 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
27758 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
27761 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
27763 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
27764 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
27765 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
27766 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
27767 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
27768 top of the source tree to the source search path.
27771 @node Python modules
27772 @subsection Python modules
27773 @cindex python modules
27775 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
27778 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
27779 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
27780 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
27784 @subsubsection gdb.printing
27785 @cindex gdb.printing
27787 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27791 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
27792 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
27793 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
27794 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
27796 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27797 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
27798 corresponding API for the subprinters.
27800 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27801 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
27802 regular expressions.
27803 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
27805 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
27806 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
27807 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
27808 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
27809 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
27810 the @code{enum} type to look up.
27812 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
27813 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
27814 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
27815 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
27816 if a printer with the same name already exists.
27820 @subsubsection gdb.types
27823 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27824 @code{gdb.Type} objects.
27827 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
27828 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
27829 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
27834 typedef const int const_int;
27836 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
27837 int main () @{ return 0; @}
27844 (gdb) python import gdb.types
27845 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
27846 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
27850 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
27851 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
27852 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
27854 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
27855 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
27857 @item deep_items (@var{type})
27858 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
27859 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
27860 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
27861 union fields. For example:
27875 Then in @value{GDBN}:
27877 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
27878 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
27879 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
27881 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
27882 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
27885 @item get_type_recognizers ()
27886 Return a list of the enabled type recognizers for the current context.
27887 This is called by @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process
27888 (@pxref{Type Printing API}).
27890 @item apply_type_recognizers (recognizers, type_obj)
27891 Apply the type recognizers, @var{recognizers}, to the type object
27892 @var{type_obj}. If any recognizer returns a string, return that
27893 string. Otherwise, return @code{None}. This is called by
27894 @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process (@pxref{Type Printing
27897 @item register_type_printer (locus, printer)
27898 This is a convenience function to register a type printer.
27899 @var{printer} is the type printer to register. It must implement the
27900 type printer protocol. @var{locus} is either a @code{gdb.Objfile}, in
27901 which case the printer is registered with that objfile; a
27902 @code{gdb.Progspace}, in which case the printer is registered with
27903 that progspace; or @code{None}, in which case the printer is
27904 registered globally.
27907 This is a base class that implements the type printer protocol. Type
27908 printers are encouraged, but not required, to derive from this class.
27909 It defines a constructor:
27911 @defmethod TypePrinter __init__ (self, name)
27912 Initialize the type printer with the given name. The new printer
27913 starts in the enabled state.
27919 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
27922 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
27925 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
27926 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
27927 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
27928 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
27930 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
27934 Substitute a backslash.
27936 Substitute an ESC character.
27938 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
27940 Substitute a newline.
27942 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
27944 Substitute a carriage return.
27946 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
27948 Substitute the version of GDB.
27950 Substitute the current working directory.
27952 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
27953 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
27954 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
27955 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
27957 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
27963 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
27964 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
27967 @exdent will return the string:
27970 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
27975 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
27976 @cindex aliases for commands
27978 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
27979 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
27980 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
27981 that involves less typing.
27983 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
27984 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
27985 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
27987 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
27988 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
27989 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
27991 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
27996 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
28000 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
28001 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
28004 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
28005 that is being aliased.
28007 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
28008 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
28009 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
28011 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
28012 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
28014 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
28015 of a command so that there is less to type.
28016 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
28017 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
28018 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
28019 The following will accomplish this.
28022 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
28025 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
28026 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
28027 for it with the @samp{document} command.
28028 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
28030 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
28031 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
28032 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
28036 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
28037 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
28038 (gdb) set p elms 20
28040 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
28043 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
28044 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
28045 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
28047 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
28048 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
28051 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
28054 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
28055 alias for a more complex command.
28056 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
28059 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
28064 @chapter Command Interpreters
28065 @cindex command interpreters
28067 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
28068 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
28069 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
28071 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
28072 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
28073 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
28074 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
28076 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
28077 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
28078 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
28079 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
28083 @cindex console interpreter
28084 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
28085 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
28086 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
28089 @cindex mi interpreter
28090 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
28091 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
28092 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
28096 @cindex mi2 interpreter
28097 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
28100 @cindex mi1 interpreter
28101 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
28105 @cindex invoke another interpreter
28106 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
28107 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
28108 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
28109 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
28110 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
28111 the IDE inoperable!
28113 @kindex interpreter-exec
28114 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
28115 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
28116 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
28117 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
28120 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
28123 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
28124 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
28127 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
28129 @cindex Text User Interface
28132 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
28133 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
28134 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
28135 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
28136 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
28139 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
28140 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
28141 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
28142 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
28143 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
28146 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
28147 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
28148 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
28149 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
28150 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
28153 @section TUI Overview
28155 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
28159 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
28160 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
28161 managed using readline.
28164 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
28165 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
28168 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
28171 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
28172 when their values change.
28175 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
28176 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
28177 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
28178 indicates the breakpoint type:
28182 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
28185 Breakpoint which was never hit.
28188 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
28191 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
28194 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
28198 Breakpoint is enabled.
28201 Breakpoint is disabled.
28204 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
28205 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
28208 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
28209 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
28220 source and assembly,
28223 source and registers, or
28226 assembly and registers.
28229 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
28233 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
28234 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
28237 Gives the current process or thread number.
28238 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
28241 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
28242 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
28243 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
28244 the string @code{??} is displayed.
28247 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
28248 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
28251 Indicates the current program counter address.
28255 @section TUI Key Bindings
28256 @cindex TUI key bindings
28258 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
28259 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
28260 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
28262 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
28263 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
28265 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
28266 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
28275 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
28276 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
28277 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
28278 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
28279 The screen is then refreshed.
28283 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
28284 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
28285 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
28287 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
28291 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
28292 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
28293 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
28294 previous layout and the new one.
28296 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
28300 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
28301 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
28302 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
28304 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
28308 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
28309 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
28312 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
28317 Scroll the active window one page up.
28321 Scroll the active window one page down.
28325 Scroll the active window one line up.
28329 Scroll the active window one line down.
28333 Scroll the active window one column left.
28337 Scroll the active window one column right.
28341 Refresh the screen.
28344 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
28345 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
28346 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
28347 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
28348 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
28350 @node TUI Single Key Mode
28351 @section TUI Single Key Mode
28352 @cindex TUI single key mode
28354 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
28355 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
28356 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
28359 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28363 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28367 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28371 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28375 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28377 exit the SingleKey mode.
28379 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28383 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28387 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28391 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28395 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28400 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
28401 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
28402 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
28403 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
28404 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
28405 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
28409 @section TUI-specific Commands
28410 @cindex TUI commands
28412 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
28413 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
28414 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
28415 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
28417 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
28418 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
28419 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
28420 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
28421 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
28426 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
28430 Display the next layout.
28433 Display the previous layout.
28436 Display the source window only.
28439 Display the assembly window only.
28442 Display the source and assembly window.
28445 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
28449 Make the next window active for scrolling.
28452 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
28455 Make the source window active for scrolling.
28458 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
28461 Make the register window active for scrolling.
28464 Make the command window active for scrolling.
28468 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
28470 @item tui reg float
28472 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
28474 @item tui reg general
28475 Show the general registers in the register window.
28478 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
28479 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
28480 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
28481 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
28483 @item tui reg system
28484 Show the system registers in the register window.
28488 Update the source window and the current execution point.
28490 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
28491 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
28493 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
28494 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
28497 @item tabset @var{nchars}
28499 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
28502 @node TUI Configuration
28503 @section TUI Configuration Variables
28504 @cindex TUI configuration variables
28506 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
28509 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
28510 @kindex set tui border-kind
28511 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
28512 The possible values are the following:
28515 Use a space character to draw the border.
28518 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
28521 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
28522 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
28525 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
28526 @kindex set tui border-mode
28527 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
28528 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
28529 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
28530 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
28533 Use normal attributes to display the border.
28539 Use reverse video mode.
28542 Use half bright mode.
28544 @item half-standout
28545 Use half bright and standout mode.
28548 Use extra bright or bold mode.
28550 @item bold-standout
28551 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
28556 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
28559 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
28560 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
28561 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
28564 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
28565 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
28566 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
28567 created Emacs buffer.
28568 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
28570 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
28575 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
28578 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
28579 and output done by the program you are debugging.
28581 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
28582 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
28585 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
28586 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
28587 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
28591 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
28593 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
28594 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
28595 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
28596 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
28599 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
28600 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
28603 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
28604 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
28605 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
28606 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
28608 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
28609 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
28610 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
28611 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
28612 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
28613 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
28614 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
28615 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
28616 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
28618 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
28619 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
28620 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
28621 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
28623 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
28624 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
28625 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
28626 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
28629 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
28630 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
28634 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
28637 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
28638 update the display window to show the current file and location.
28641 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
28642 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
28643 to show the current file and location.
28646 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
28647 display window accordingly.
28650 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
28651 @code{finish} command.
28654 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
28658 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
28659 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
28660 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
28663 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
28664 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
28667 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
28668 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
28670 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
28671 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
28672 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
28673 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
28674 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
28675 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
28676 speedbar displays watch expressions.
28678 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
28679 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
28680 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
28681 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
28684 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
28685 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
28686 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
28687 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
28688 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
28689 to correspond properly with the code.
28691 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
28692 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
28696 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
28698 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
28700 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
28701 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
28702 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
28703 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
28704 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
28705 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
28707 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
28708 in the form of a reference manual.
28710 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
28711 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
28712 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
28714 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
28716 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
28717 This chapter uses the following notation:
28721 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
28724 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
28725 it may or may not be given.
28728 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28729 may repeat zero or more times.
28732 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28733 may repeat one or more times.
28736 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
28740 @heading Dependencies
28744 * GDB/MI General Design::
28745 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
28746 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
28747 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
28748 * GDB/MI Output Records::
28749 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
28750 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
28751 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
28752 * GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
28753 * GDB/MI Program Context::
28754 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
28755 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
28756 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
28757 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
28758 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
28759 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
28760 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
28761 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
28762 * GDB/MI File Commands::
28764 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
28765 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
28766 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
28768 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
28769 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
28770 * GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands::
28771 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
28774 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28775 @node GDB/MI General Design
28776 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
28777 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
28779 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
28780 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
28781 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
28782 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
28783 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
28784 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
28785 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
28786 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
28787 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
28788 a command and reported as part of that command response.
28790 The important examples of notifications are:
28794 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
28795 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
28796 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
28797 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
28798 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
28799 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
28800 command itself was successfully executed.
28803 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
28804 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
28805 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
28806 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
28807 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
28808 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
28811 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
28812 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
28813 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
28814 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
28815 orthogonal frontend design.
28819 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
28820 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
28821 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
28822 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
28823 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
28824 the user interface.
28828 * Context management::
28829 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
28833 @node Context management
28834 @subsection Context management
28836 @subsubsection Threads and Frames
28838 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
28839 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
28840 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
28841 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
28842 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
28843 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
28844 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
28845 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
28846 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
28848 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
28849 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
28850 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
28851 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
28852 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
28853 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
28854 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
28855 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
28856 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
28857 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
28858 for thread and frame to operate on.
28860 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
28861 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
28862 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
28863 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
28864 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
28865 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
28866 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
28867 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
28868 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
28869 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
28871 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
28872 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
28873 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
28874 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
28875 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
28876 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
28877 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
28878 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
28879 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
28880 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
28881 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
28882 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
28883 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
28884 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
28885 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
28886 @samp{--frame} options.
28888 @subsubsection Language
28890 The execution of several commands depends on which language is selected.
28891 By default, the current language (@pxref{show language}) is used.
28892 But for commands known to be language-sensitive, it is recommended
28893 to use the @samp{--language} option. This option takes one argument,
28894 which is the name of the language to use while executing the command.
28898 -data-evaluate-expression --language c "sizeof (void*)"
28903 The valid language names are the same names accepted by the
28904 @samp{set language} command (@pxref{Manually}), excluding @samp{auto},
28905 @samp{local} or @samp{unknown}.
28907 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
28908 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
28910 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
28911 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
28912 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
28913 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
28914 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
28915 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
28916 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
28917 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
28918 @code{-list-target-features} command.
28920 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
28921 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
28922 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
28923 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
28924 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
28927 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
28928 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
28929 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
28930 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
28931 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
28932 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
28933 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
28934 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
28935 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
28936 @samp{--thread} option).
28938 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
28939 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
28940 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
28941 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
28943 @node Thread groups
28944 @subsection Thread groups
28945 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
28946 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
28947 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
28948 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
28949 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
28951 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
28952 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
28953 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
28954 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
28955 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
28956 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
28957 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
28960 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
28961 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
28962 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
28963 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
28964 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
28965 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
28966 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
28967 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
28968 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
28969 the members of specific thread group.
28971 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
28972 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
28973 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
28974 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
28975 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
28976 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
28977 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
28978 after attaching to that thread group.
28980 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
28981 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
28982 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
28983 such thread groups.
28985 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28986 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
28987 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
28990 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
28991 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
28994 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
28995 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
28997 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
28998 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
29000 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
29001 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
29003 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
29004 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
29005 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
29007 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
29008 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
29009 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
29011 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
29012 "any sequence of digits"
29014 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
29015 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
29017 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
29018 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
29020 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
29021 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
29023 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
29024 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
29025 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
29027 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
29028 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
29030 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
29039 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
29040 output is described below.
29043 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
29047 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
29048 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
29049 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
29050 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
29051 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
29058 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
29061 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
29064 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
29065 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
29067 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
29068 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
29069 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
29070 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
29071 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
29072 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
29074 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
29075 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
29079 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
29080 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
29082 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
29083 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
29085 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
29086 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
29088 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
29089 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
29091 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
29092 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
29094 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
29095 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
29097 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
29098 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
29100 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
29101 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
29103 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
29104 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
29106 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
29107 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
29108 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
29110 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
29111 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
29113 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
29114 @code{ @var{string} }
29116 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
29117 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
29119 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
29120 @code{@var{c-string}}
29122 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
29123 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
29125 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
29126 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
29127 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
29129 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
29130 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
29132 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
29133 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
29135 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
29136 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
29138 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
29139 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
29141 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
29144 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
29145 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
29153 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
29156 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
29157 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
29158 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
29159 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
29160 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
29161 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
29165 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29166 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
29167 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
29168 prefixed by @samp{+}.
29171 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29172 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
29173 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
29177 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29178 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
29179 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
29180 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
29183 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29184 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
29185 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
29186 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
29189 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29190 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
29191 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
29194 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29195 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
29196 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
29197 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
29200 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29201 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
29207 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
29208 details about the various output records.
29210 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29211 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
29212 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
29214 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
29215 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
29217 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
29218 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
29219 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
29220 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
29221 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
29222 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
29224 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
29225 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
29226 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
29228 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29229 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
29230 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
29231 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
29233 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
29234 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
29236 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
29237 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
29238 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
29239 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
29242 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
29243 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
29244 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
29245 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
29249 New MI commands may be added.
29252 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
29255 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
29256 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
29258 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
29259 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
29261 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
29262 @c resolve inconsistencies.
29265 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
29266 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
29267 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
29268 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
29269 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
29271 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
29274 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
29275 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
29276 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
29277 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
29278 @cindex mailing lists
29280 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29281 @node GDB/MI Output Records
29282 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
29285 * GDB/MI Result Records::
29286 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
29287 * GDB/MI Async Records::
29288 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
29289 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
29290 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
29291 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
29294 @node GDB/MI Result Records
29295 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
29297 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29298 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
29299 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
29300 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
29304 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
29305 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
29310 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
29311 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
29312 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
29313 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
29314 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
29315 which threads are resumed.
29319 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
29321 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
29323 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
29328 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
29332 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
29333 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
29335 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
29336 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29337 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
29338 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
29339 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
29341 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
29342 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
29343 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
29344 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
29345 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
29348 @item "~" @var{string-output}
29349 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
29350 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
29352 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
29353 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
29354 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
29355 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
29357 @item "&" @var{string-output}
29358 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
29362 @node GDB/MI Async Records
29363 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
29365 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29366 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
29367 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
29368 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
29369 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
29370 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
29372 The following is the list of possible async records:
29376 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
29377 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
29378 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
29379 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
29380 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
29381 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
29382 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
29383 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
29384 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
29385 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
29387 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
29388 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
29392 @item breakpoint-hit
29393 A breakpoint was reached.
29394 @item watchpoint-trigger
29395 A watchpoint was triggered.
29396 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
29397 A read watchpoint was triggered.
29398 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
29399 An access watchpoint was triggered.
29400 @item function-finished
29401 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29402 @item location-reached
29403 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29404 @item watchpoint-scope
29405 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
29406 @item end-stepping-range
29407 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
29408 similar CLI command was accomplished.
29409 @item exited-signalled
29410 The inferior exited because of a signal.
29412 The inferior exited.
29413 @item exited-normally
29414 The inferior exited normally.
29415 @item signal-received
29416 A signal was received by the inferior.
29418 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
29419 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
29420 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
29421 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
29423 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
29424 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29426 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
29427 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29428 @item syscall-entry
29429 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
29430 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29431 @item syscall-entry
29432 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
29433 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29435 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
29436 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29439 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
29440 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
29441 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
29442 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
29443 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
29444 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
29445 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
29446 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
29447 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
29448 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
29449 if such information is not available.
29451 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
29452 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
29453 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
29454 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
29455 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
29456 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
29457 cannot be used in any way.
29459 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
29460 A thread group became associated with a running program,
29461 either because the program was just started or the thread group
29462 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
29463 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
29464 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
29466 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
29467 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
29468 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
29469 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
29470 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
29471 only when the inferior exited with some code.
29473 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29474 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29475 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
29476 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
29477 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
29479 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
29480 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
29481 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
29482 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
29483 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
29484 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
29485 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
29487 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
29488 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
29491 @item =library-loaded,...
29492 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
29493 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
29494 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
29495 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
29496 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
29497 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
29498 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
29499 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
29500 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
29501 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
29502 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
29503 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
29506 @item =library-unloaded,...
29507 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
29508 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
29509 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
29510 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
29511 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
29512 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
29515 @item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
29516 @itemx =traceframe-changed,end
29517 Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
29518 @var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
29519 frame is @var{tpnum}.
29521 @item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
29522 Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
29523 initial value @var{initial}.
29525 @item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
29526 @itemx =tsv-deleted
29527 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
29528 trace state variables are deleted.
29530 @item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
29531 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
29532 the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
29533 trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
29534 value of trace state variable is known.
29536 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
29537 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
29538 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
29539 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
29540 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
29543 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
29544 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
29545 @var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
29547 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
29548 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
29550 @item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
29551 @itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
29552 Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
29553 inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
29554 group corresponding to the affected inferior.
29556 @item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
29557 Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
29558 changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
29559 the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
29560 For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
29561 is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
29563 @item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
29564 Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
29565 written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
29566 thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
29567 @code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
29571 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
29572 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
29574 When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
29575 tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
29580 The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
29581 of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
29585 The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
29586 @samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
29589 If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
29590 indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
29593 This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
29594 the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
29595 meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
29598 This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
29599 value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
29600 Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
29603 The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
29604 giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
29605 breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
29606 multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
29607 be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
29610 If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
29611 If not known, this field is not present.
29614 The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
29615 If not known, this field is not present.
29618 The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
29619 known. If not known, this field is not present.
29622 The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
29623 If not known, this field is not present.
29626 If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
29627 provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
29631 If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
29632 text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
29635 Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
29639 If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
29640 thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
29643 If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
29644 field will hold the task identifier.
29647 If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
29650 The ignore count of the breakpoint.
29653 The enable count of the breakpoint.
29655 @item traceframe-usage
29658 @item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
29659 For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
29662 For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
29665 A tracepoint's pass count.
29667 @item original-location
29668 The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
29669 This field is optional.
29672 The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
29675 This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
29676 meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
29680 Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
29684 For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
29685 (@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
29688 -> -break-insert main
29689 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29690 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29691 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29696 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
29697 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
29699 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
29700 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
29705 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
29706 zero. This field is always present.
29709 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
29710 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
29713 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
29716 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
29717 address. This field may be absent.
29720 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
29724 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
29725 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
29729 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
29730 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
29732 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
29733 uses a tuple with the following fields:
29737 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
29741 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
29744 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
29745 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
29746 frontend. This field is optional.
29749 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
29750 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
29753 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
29754 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
29757 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
29758 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
29760 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
29761 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
29762 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
29763 the @code{exception-name} field.
29765 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29766 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
29767 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
29768 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
29770 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
29771 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
29772 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
29773 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
29775 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
29776 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
29778 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
29780 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
29781 information of the breakpoint.
29784 -> -break-insert main
29785 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29786 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29787 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29792 @subheading Program Execution
29794 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
29795 reason that execution stopped.
29801 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
29802 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
29803 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
29804 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
29809 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29813 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
29815 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
29823 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
29824 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
29825 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
29826 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
29827 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
29828 fails to exit in reasonable time.
29830 @subheading A Bad Command
29832 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
29836 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
29841 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29842 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
29843 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
29845 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
29846 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
29848 @subheading Motivation
29850 The motivation for this collection of commands.
29852 @subheading Introduction
29854 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
29856 @subheading Commands
29858 For each command in the block, the following is described:
29860 @subsubheading Synopsis
29863 -command @var{args}@dots{}
29866 @subsubheading Result
29868 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29870 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
29872 @subsubheading Example
29874 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
29875 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
29878 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29879 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
29880 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
29882 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
29883 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
29884 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
29887 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
29888 @findex -break-after
29890 @subsubheading Synopsis
29893 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
29896 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
29897 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
29898 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
29899 @samp{-break-list} command below.
29901 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29903 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
29905 @subsubheading Example
29910 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29911 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29912 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29920 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29921 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29922 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29923 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29924 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29925 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29926 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29927 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29928 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29929 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
29934 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
29935 @findex -break-catch
29938 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
29939 @findex -break-commands
29941 @subsubheading Synopsis
29944 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
29947 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
29948 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
29949 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
29950 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
29951 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
29952 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
29954 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29956 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
29958 @subsubheading Example
29963 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29964 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29965 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29968 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
29973 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
29974 @findex -break-condition
29976 @subsubheading Synopsis
29979 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
29982 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
29983 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
29984 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
29987 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29989 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
29991 @subsubheading Example
29995 -break-condition 1 1
29999 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30000 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30001 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30002 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30003 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30004 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30005 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30006 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30007 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30008 line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
30012 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
30013 @findex -break-delete
30015 @subsubheading Synopsis
30018 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
30021 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
30022 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
30024 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30026 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
30028 @subsubheading Example
30036 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
30037 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30038 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30039 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30040 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30041 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30042 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30047 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
30048 @findex -break-disable
30050 @subsubheading Synopsis
30053 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
30056 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
30057 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
30059 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30061 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
30063 @subsubheading Example
30071 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30072 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30073 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30074 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30075 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30076 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30077 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30078 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
30079 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30080 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30084 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
30085 @findex -break-enable
30087 @subsubheading Synopsis
30090 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
30093 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
30095 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30097 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
30099 @subsubheading Example
30107 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30108 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30109 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30110 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30111 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30112 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30113 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30114 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30115 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30116 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30120 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
30121 @findex -break-info
30123 @subsubheading Synopsis
30126 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
30130 Get information about a single breakpoint.
30132 The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
30133 Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
30136 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30138 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
30140 @subsubheading Example
30143 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
30144 @findex -break-insert
30146 @subsubheading Synopsis
30149 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
30150 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
30151 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
30155 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
30162 @item filename:linenum
30163 @item filename:function
30167 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
30171 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
30173 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
30175 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
30176 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
30177 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
30178 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
30181 Create a disabled breakpoint.
30183 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
30184 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
30185 @item -c @var{condition}
30186 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30187 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
30188 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
30189 @item -p @var{thread-id}
30190 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
30193 @subsubheading Result
30195 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
30196 resulting breakpoint.
30198 Note: this format is open to change.
30199 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
30201 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30203 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
30204 @samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
30206 @subsubheading Example
30211 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
30212 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
30215 -break-insert -t foo
30216 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
30217 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30221 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30222 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30223 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30224 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30225 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30226 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30227 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30228 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30229 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
30230 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
30232 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30233 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
30234 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30237 @c -break-insert -r foo.*
30238 @c ~int foo(int, int);
30239 @c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
30240 @c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30245 @subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
30246 @findex -dprintf-insert
30248 @subsubheading Synopsis
30251 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
30252 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
30253 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
30258 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
30261 @item @var{function}
30264 @c @item @var{linenum}
30265 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
30266 @item @var{filename}:function
30267 @item *@var{address}
30270 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
30274 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
30276 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
30277 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
30278 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
30279 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
30282 Create a disabled breakpoint.
30283 @item -c @var{condition}
30284 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30285 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
30286 Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
30287 to @var{ignore-count}.
30288 @item -p @var{thread-id}
30289 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
30292 @subsubheading Result
30294 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
30295 resulting breakpoint.
30297 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
30299 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30301 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
30303 @subsubheading Example
30307 4-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
30308 4^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30309 addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
30310 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
30311 times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
30312 original-location="foo"@}
30314 5-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
30315 5^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30316 addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
30317 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
30318 times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
30319 original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
30323 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
30324 @findex -break-list
30326 @subsubheading Synopsis
30332 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
30336 number of the breakpoint
30338 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
30340 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
30343 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
30345 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
30347 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
30349 @item Thread-groups
30350 list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
30352 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
30355 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
30356 @code{body} field is an empty list.
30358 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30360 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
30362 @subsubheading Example
30367 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30368 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30369 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30370 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30371 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30372 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30373 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30374 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30375 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
30377 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30378 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30379 line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30383 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
30388 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
30389 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30390 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30391 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30392 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30393 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30394 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30399 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
30400 @findex -break-passcount
30402 @subsubheading Synopsis
30405 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
30408 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
30409 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
30410 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
30411 command @samp{passcount}.
30413 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
30414 @findex -break-watch
30416 @subsubheading Synopsis
30419 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
30422 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
30423 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
30424 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
30425 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
30426 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
30427 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
30428 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
30429 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
30431 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
30432 breakpoints inserted.
30434 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30436 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
30439 @subsubheading Example
30441 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
30446 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
30451 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
30452 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
30453 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
30454 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
30458 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
30459 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
30460 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
30465 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
30470 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
30471 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30472 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30473 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30474 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30479 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
30480 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30481 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30482 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30483 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30487 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
30488 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
30494 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
30497 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30498 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30499 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30500 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30501 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30502 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30503 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30504 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30505 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30506 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30507 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30509 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30510 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30515 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
30516 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30517 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30518 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30519 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30522 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30523 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30524 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30525 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30526 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30527 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30528 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30529 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30530 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30531 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30532 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30534 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30535 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
30539 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
30540 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30541 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30542 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30543 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30546 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30547 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30548 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30549 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30550 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30551 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30552 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30553 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30554 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30555 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30556 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
30557 thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
30562 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30563 @node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30564 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
30566 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
30570 * Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
30571 * Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
30574 @node Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30575 @subsection Shared Library @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
30577 @subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
30578 @findex -catch-load
30580 @subsubheading Synopsis
30583 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30586 Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
30587 the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30588 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
30589 in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30590 expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
30593 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30595 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
30597 @subsubheading Example
30600 -catch-load -t foo.so
30601 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30602 what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
30607 @subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
30608 @findex -catch-unload
30610 @subsubheading Synopsis
30613 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30616 Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
30617 used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30618 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
30619 created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30620 expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
30622 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30624 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
30626 @subsubheading Example
30629 -catch-unload -d bar.so
30630 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
30631 what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
30635 @node Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30636 @subsection Ada Exception @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
30638 The following @sc{gdb/mi} commands can be used to create catchpoints
30639 that stop the execution when Ada exceptions are being raised.
30641 @subheading The @code{-catch-assert} Command
30642 @findex -catch-assert
30644 @subsubheading Synopsis
30647 -catch-assert [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -t ]
30650 Add a catchpoint for failed Ada assertions.
30652 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
30655 @item -c @var{condition}
30656 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30658 Create a disabled catchpoint.
30660 Create a temporary catchpoint.
30663 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30665 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch assert}.
30667 @subsubheading Example
30671 ^done,bkptno="5",bkpt=@{number="5",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30672 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404888",what="failed Ada assertions",
30673 thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",
30674 original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_assert_failure"@}
30678 @subheading The @code{-catch-exception} Command
30679 @findex -catch-exception
30681 @subsubheading Synopsis
30684 -catch-exception [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -e @var{exception-name} ]
30688 Add a catchpoint stopping when Ada exceptions are raised.
30689 By default, the command stops the program when any Ada exception
30690 gets raised. But it is also possible, by using some of the
30691 optional parameters described below, to create more selective
30694 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
30697 @item -c @var{condition}
30698 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30700 Create a disabled catchpoint.
30701 @item -e @var{exception-name}
30702 Only stop when @var{exception-name} is raised. This option cannot
30703 be used combined with @samp{-u}.
30705 Create a temporary catchpoint.
30707 Stop only when an unhandled exception gets raised. This option
30708 cannot be used combined with @samp{-e}.
30711 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30713 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{catch exception}
30714 and @samp{catch exception unhandled}.
30716 @subsubheading Example
30719 -catch-exception -e Program_Error
30720 ^done,bkptno="4",bkpt=@{number="4",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30721 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404874",
30722 what="`Program_Error' Ada exception", thread-groups=["i1"],
30723 times="0",original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_exception"@}
30727 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30728 @node GDB/MI Program Context
30729 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
30731 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
30732 @findex -exec-arguments
30735 @subsubheading Synopsis
30738 -exec-arguments @var{args}
30741 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
30744 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30746 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
30748 @subsubheading Example
30752 -exec-arguments -v word
30759 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
30760 @findex -exec-show-arguments
30762 @subsubheading Synopsis
30765 -exec-show-arguments
30768 Print the arguments of the program.
30770 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30772 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
30774 @subsubheading Example
30779 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
30780 @findex -environment-cd
30782 @subsubheading Synopsis
30785 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
30788 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
30790 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30792 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
30794 @subsubheading Example
30798 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30804 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
30805 @findex -environment-directory
30807 @subsubheading Synopsis
30810 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30813 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
30814 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
30815 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
30816 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30818 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30819 multiple directories in a single command
30820 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30821 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30822 If blanks are needed as
30823 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30824 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30825 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30826 character must not be used
30827 in any directory name.
30828 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
30830 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30832 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
30834 @subsubheading Example
30838 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30839 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30841 -environment-directory ""
30842 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30844 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
30845 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
30847 -environment-directory -r
30848 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
30853 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
30854 @findex -environment-path
30856 @subsubheading Synopsis
30859 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30862 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
30863 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
30864 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
30865 supplied in addition to the
30866 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30868 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30869 multiple directories in a single command
30870 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30871 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30872 If blanks are needed as
30873 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30874 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30875 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30876 character must not be used
30877 in any directory name.
30878 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
30881 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30883 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
30885 @subsubheading Example
30890 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
30892 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
30893 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
30895 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
30896 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
30901 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
30902 @findex -environment-pwd
30904 @subsubheading Synopsis
30910 Show the current working directory.
30912 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30914 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
30916 @subsubheading Example
30921 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
30925 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30926 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
30927 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
30930 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
30931 @findex -thread-info
30933 @subsubheading Synopsis
30936 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
30939 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
30940 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
30941 threads. When printing information about all threads,
30942 also reports the current thread.
30944 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30946 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
30949 @subsubheading Result
30951 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
30952 defined for a given thread:
30956 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
30959 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
30962 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
30965 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
30969 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
30970 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
30971 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
30972 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
30976 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
30979 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
30984 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
30988 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
30994 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
30995 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
30999 @subsubheading Example
31004 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
31005 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
31006 args=[]@},state="running"@},
31007 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
31008 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
31009 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
31010 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
31011 state="running"@}],
31012 current-thread-id="1"
31016 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
31017 @findex -thread-list-ids
31019 @subsubheading Synopsis
31025 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
31026 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
31028 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
31029 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
31031 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31033 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
31035 @subsubheading Example
31040 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
31041 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
31046 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
31047 @findex -thread-select
31049 @subsubheading Synopsis
31052 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
31055 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
31056 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
31058 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
31059 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
31061 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31063 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
31065 @subsubheading Example
31072 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
31073 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
31077 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
31078 number-of-threads="3"
31081 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
31082 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
31083 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
31084 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
31088 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31089 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
31090 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
31092 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
31093 @findex -ada-task-info
31095 @subsubheading Synopsis
31098 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
31101 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
31102 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
31104 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31106 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
31107 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
31109 @subsubheading Result
31111 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
31112 defined for each Ada task:
31116 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
31119 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
31122 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
31125 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
31127 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
31128 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
31129 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
31132 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
31133 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
31136 The base priority of the task.
31139 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
31140 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
31143 The name of the task.
31147 @subsubheading Example
31151 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
31152 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
31153 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
31154 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
31155 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
31156 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
31157 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
31158 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
31159 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
31160 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
31161 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
31165 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31166 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
31167 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
31169 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
31170 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
31171 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
31174 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
31175 @findex -exec-continue
31177 @subsubheading Synopsis
31180 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
31183 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
31184 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
31185 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
31186 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
31189 breakpoints or watchpoints
31191 signals or exceptions
31193 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
31195 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
31197 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
31198 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
31199 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
31200 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
31201 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
31202 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
31204 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31206 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
31208 @subsubheading Example
31215 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
31216 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
31222 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
31223 @findex -exec-finish
31225 @subsubheading Synopsis
31228 -exec-finish [--reverse]
31231 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
31232 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
31233 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
31234 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
31235 function was called.
31237 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31239 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
31241 @subsubheading Example
31243 Function returning @code{void}.
31250 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31251 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
31255 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
31256 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
31263 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
31264 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
31265 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31266 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
31271 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
31272 @findex -exec-interrupt
31274 @subsubheading Synopsis
31277 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
31280 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
31281 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
31282 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
31283 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
31284 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
31286 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
31287 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
31288 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
31289 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
31291 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
31292 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
31293 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
31294 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
31296 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31298 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
31300 @subsubheading Example
31311 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
31312 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31313 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
31318 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
31322 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
31325 @subsubheading Synopsis
31328 -exec-jump @var{location}
31331 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
31332 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
31333 different forms of @var{location}.
31335 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31337 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
31339 @subsubheading Example
31342 -exec-jump foo.c:10
31343 *running,thread-id="all"
31348 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
31351 @subsubheading Synopsis
31354 -exec-next [--reverse]
31357 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31358 of the next source line is reached.
31360 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
31361 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
31362 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
31363 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
31364 source line where the function was called.
31367 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31369 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
31371 @subsubheading Example
31377 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
31382 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
31383 @findex -exec-next-instruction
31385 @subsubheading Synopsis
31388 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
31391 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
31392 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
31393 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
31396 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
31397 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
31398 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
31399 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
31400 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
31402 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31404 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
31406 @subsubheading Example
31410 -exec-next-instruction
31414 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31415 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
31420 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
31421 @findex -exec-return
31423 @subsubheading Synopsis
31429 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
31430 Displays the new current frame.
31432 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31434 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
31436 @subsubheading Example
31440 200-break-insert callee4
31441 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
31442 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
31447 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
31448 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
31449 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31450 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
31456 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
31457 args=[@{name="strarg",
31458 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
31459 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31460 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
31465 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
31468 @subsubheading Synopsis
31471 -exec-run [ --all | --thread-group N ] [ --start ]
31474 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
31475 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
31476 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
31477 the program has exited exceptionally.
31479 When neither the @samp{--all} nor the @samp{--thread-group} option
31480 is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
31481 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
31482 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
31483 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
31485 Using the @samp{--start} option instructs the debugger to stop
31486 the execution at the start of the inferior's main subprogram,
31487 following the same behavior as the @code{start} command
31488 (@pxref{Starting}).
31490 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31492 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
31494 @subsubheading Examples
31499 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
31504 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
31505 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
31506 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
31511 Program exited normally:
31519 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
31524 Program exited exceptionally:
31532 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
31536 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
31537 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
31541 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
31542 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
31546 @c @subheading -exec-signal
31549 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
31552 @subsubheading Synopsis
31555 -exec-step [--reverse]
31558 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31559 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
31560 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
31561 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
31562 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
31563 previously executed source line.
31565 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31567 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
31569 @subsubheading Example
31571 Stepping into a function:
31577 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31578 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
31579 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
31580 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
31590 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
31595 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
31596 @findex -exec-step-instruction
31598 @subsubheading Synopsis
31601 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
31604 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
31605 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
31606 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
31607 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
31608 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
31609 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
31612 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31614 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
31616 @subsubheading Example
31620 -exec-step-instruction
31624 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31625 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31626 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31628 -exec-step-instruction
31632 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31633 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31634 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31639 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
31640 @findex -exec-until
31642 @subsubheading Synopsis
31645 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
31648 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
31649 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
31650 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
31651 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
31653 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31655 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
31657 @subsubheading Example
31661 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
31665 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31666 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
31671 @subheading -file-clear
31672 Is this going away????
31675 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31676 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
31677 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
31679 @subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
31680 @findex -enable-frame-filters
31683 -enable-frame-filters
31686 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
31687 the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
31688 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
31689 request that this functionality be enabled.
31691 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
31693 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
31694 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
31696 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
31697 @findex -stack-info-frame
31699 @subsubheading Synopsis
31705 Get info on the selected frame.
31707 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31709 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
31710 (without arguments).
31712 @subsubheading Example
31717 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31718 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31719 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
31723 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
31724 @findex -stack-info-depth
31726 @subsubheading Synopsis
31729 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
31732 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
31733 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
31735 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31737 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31739 @subsubheading Example
31741 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
31748 -stack-info-depth 4
31751 -stack-info-depth 12
31754 -stack-info-depth 11
31757 -stack-info-depth 13
31762 @anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
31763 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
31764 @findex -stack-list-arguments
31766 @subsubheading Synopsis
31769 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31770 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31773 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
31774 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
31775 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
31776 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
31777 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
31778 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
31779 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
31780 which case only existing frames will be returned.
31782 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31783 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31784 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31785 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31786 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31787 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31789 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, arguments that
31790 are not available are not listed. Partially available arguments
31791 are still displayed, however.
31793 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
31794 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31796 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31798 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
31799 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
31800 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
31802 @subsubheading Example
31809 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
31810 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31811 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
31812 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31813 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31814 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
31815 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
31816 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31817 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
31818 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
31819 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31820 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
31821 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
31822 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31823 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
31825 -stack-list-arguments 0
31828 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31829 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
31830 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
31831 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
31832 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31834 -stack-list-arguments 1
31837 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31839 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31840 frame=@{level="2",args=[
31841 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31842 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31843 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
31844 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31845 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
31846 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
31847 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31849 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
31850 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
31852 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
31853 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
31854 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31855 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
31859 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
31862 @anchor{-stack-list-frames}
31863 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
31864 @findex -stack-list-frames
31866 @subsubheading Synopsis
31869 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31872 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
31877 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
31879 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
31883 File name of the source file where the function lives.
31884 @item @var{fullname}
31885 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
31887 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
31889 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
31890 if the frame's function is not known.
31893 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
31894 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
31895 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
31896 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
31897 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
31898 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
31899 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
31900 returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31901 Python frame filters will not be executed.
31903 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31905 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
31907 @subsubheading Example
31909 Full stack backtrace:
31915 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
31916 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
31917 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31918 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31919 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31920 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31921 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31922 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31923 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31924 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31925 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31926 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31927 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31928 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31929 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31930 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31931 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31932 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31933 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31934 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31935 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31936 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31937 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
31938 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
31942 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
31946 -stack-list-frames 3 5
31948 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31949 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31950 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31951 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31952 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31953 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
31957 Show a single frame:
31961 -stack-list-frames 3 3
31963 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31964 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
31969 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
31970 @findex -stack-list-locals
31971 @anchor{-stack-list-locals}
31973 @subsubheading Synopsis
31976 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31979 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
31980 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31981 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31982 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31983 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31984 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
31985 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
31986 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
31987 more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31988 Python frame filters will not be executed.
31990 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
31991 that are not available are not listed. Partially available local
31992 variables are still displayed, however.
31994 This command is deprecated in favor of the
31995 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31997 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31999 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
32001 @subsubheading Example
32005 -stack-list-locals 0
32006 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
32008 -stack-list-locals --all-values
32009 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
32010 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
32011 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
32012 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
32013 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
32017 @anchor{-stack-list-variables}
32018 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
32019 @findex -stack-list-variables
32021 @subsubheading Synopsis
32024 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
32027 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
32028 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
32029 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
32030 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
32031 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
32032 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
32033 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
32035 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
32036 and arguments that are not available are not listed. Partially
32037 available arguments and local variables are still displayed, however.
32039 @subsubheading Example
32043 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
32044 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
32049 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
32050 @findex -stack-select-frame
32052 @subsubheading Synopsis
32055 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
32058 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
32061 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
32062 option to every command.
32064 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32066 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
32067 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
32069 @subsubheading Example
32073 -stack-select-frame 2
32078 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32079 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
32080 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
32084 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
32086 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
32087 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
32088 used by @code{Insight}.
32090 The two main reasons for that are:
32094 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
32097 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
32101 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
32102 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
32103 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
32104 hints about their use.
32106 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
32107 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
32108 least, the following operations:
32111 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
32112 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
32113 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
32114 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
32119 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
32121 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
32123 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
32124 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
32125 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
32126 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
32127 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
32128 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
32129 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
32130 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
32131 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
32132 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
32133 object, or to change display format.
32135 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
32136 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
32137 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
32138 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
32139 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
32140 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
32141 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
32142 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
32143 child will be created.
32145 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
32146 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
32147 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
32148 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
32149 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
32151 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
32152 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
32153 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
32154 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
32155 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
32156 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
32157 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
32158 variables that frontend has created.
32160 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
32161 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
32162 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
32163 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
32164 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
32165 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
32166 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
32167 implicitly updated.
32169 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
32170 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
32171 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
32172 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
32173 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
32174 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
32175 frame. Consider this example:
32180 struct work_state state;
32187 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
32188 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
32189 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
32190 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
32191 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
32193 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
32194 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
32195 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
32196 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
32197 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
32198 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
32200 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
32201 access this functionality:
32203 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
32204 @item @strong{Operation}
32205 @tab @strong{Description}
32207 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
32208 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
32209 @item @code{-var-create}
32210 @tab create a variable object
32211 @item @code{-var-delete}
32212 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
32213 @item @code{-var-set-format}
32214 @tab set the display format of this variable
32215 @item @code{-var-show-format}
32216 @tab show the display format of this variable
32217 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
32218 @tab tells how many children this object has
32219 @item @code{-var-list-children}
32220 @tab return a list of the object's children
32221 @item @code{-var-info-type}
32222 @tab show the type of this variable object
32223 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
32224 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
32225 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
32226 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
32227 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
32228 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
32229 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
32230 @tab get the value of this variable
32231 @item @code{-var-assign}
32232 @tab set the value of this variable
32233 @item @code{-var-update}
32234 @tab update the variable and its children
32235 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
32236 @tab set frozeness attribute
32237 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
32238 @tab set range of children to display on update
32241 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
32242 how it can be used.
32244 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
32246 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
32247 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
32250 -enable-pretty-printing
32253 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
32254 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
32255 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
32256 request that this functionality be enabled.
32258 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
32260 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
32261 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
32263 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
32264 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
32266 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
32267 @findex -var-create
32269 @subsubheading Synopsis
32272 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
32273 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
32276 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
32277 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
32280 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
32281 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
32282 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
32283 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
32284 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
32286 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
32287 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
32288 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
32289 object must be created.
32291 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
32292 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
32296 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
32299 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
32302 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
32305 @cindex dynamic varobj
32306 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
32307 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
32308 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
32309 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
32310 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
32311 compatibility for existing clients.
32313 @subsubheading Result
32315 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
32320 The name of the varobj.
32323 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
32324 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
32325 @samp{has_more} attribute.
32328 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
32329 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
32330 will not be interesting.
32333 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
32334 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
32335 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
32336 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32337 @emph{declared} one.
32340 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
32341 thread's identifier.
32344 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
32345 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
32348 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32349 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32350 then this attribute will not be present.
32353 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32354 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32355 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32358 Typical output will look like this:
32361 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
32362 has_more="@var{has_more}"
32366 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
32367 @findex -var-delete
32369 @subsubheading Synopsis
32372 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
32375 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
32376 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
32378 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
32381 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
32382 @findex -var-set-format
32384 @subsubheading Synopsis
32387 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
32390 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
32393 @anchor{-var-set-format}
32394 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
32397 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
32398 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
32401 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
32402 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
32403 for pointers, etc.).
32405 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
32406 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
32408 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
32409 @findex -var-show-format
32411 @subsubheading Synopsis
32414 -var-show-format @var{name}
32417 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
32420 @var{format} @expansion{}
32425 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
32426 @findex -var-info-num-children
32428 @subsubheading Synopsis
32431 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
32434 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
32440 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
32441 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
32445 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
32446 @findex -var-list-children
32448 @subsubheading Synopsis
32451 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
32453 @anchor{-var-list-children}
32455 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
32456 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
32457 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
32458 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
32459 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
32460 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
32461 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
32464 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
32465 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
32466 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
32467 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
32470 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
32471 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
32472 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
32473 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
32474 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
32475 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
32476 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
32477 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
32480 For each child the following results are returned:
32485 Name of the variable object created for this child.
32488 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
32489 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
32491 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
32492 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
32494 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
32495 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
32496 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
32497 type and value are not present.
32499 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
32500 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
32501 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
32504 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
32508 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
32509 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
32510 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32511 @emph{declared} one.
32514 If values were requested, this is the value.
32517 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
32518 Otherwise this result is not present.
32521 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
32524 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32525 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32526 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32529 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32530 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32531 then this attribute will not be present.
32535 The result may have its own attributes:
32539 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32540 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32541 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32544 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
32545 remaining after the end of the selected range.
32548 @subsubheading Example
32552 -var-list-children n
32553 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32554 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32556 -var-list-children --all-values n
32557 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32558 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32562 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
32563 @findex -var-info-type
32565 @subsubheading Synopsis
32568 -var-info-type @var{name}
32571 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
32572 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
32576 type=@var{typename}
32580 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
32581 @findex -var-info-expression
32583 @subsubheading Synopsis
32586 -var-info-expression @var{name}
32589 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
32590 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
32591 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
32593 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
32594 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
32597 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
32598 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
32602 Here, the value of @code{lang} is the language name, which can be
32603 found in @ref{Supported Languages}.
32605 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
32606 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
32609 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
32610 @findex -var-info-path-expression
32612 @subsubheading Synopsis
32615 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
32618 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
32619 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
32620 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
32621 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
32622 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
32623 watchpoint from a variable object.
32625 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
32626 and will give an error when invoked on one.
32628 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
32629 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
32630 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
32631 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
32632 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
32634 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
32635 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
32638 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
32639 @findex -var-show-attributes
32641 @subsubheading Synopsis
32644 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
32647 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
32650 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
32654 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
32656 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
32657 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
32659 @subsubheading Synopsis
32662 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
32665 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
32666 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
32667 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
32668 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
32669 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
32670 the current display format will be used. The current display format
32671 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
32677 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
32678 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
32680 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
32681 @findex -var-assign
32683 @subsubheading Synopsis
32686 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
32689 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
32690 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
32691 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
32692 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
32694 @subsubheading Example
32702 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
32706 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
32707 @findex -var-update
32709 @subsubheading Synopsis
32712 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
32715 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
32716 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
32717 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
32718 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
32719 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
32720 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
32721 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
32722 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
32723 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
32724 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
32725 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
32726 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
32727 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
32729 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
32730 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
32733 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
32734 only the selected range of children will be reported.
32736 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
32739 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
32743 The name of the varobj.
32746 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
32747 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
32750 @anchor{-var-update}
32751 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
32755 The variable object's current value is valid.
32758 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
32759 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
32763 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
32764 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
32765 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
32766 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
32770 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
32771 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
32774 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
32775 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
32778 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
32779 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
32780 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
32781 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
32785 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
32788 @item new_num_children
32789 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
32790 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
32792 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
32793 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
32794 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
32795 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
32796 children which may be available.
32798 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
32799 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
32800 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
32801 only happen at the end of the update range).
32804 The display hint, if any.
32807 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
32808 available outside the varobj's update range.
32811 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32812 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32813 then this attribute will not be present.
32816 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
32817 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
32818 be listed in this attribute.
32821 @subsubheading Example
32828 -var-update --all-values var1
32829 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
32830 type_changed="false"@}]
32834 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
32835 @findex -var-set-frozen
32836 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
32838 @subsubheading Synopsis
32841 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
32844 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
32845 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
32846 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
32847 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
32848 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
32849 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
32850 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
32851 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
32852 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
32853 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
32854 @code{-var-update} does.
32856 @subsubheading Example
32860 -var-set-frozen V 1
32865 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
32866 @findex -var-set-update-range
32867 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
32869 @subsubheading Synopsis
32872 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
32875 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
32876 @code{-var-update}.
32878 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
32879 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
32880 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
32881 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
32883 @subsubheading Example
32887 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
32891 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
32892 @findex -var-set-visualizer
32893 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
32895 @subsubheading Synopsis
32898 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
32901 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
32903 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
32904 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
32906 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
32907 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
32908 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
32909 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
32910 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
32911 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
32912 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
32914 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
32915 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
32916 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
32917 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
32919 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
32920 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
32921 can be used to check this.
32923 @subsubheading Example
32925 Resetting the visualizer:
32929 -var-set-visualizer V None
32933 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
32937 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
32941 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
32942 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
32946 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
32950 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32951 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
32952 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
32954 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
32955 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
32956 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
32957 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
32959 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
32960 @c @subheading -data-assign
32961 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
32962 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
32964 @c @subsubheading Example
32967 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
32968 @findex -data-disassemble
32970 @subsubheading Synopsis
32974 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
32975 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
32983 @item @var{start-addr}
32984 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
32985 @item @var{end-addr}
32987 @item @var{filename}
32988 is the name of the file to disassemble
32989 @item @var{linenum}
32990 is the line number to disassemble around
32992 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
32993 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
32994 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
32995 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
32996 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
32997 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
32998 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
33001 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
33002 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
33003 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
33006 @subsubheading Result
33008 The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
33009 @samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
33010 used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
33012 For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
33017 The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
33020 The name of the function this instruction is within.
33023 The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
33026 The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
33029 This field is only present for mode 2. This contains the raw opcode
33030 bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
33034 For modes 1 and 3 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
33035 @samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
33039 The line number within @samp{file}.
33042 The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
33043 file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
33047 Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
33048 using the source file search path
33049 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
33050 and after resolving all the symbolic links.
33052 If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
33053 present in the debug information.
33055 @item line_asm_insn
33056 This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
33057 @samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
33058 @code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
33059 @samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
33064 Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
33065 manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
33068 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33070 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
33072 @subsubheading Example
33074 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
33078 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
33081 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
33082 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33083 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33084 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
33085 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
33086 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
33087 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
33088 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
33089 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
33090 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
33094 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
33098 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
33100 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
33101 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
33102 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
33103 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33104 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33105 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
33107 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
33108 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
33112 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
33116 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
33118 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
33119 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
33120 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
33121 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33122 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33123 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
33127 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
33131 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
33133 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
33134 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33135 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33136 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
33137 func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
33138 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
33139 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33140 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33141 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
33142 func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33143 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33144 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
33149 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
33150 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
33152 @subsubheading Synopsis
33155 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
33158 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
33159 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
33160 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
33162 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33164 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
33165 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
33166 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
33168 @subsubheading Example
33170 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
33171 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
33172 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
33176 211-data-evaluate-expression A
33179 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
33180 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
33182 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
33185 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
33191 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
33192 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
33194 @subsubheading Synopsis
33197 -data-list-changed-registers
33200 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
33202 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33204 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
33205 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
33207 @subsubheading Example
33209 On a PPC MBX board:
33217 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
33218 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
33221 -data-list-changed-registers
33222 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
33223 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
33224 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
33229 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
33230 @findex -data-list-register-names
33232 @subsubheading Synopsis
33235 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
33238 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
33239 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
33240 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
33241 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
33242 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
33243 include empty register names.
33245 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33247 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
33248 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
33249 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
33251 @subsubheading Example
33253 For the PPC MBX board:
33256 -data-list-register-names
33257 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
33258 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
33259 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
33260 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
33261 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
33262 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
33263 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
33265 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
33266 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
33270 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
33271 @findex -data-list-register-values
33273 @subsubheading Synopsis
33276 -data-list-register-values
33277 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
33280 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
33281 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
33282 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
33283 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be
33284 returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option indicates that only
33285 the available registers are to be returned.
33287 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
33304 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33306 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
33307 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
33309 @subsubheading Example
33311 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
33312 don't appear in the actual output):
33316 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
33317 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
33318 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
33320 -data-list-register-values x
33321 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
33322 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
33323 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
33324 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
33325 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
33326 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
33327 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
33328 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
33329 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
33330 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
33331 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
33332 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
33333 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
33334 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
33335 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
33336 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
33337 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
33338 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
33339 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
33340 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
33341 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
33342 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
33343 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
33344 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
33345 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
33346 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
33347 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
33348 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
33349 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
33350 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
33351 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
33352 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
33353 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
33354 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
33355 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
33356 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
33361 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
33362 @findex -data-read-memory
33364 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
33366 @subsubheading Synopsis
33369 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
33370 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
33371 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
33378 @item @var{address}
33379 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33380 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33381 quoted using the C convention.
33383 @item @var{word-format}
33384 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
33385 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
33388 @item @var{word-size}
33389 The size of each memory word in bytes.
33391 @item @var{nr-rows}
33392 The number of rows in the output table.
33394 @item @var{nr-cols}
33395 The number of columns in the output table.
33398 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
33399 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
33400 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
33401 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
33403 @item @var{byte-offset}
33404 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
33407 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
33408 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
33409 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
33410 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
33411 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
33412 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
33413 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
33416 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
33417 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
33420 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33422 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
33423 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
33425 @subsubheading Example
33427 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
33428 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
33429 word. Display each word in hex.
33433 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
33434 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
33435 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
33436 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
33437 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
33438 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
33439 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
33443 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
33444 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
33448 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
33449 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
33450 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
33451 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
33452 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
33456 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
33457 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
33458 used as the non-printable character.
33462 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
33463 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
33464 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
33465 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
33466 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33467 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33468 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33469 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33470 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
33471 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
33472 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
33473 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
33477 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
33478 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
33480 @subsubheading Synopsis
33483 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
33484 @var{address} @var{count}
33491 @item @var{address}
33492 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33493 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33494 quoted using the C convention.
33497 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
33499 @item @var{byte-offset}
33500 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
33501 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
33502 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
33503 perform address arithmetics itself.
33507 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
33508 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
33509 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
33510 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
33511 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
33512 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
33514 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
33515 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
33516 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
33517 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
33518 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
33519 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
33520 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
33521 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
33523 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
33524 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
33525 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
33526 and has the following fields:
33530 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33533 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33536 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
33537 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
33540 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
33546 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33548 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
33550 @subsubheading Example
33554 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
33555 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
33557 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
33562 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
33563 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
33565 @subsubheading Synopsis
33568 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
33569 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
33576 @item @var{address}
33577 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33578 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33579 quoted using the C convention.
33581 @item @var{contents}
33582 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
33585 Optional argument indicating the number of bytes to be written. If @var{count}
33586 is greater than @var{contents}' length, @value{GDBN} will repeatedly
33587 write @var{contents} until it fills @var{count} bytes.
33591 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33593 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33595 @subsubheading Example
33599 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
33606 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
33611 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33612 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
33613 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
33615 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
33616 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
33618 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
33619 @findex -trace-find
33621 @subsubheading Synopsis
33624 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
33627 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
33628 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
33629 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
33634 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
33637 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
33640 @item tracepoint-number
33641 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
33642 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
33645 An address is required as parameter. Finds
33646 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
33649 @item pc-inside-range
33650 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
33651 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
33652 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33654 @item pc-outside-range
33655 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
33656 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
33657 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33660 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
33661 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
33662 the specified location.
33666 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
33667 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
33671 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
33672 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
33675 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
33676 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33679 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
33680 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33683 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
33684 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
33685 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
33689 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33691 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
33693 @subheading -trace-define-variable
33694 @findex -trace-define-variable
33696 @subsubheading Synopsis
33699 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
33702 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
33703 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
33704 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
33705 with the @samp{$} character.
33707 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33709 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
33711 @subheading The @code{-trace-frame-collected} Command
33712 @findex -trace-frame-collected
33714 @subsubheading Synopsis
33717 -trace-frame-collected
33718 [--var-print-values @var{var_pval}]
33719 [--comp-print-values @var{comp_pval}]
33720 [--registers-format @var{regformat}]
33721 [--memory-contents]
33724 This command returns the set of collected objects, register names,
33725 trace state variable names, memory ranges and computed expressions
33726 that have been collected at a particular trace frame. The optional
33727 parameters to the command affect the output format in different ways.
33728 See the output description table below for more details.
33730 The reported names can be used in the normal manner to create
33731 varobjs and inspect the objects themselves. The items returned by
33732 this command are categorized so that it is clear which is a variable,
33733 which is a register, which is a trace state variable, which is a
33734 memory range and which is a computed expression.
33736 For instance, if the actions were
33738 collect myVar, myArray[myIndex], myObj.field, myPtr->field, myCount + 2
33739 collect *(int*)0xaf02bef0@@40
33743 the object collected in its entirety would be @code{myVar}. The
33744 object @code{myArray} would be partially collected, because only the
33745 element at index @code{myIndex} would be collected. The remaining
33746 objects would be computed expressions.
33748 An example output would be:
33752 -trace-frame-collected
33754 explicit-variables=[@{name="myVar",value="1"@}],
33755 computed-expressions=[@{name="myArray[myIndex]",value="0"@},
33756 @{name="myObj.field",value="0"@},
33757 @{name="myPtr->field",value="1"@},
33758 @{name="myCount + 2",value="3"@},
33759 @{name="$tvar1 + 1",value="43970027"@}],
33760 registers=[@{number="0",value="0x7fe2c6e79ec8"@},
33761 @{number="1",value="0x0"@},
33762 @{number="2",value="0x4"@},
33764 @{number="125",value="0x0"@}],
33765 tvars=[@{name="$tvar1",current="43970026"@}],
33766 memory=[@{address="0x0000000000602264",length="4"@},
33767 @{address="0x0000000000615bc0",length="4"@}]
33774 @item explicit-variables
33775 The set of objects that have been collected in their entirety (as
33776 opposed to collecting just a few elements of an array or a few struct
33777 members). For each object, its name and value are printed.
33778 The @code{--var-print-values} option affects how or whether the value
33779 field is output. If @var{var_pval} is 0, then print only the names;
33780 if it is 1, print also their values; and if it is 2, print the name,
33781 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for
33782 arrays, structures and unions.
33784 @item computed-expressions
33785 The set of computed expressions that have been collected at the
33786 current trace frame. The @code{--comp-print-values} option affects
33787 this set like the @code{--var-print-values} option affects the
33788 @code{explicit-variables} set. See above.
33791 The registers that have been collected at the current trace frame.
33792 For each register collected, the name and current value are returned.
33793 The value is formatted according to the @code{--registers-format}
33794 option. See the @command{-data-list-register-values} command for a
33795 list of the allowed formats. The default is @samp{x}.
33798 The trace state variables that have been collected at the current
33799 trace frame. For each trace state variable collected, the name and
33800 current value are returned.
33803 The set of memory ranges that have been collected at the current trace
33804 frame. Its content is a list of tuples. Each tuple represents a
33805 collected memory range and has the following fields:
33809 The start address of the memory range, as hexadecimal literal.
33812 The length of the memory range, as decimal literal.
33815 The contents of the memory block, in hex. This field is only present
33816 if the @code{--memory-contents} option is specified.
33822 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33824 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33826 @subsubheading Example
33828 @subheading -trace-list-variables
33829 @findex -trace-list-variables
33831 @subsubheading Synopsis
33834 -trace-list-variables
33837 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
33838 table has the following fields:
33842 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
33845 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
33846 field is always present.
33849 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
33850 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
33851 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
33856 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33858 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
33860 @subsubheading Example
33864 -trace-list-variables
33865 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
33866 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
33867 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
33868 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
33869 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
33870 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
33874 @subheading -trace-save
33875 @findex -trace-save
33877 @subsubheading Synopsis
33880 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
33883 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
33884 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
33885 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
33886 to perform the save.
33888 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33890 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
33893 @subheading -trace-start
33894 @findex -trace-start
33896 @subsubheading Synopsis
33902 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
33905 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33907 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
33909 @subheading -trace-status
33910 @findex -trace-status
33912 @subsubheading Synopsis
33918 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
33919 the following fields:
33924 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
33925 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
33926 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
33927 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
33928 started. This field is always present.
33931 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
33932 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
33933 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
33936 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
33937 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
33938 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
33939 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
33940 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
33941 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
33942 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
33943 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
33944 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
33946 @item stopping-tracepoint
33947 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
33948 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
33952 @itemx frames-created
33953 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
33954 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
33955 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
33956 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
33960 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
33961 remaining space. These fields are optional.
33964 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
33965 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
33966 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
33970 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
33971 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
33972 that the trace run will stop.
33975 The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
33976 optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
33980 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33982 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
33984 @subheading -trace-stop
33985 @findex -trace-stop
33987 @subsubheading Synopsis
33993 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
33994 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
33995 @samp{running} fields are not output.
33997 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33999 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
34002 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34003 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
34004 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
34008 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
34009 @findex -symbol-info-address
34011 @subsubheading Synopsis
34014 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
34017 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
34019 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34021 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
34023 @subsubheading Example
34027 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
34028 @findex -symbol-info-file
34030 @subsubheading Synopsis
34036 Show the file for the symbol.
34038 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34040 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
34041 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
34043 @subsubheading Example
34047 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
34048 @findex -symbol-info-function
34050 @subsubheading Synopsis
34053 -symbol-info-function
34056 Show which function the symbol lives in.
34058 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34060 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
34062 @subsubheading Example
34066 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
34067 @findex -symbol-info-line
34069 @subsubheading Synopsis
34075 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
34077 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34079 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
34080 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
34082 @subsubheading Example
34086 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
34087 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
34089 @subsubheading Synopsis
34092 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
34095 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
34097 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34099 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
34101 @subsubheading Example
34105 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
34106 @findex -symbol-list-functions
34108 @subsubheading Synopsis
34111 -symbol-list-functions
34114 List the functions in the executable.
34116 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34118 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
34119 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
34121 @subsubheading Example
34126 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
34127 @findex -symbol-list-lines
34129 @subsubheading Synopsis
34132 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
34135 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
34136 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
34137 ascending PC order.
34139 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34141 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
34143 @subsubheading Example
34146 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
34147 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
34153 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
34154 @findex -symbol-list-types
34156 @subsubheading Synopsis
34162 List all the type names.
34164 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34166 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
34167 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
34169 @subsubheading Example
34173 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
34174 @findex -symbol-list-variables
34176 @subsubheading Synopsis
34179 -symbol-list-variables
34182 List all the global and static variable names.
34184 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34186 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
34188 @subsubheading Example
34192 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
34193 @findex -symbol-locate
34195 @subsubheading Synopsis
34201 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34203 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
34205 @subsubheading Example
34209 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
34210 @findex -symbol-type
34212 @subsubheading Synopsis
34215 -symbol-type @var{variable}
34218 Show type of @var{variable}.
34220 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34222 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
34223 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
34225 @subsubheading Example
34230 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34231 @node GDB/MI File Commands
34232 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
34234 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
34235 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
34237 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
34238 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
34240 @subsubheading Synopsis
34243 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
34246 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
34247 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
34248 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
34249 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
34250 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
34253 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34255 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
34257 @subsubheading Example
34261 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34267 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
34268 @findex -file-exec-file
34270 @subsubheading Synopsis
34273 -file-exec-file @var{file}
34276 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
34277 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
34278 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
34279 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
34282 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34284 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
34286 @subsubheading Example
34290 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34297 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
34298 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
34300 @subsubheading Synopsis
34303 -file-list-exec-sections
34306 List the sections of the current executable file.
34308 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34310 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
34311 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
34312 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
34314 @subsubheading Example
34319 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
34320 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
34322 @subsubheading Synopsis
34325 -file-list-exec-source-file
34328 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
34329 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
34330 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
34331 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
34333 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34335 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
34337 @subsubheading Example
34341 123-file-list-exec-source-file
34342 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
34347 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
34348 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
34350 @subsubheading Synopsis
34353 -file-list-exec-source-files
34356 List the source files for the current executable.
34358 It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
34359 name) of a source file.
34361 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34363 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
34364 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
34366 @subsubheading Example
34369 -file-list-exec-source-files
34371 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
34372 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
34373 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
34378 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
34379 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
34381 @subsubheading Synopsis
34384 -file-list-shared-libraries
34387 List the shared libraries in the program.
34389 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34391 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
34393 @subsubheading Example
34397 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
34398 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
34400 @subsubheading Synopsis
34403 -file-list-symbol-files
34408 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34410 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
34412 @subsubheading Example
34417 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
34418 @findex -file-symbol-file
34420 @subsubheading Synopsis
34423 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
34426 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
34427 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
34428 produced, except for a completion notification.
34430 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34432 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
34434 @subsubheading Example
34438 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34444 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34445 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
34446 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
34448 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
34450 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
34452 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
34454 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
34456 @c @subheading -overlay-map
34458 @c @subheading -overlay-off
34460 @c @subheading -overlay-on
34462 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
34464 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34465 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
34466 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
34468 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
34470 @c @subheading -signal-handle
34472 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
34474 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
34478 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34479 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
34480 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
34483 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
34484 @findex -target-attach
34486 @subsubheading Synopsis
34489 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
34492 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
34493 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
34494 group, the id previously returned by
34495 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
34497 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34499 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
34501 @subsubheading Example
34505 =thread-created,id="1"
34506 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
34512 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
34513 @findex -target-compare-sections
34515 @subsubheading Synopsis
34518 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
34521 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
34522 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
34524 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34526 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
34528 @subsubheading Example
34533 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
34534 @findex -target-detach
34536 @subsubheading Synopsis
34539 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
34542 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
34543 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
34544 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
34546 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34548 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
34550 @subsubheading Example
34560 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
34561 @findex -target-disconnect
34563 @subsubheading Synopsis
34569 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
34570 generally not resumed.
34572 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34574 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
34576 @subsubheading Example
34586 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
34587 @findex -target-download
34589 @subsubheading Synopsis
34595 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
34596 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
34600 The name of the section.
34602 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
34604 The size of the section.
34606 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
34608 The size of the overall executable to download.
34612 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
34613 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
34615 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
34616 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
34620 The name of the section.
34622 The size of the section.
34624 The size of the overall executable to download.
34628 At the end, a summary is printed.
34630 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34632 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
34634 @subsubheading Example
34636 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
34637 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
34642 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
34643 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
34644 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
34645 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
34646 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
34647 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
34648 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
34649 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
34650 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
34651 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
34652 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
34653 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
34654 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
34655 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
34656 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
34657 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
34658 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
34659 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
34660 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
34661 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
34662 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
34663 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
34664 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
34665 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
34666 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
34667 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
34668 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
34669 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34670 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34671 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
34672 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
34673 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
34674 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
34675 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
34676 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
34677 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
34678 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
34679 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
34680 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
34681 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
34682 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
34683 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
34684 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
34691 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
34692 @findex -target-exec-status
34694 @subsubheading Synopsis
34697 -target-exec-status
34700 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
34701 not, for instance).
34703 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34705 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
34707 @subsubheading Example
34711 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
34712 @findex -target-list-available-targets
34714 @subsubheading Synopsis
34717 -target-list-available-targets
34720 List the possible targets to connect to.
34722 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34724 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
34726 @subsubheading Example
34730 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
34731 @findex -target-list-current-targets
34733 @subsubheading Synopsis
34736 -target-list-current-targets
34739 Describe the current target.
34741 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34743 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
34746 @subsubheading Example
34750 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
34751 @findex -target-list-parameters
34753 @subsubheading Synopsis
34756 -target-list-parameters
34762 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34766 @subsubheading Example
34770 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
34771 @findex -target-select
34773 @subsubheading Synopsis
34776 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
34779 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
34783 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
34784 @item @var{parameters}
34785 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
34786 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
34789 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
34790 which the target program is, in the following form:
34793 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
34794 args=[@var{arg list}]
34797 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34799 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
34801 @subsubheading Example
34805 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
34806 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
34810 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34811 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
34812 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
34815 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
34816 @findex -target-file-put
34818 @subsubheading Synopsis
34821 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
34824 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
34825 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
34827 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34829 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
34831 @subsubheading Example
34835 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
34841 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
34842 @findex -target-file-get
34844 @subsubheading Synopsis
34847 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
34850 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
34851 on the host system.
34853 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34855 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
34857 @subsubheading Example
34861 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
34867 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
34868 @findex -target-file-delete
34870 @subsubheading Synopsis
34873 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
34876 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
34878 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34880 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
34882 @subsubheading Example
34886 -target-file-delete remotefile
34892 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34893 @node GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands
34894 @section Ada Exceptions @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
34896 @subheading The @code{-info-ada-exceptions} Command
34897 @findex -info-ada-exceptions
34899 @subsubheading Synopsis
34902 -info-ada-exceptions [ @var{regexp}]
34905 List all Ada exceptions defined within the program being debugged.
34906 With a regular expression @var{regexp}, only those exceptions whose
34907 names match @var{regexp} are listed.
34909 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34911 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info exceptions}.
34913 @subsubheading Result
34915 The result is a table of Ada exceptions. The following columns are
34916 defined for each exception:
34920 The name of the exception.
34923 The address of the exception.
34927 @subsubheading Example
34930 -info-ada-exceptions aint
34931 ^done,ada-exceptions=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="2",
34932 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
34933 @{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="address",colhdr="Address"@}],
34934 body=[@{name="constraint_error",address="0x0000000000613da0"@},
34935 @{name="const.aint_global_e",address="0x0000000000613b00"@}]@}
34938 @subheading Catching Ada Exceptions
34940 The commands describing how to ask @value{GDBN} to stop when a program
34941 raises an exception are described at @ref{Ada Exception GDB/MI
34942 Catchpoint Commands}.
34945 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34946 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
34947 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
34949 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
34951 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
34954 @subsubheading Synopsis
34960 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
34962 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34964 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
34966 @subsubheading Example
34976 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
34977 @findex -exec-abort
34979 @subsubheading Synopsis
34985 Kill the inferior running program.
34987 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34989 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
34991 @subsubheading Example
34996 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
34999 @subsubheading Synopsis
35005 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
35006 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
35008 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35010 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
35012 @subsubheading Example
35022 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
35025 @subsubheading Synopsis
35031 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
35033 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35035 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
35037 @subsubheading Example
35046 @c @subheading -gdb-source
35049 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
35050 @findex -gdb-version
35052 @subsubheading Synopsis
35058 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
35060 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35062 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
35063 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
35065 @subsubheading Example
35067 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
35073 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
35074 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
35075 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
35076 ~ certain conditions.
35077 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
35078 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
35080 ~This GDB was configured as
35081 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
35086 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
35087 @findex -list-features
35089 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
35090 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
35091 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
35092 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
35093 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
35096 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
35097 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
35098 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
35104 (gdb) -list-features
35105 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
35108 The current list of features is:
35111 @item frozen-varobjs
35112 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
35113 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
35114 of @code{-varobj-create}.
35115 @item pending-breakpoints
35116 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
35119 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
35120 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
35121 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
35123 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
35124 @item data-read-memory-bytes
35125 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
35126 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
35127 @item breakpoint-notifications
35128 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
35129 CLI will be announced via async records.
35130 @item ada-task-info
35131 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
35132 @item ada-exceptions
35133 Indicates support for the following commands, all of them related to Ada
35134 exceptions: @code{-info-ada-exceptions}, @code{-catch-assert} and
35135 @code{-catch-exception}.
35136 @item language-option
35137 Indicates that all @sc{gdb/mi} commands accept the @option{--language}
35138 option (@pxref{Context management}).
35141 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
35142 @findex -list-target-features
35144 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
35145 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
35146 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
35147 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
35148 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
35149 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
35150 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
35154 (gdb) -list-target-features
35155 ^done,result=["async"]
35158 The current list of features is:
35162 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
35163 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
35164 while the target is running.
35167 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
35168 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
35172 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
35173 @findex -list-thread-groups
35175 @subheading Synopsis
35178 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
35181 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
35182 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
35183 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
35184 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
35185 top-level thread groups.
35187 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
35188 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
35189 available on the target.
35191 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
35192 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
35193 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
35194 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
35195 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
35196 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
35197 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
35198 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
35200 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
35201 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
35202 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
35203 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
35204 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
35205 @samp{threads} field.
35207 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
35208 the following caveats:
35212 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
35213 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
35214 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
35217 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
35218 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
35219 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
35220 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
35221 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
35222 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
35226 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
35227 have the following fields:
35231 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
35232 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
35233 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
35236 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
35240 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
35241 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
35244 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
35245 absent for an available thread group.
35248 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
35249 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
35250 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
35253 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
35254 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
35255 such information is not available.
35258 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
35259 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
35260 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
35264 @subheading Example
35268 -list-thread-groups
35269 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
35270 -list-thread-groups 17
35271 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
35272 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
35273 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
35274 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
35275 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
35276 -list-thread-groups --available
35277 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
35278 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
35279 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
35280 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
35281 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
35282 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
35283 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
35284 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
35285 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
35288 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
35291 @subsubheading Synopsis
35294 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
35297 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
35298 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
35299 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
35300 of data of that type.
35302 The types of information available depend on the target operating
35305 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35307 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
35309 @subsubheading Example
35311 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
35317 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
35318 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
35319 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
35320 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
35321 body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
35322 col2="Processes"@},
35323 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
35324 col2="Process groups"@},
35325 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
35327 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
35328 col2="File descriptors"@},
35329 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
35331 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
35332 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
35333 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
35334 col2="Semaphores"@},
35335 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
35336 col2="Message queues"@},
35337 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
35338 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
35341 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
35342 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
35343 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
35344 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
35345 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
35346 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
35347 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
35348 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
35350 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
35351 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
35355 (Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
35356 does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
35357 for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
35358 popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
35359 @code{info os} omits it.)
35361 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
35362 @findex -add-inferior
35364 @subheading Synopsis
35370 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
35371 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
35372 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
35373 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
35374 field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
35375 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
35377 @subheading Example
35382 ^done,inferior="i3"
35385 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
35386 @findex -interpreter-exec
35388 @subheading Synopsis
35391 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
35393 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
35395 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
35397 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35399 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
35401 @subheading Example
35405 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
35406 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
35407 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
35408 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
35413 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
35414 @findex -inferior-tty-set
35416 @subheading Synopsis
35419 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35422 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
35424 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35426 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
35428 @subheading Example
35432 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35437 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
35438 @findex -inferior-tty-show
35440 @subheading Synopsis
35446 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
35448 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35450 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
35452 @subheading Example
35456 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35460 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
35464 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
35465 @findex -enable-timings
35467 @subheading Synopsis
35470 -enable-timings [yes | no]
35473 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
35474 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
35475 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
35476 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
35478 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35482 @subheading Example
35490 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
35491 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
35492 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
35494 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
35502 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
35503 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
35504 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
35505 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
35510 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
35512 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
35513 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
35514 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
35515 relatively high level.
35517 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
35521 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
35525 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
35526 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
35527 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
35528 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
35529 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
35530 * Annotations for Running::
35531 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
35532 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
35535 @node Annotations Overview
35536 @section What is an Annotation?
35537 @cindex annotations
35539 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
35540 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
35541 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
35542 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
35543 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
35544 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
35545 cannot contain newline characters.
35547 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
35548 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
35549 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
35550 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
35551 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
35552 means those three characters as output.
35554 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
35555 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
35556 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
35557 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
35558 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
35559 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
35560 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
35561 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
35562 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
35565 @kindex set annotate
35566 @item set annotate @var{level}
35567 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
35568 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
35570 @item show annotate
35571 @kindex show annotate
35572 Show the current annotation level.
35575 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
35577 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
35580 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
35582 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
35583 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
35584 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
35585 under certain conditions.
35586 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
35587 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
35589 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
35600 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
35601 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
35602 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
35603 output from @value{GDBN}.
35605 @node Server Prefix
35606 @section The Server Prefix
35607 @cindex server prefix
35609 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
35610 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
35611 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
35612 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
35613 a transparent manner.
35615 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
35616 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
35617 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
35618 @code{print} command.
35620 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
35621 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
35624 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
35626 @cindex annotations for prompts
35627 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
35628 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
35631 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
35632 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
35633 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
35634 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
35635 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
35636 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
35637 features the following annotations:
35645 The input types are
35648 @findex pre-prompt annotation
35649 @findex prompt annotation
35650 @findex post-prompt annotation
35652 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
35654 @findex pre-commands annotation
35655 @findex commands annotation
35656 @findex post-commands annotation
35658 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
35659 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
35661 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
35662 @findex overload-choice annotation
35663 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
35664 @item overload-choice
35665 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
35667 @findex pre-query annotation
35668 @findex query annotation
35669 @findex post-query annotation
35671 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
35673 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
35674 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
35675 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
35676 @item prompt-for-continue
35677 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
35678 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
35679 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
35680 presence of annotations.
35685 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
35687 @findex quit annotation
35692 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
35694 @findex error annotation
35699 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
35701 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
35702 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
35703 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
35704 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
35705 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
35706 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
35709 @findex error-begin annotation
35710 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
35716 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
35719 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
35720 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
35721 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
35724 @section Invalidation Notices
35726 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
35727 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
35731 @findex frames-invalid annotation
35732 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
35734 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
35737 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
35738 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
35740 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
35741 deleted a breakpoint.
35744 @node Annotations for Running
35745 @section Running the Program
35746 @cindex annotations for running programs
35748 @findex starting annotation
35749 @findex stopping annotation
35750 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
35751 @code{step} or @code{continue},
35757 is output. When the program stops,
35763 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
35764 annotations describe how the program stopped.
35767 @findex exited annotation
35768 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
35769 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
35770 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
35772 @findex signalled annotation
35773 @findex signal-name annotation
35774 @findex signal-name-end annotation
35775 @findex signal-string annotation
35776 @findex signal-string-end annotation
35777 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
35778 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
35779 annotation continues:
35785 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
35789 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
35794 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
35795 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
35796 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
35797 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
35798 user's benefit and have no particular format.
35800 @findex signal annotation
35802 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
35803 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
35804 terminated with it.
35806 @findex breakpoint annotation
35807 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
35808 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
35810 @findex watchpoint annotation
35811 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
35812 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
35815 @node Source Annotations
35816 @section Displaying Source
35817 @cindex annotations for source display
35819 @findex source annotation
35820 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
35823 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
35826 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
35827 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
35828 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
35829 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
35830 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
35831 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
35832 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
35833 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
35834 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
35835 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
35836 depend on the language).
35838 @node JIT Interface
35839 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
35840 @cindex just-in-time compilation
35841 @cindex JIT compilation interface
35843 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
35844 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
35845 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
35846 performance while maintaining platform independence.
35848 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
35849 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
35850 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
35851 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
35852 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
35853 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
35855 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
35856 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
35857 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
35858 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
35861 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
35862 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
35863 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
35864 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
35865 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
35866 out about additional code.
35869 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
35870 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
35871 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
35872 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
35876 @section JIT Declarations
35878 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
35879 implement the interface:
35889 struct jit_code_entry
35891 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
35892 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
35893 const char *symfile_addr;
35894 uint64_t symfile_size;
35897 struct jit_descriptor
35900 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
35901 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
35902 uint32_t action_flag;
35903 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
35904 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
35907 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
35908 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
35910 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
35911 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
35912 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
35915 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
35916 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
35917 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
35919 @node Registering Code
35920 @section Registering Code
35922 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
35926 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
35927 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
35930 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
35934 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
35937 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
35940 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
35941 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
35944 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
35945 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
35946 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
35947 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
35949 @node Unregistering Code
35950 @section Unregistering Code
35952 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
35956 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
35959 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
35962 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
35963 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
35966 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
35967 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
35969 @node Custom Debug Info
35970 @section Custom Debug Info
35971 @cindex custom JIT debug info
35972 @cindex JIT debug info reader
35974 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
35975 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
35976 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
35977 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
35978 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
35979 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
35980 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
35981 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
35982 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
35984 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
35985 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
35986 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
35987 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
35988 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
35989 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
35993 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
35994 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
35997 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
35998 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
35999 @kindex jit-reader-load
36000 @kindex jit-reader-unload
36002 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
36003 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
36006 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
36007 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}. @var{reader} is a shared
36008 object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
36009 the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
36010 pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
36011 system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
36012 @file{/usr/local/lib}).
36014 Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
36015 reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
36016 reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
36017 the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
36018 @code{jit-reader-load}.
36020 @item jit-reader-unload
36021 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
36025 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
36026 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
36027 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
36029 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
36030 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
36032 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
36033 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
36034 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
36035 the system include directory.
36037 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
36038 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
36039 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
36041 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
36042 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
36044 @findex gdb_init_reader
36046 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
36049 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
36051 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
36052 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
36053 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
36054 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
36055 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
36056 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
36059 struct gdb_reader_funcs
36061 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
36062 int reader_version;
36064 /* For use by the reader. */
36067 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
36068 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
36069 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
36070 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
36074 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
36075 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
36077 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
36078 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
36079 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
36080 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
36081 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
36082 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
36083 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
36084 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
36085 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
36086 target's address space.
36088 @node In-Process Agent
36089 @chapter In-Process Agent
36090 @cindex debugging agent
36091 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
36092 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
36093 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
36094 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
36095 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
36096 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
36097 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
36098 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
36099 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
36100 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
36101 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
36102 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
36103 behavior without interrupting it.
36105 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
36106 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
36107 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
36108 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
36109 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
36110 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
36111 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
36112 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
36113 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
36115 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
36116 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
36117 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
36118 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
36120 @anchor{Control Agent}
36121 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
36122 debugging with the following commands:
36125 @kindex set agent on
36127 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
36128 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
36129 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
36130 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
36131 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
36132 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
36134 @kindex set agent off
36135 @item set agent off
36136 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
36137 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
36141 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
36142 the in-process agent.
36146 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
36149 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
36150 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
36151 @cindex in-process agent protocol
36153 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
36154 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
36155 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
36156 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
36157 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
36158 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
36159 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
36160 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
36161 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
36164 * IPA Protocol Objects::
36165 * IPA Protocol Commands::
36168 @node IPA Protocol Objects
36169 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
36170 @cindex ipa protocol objects
36172 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
36173 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
36175 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
36176 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
36177 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
36178 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
36182 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
36183 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
36185 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
36186 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
36190 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
36194 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
36195 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
36196 @anchor{agent expression object}
36198 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
36199 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
36200 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
36201 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
36203 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
36204 @anchor{tracepoint object}
36208 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
36211 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
36212 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
36213 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
36214 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
36215 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
36216 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
36217 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36218 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
36219 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
36220 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
36221 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
36222 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
36223 memory address for collecting.
36224 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
36225 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36226 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
36227 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36228 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
36229 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36230 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
36231 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
36232 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
36233 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
36234 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
36235 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
36236 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
36237 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
36238 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
36239 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
36240 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
36241 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
36242 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
36243 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
36244 @ref{agent expression object}
36245 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
36246 @ref{agent expression object}
36247 @item actions @tab variable
36248 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
36251 @node IPA Protocol Commands
36252 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
36253 @cindex ipa protocol commands
36255 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
36256 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
36260 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
36261 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
36262 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
36263 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
36268 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
36269 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
36270 @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
36271 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
36272 @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
36273 @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
36280 Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
36281 is about to kill inferiors.
36289 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
36290 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
36297 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
36298 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
36302 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
36303 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
36304 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
36306 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
36308 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
36309 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
36310 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
36311 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
36313 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
36314 information that enables us to fix the bug.
36317 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
36318 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
36322 @section Have You Found a Bug?
36323 @cindex bug criteria
36325 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
36328 @cindex fatal signal
36329 @cindex debugger crash
36330 @cindex crash of debugger
36332 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
36333 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
36335 @cindex error on valid input
36337 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
36338 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
36339 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
36341 @cindex invalid input
36343 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
36344 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
36345 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
36346 for traditional practice''.
36349 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
36350 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
36353 @node Bug Reporting
36354 @section How to Report Bugs
36355 @cindex bug reports
36356 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
36358 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
36359 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
36360 contact that organization first.
36362 You can find contact information for many support companies and
36363 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
36365 @c should add a web page ref...
36368 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
36369 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
36370 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
36371 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
36372 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
36375 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
36376 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
36377 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
36380 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
36381 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
36382 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
36383 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
36384 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
36385 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
36386 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
36387 bug reports to the mailing list.
36389 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
36390 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
36391 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
36395 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
36396 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
36397 fact or leave it out, state it!
36399 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
36400 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
36401 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
36402 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
36403 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
36404 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
36405 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
36406 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
36407 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
36409 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
36410 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
36411 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
36414 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
36415 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
36416 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
36419 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
36423 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
36424 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
36427 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
36428 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
36431 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
36435 The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
36436 @value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
36437 @option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
36438 @code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
36441 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
36442 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
36445 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
36446 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
36447 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
36448 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
36452 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
36453 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
36454 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
36455 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
36457 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
36458 and then we might not encounter the bug.
36461 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
36465 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
36466 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
36468 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
36469 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
36470 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
36471 a chance to make a mistake.
36473 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
36474 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
36475 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
36476 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
36477 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
36478 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
36479 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
36480 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
36483 @cindex recording a session script
36484 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
36485 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
36486 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
36487 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
36489 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
36490 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
36493 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
36494 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
36495 it by context, not by line number.
36497 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
36498 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
36502 Here are some things that are not necessary:
36506 A description of the envelope of the bug.
36508 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
36509 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
36510 changes will not affect it.
36512 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
36513 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
36514 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
36515 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
36517 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
36518 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
36519 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
36520 less time, and so on.
36522 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
36523 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
36526 A patch for the bug.
36528 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
36529 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
36530 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
36531 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
36533 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
36534 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
36535 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
36536 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
36538 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
36539 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
36540 help us to understand.
36543 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
36545 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
36546 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
36549 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
36550 @c and consists of the two following files:
36553 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
36554 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
36555 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
36556 @include rluser.texi
36557 @include hsuser.texi
36561 @appendix In Memoriam
36563 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
36568 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
36569 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
36570 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
36572 @item Michael Snyder
36573 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
36574 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
36575 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
36576 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
36579 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
36580 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
36582 @node Formatting Documentation
36583 @appendix Formatting Documentation
36585 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
36586 @cindex reference card
36587 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
36588 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
36589 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
36590 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
36591 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
36592 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
36594 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
36595 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
36601 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
36602 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
36603 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
36604 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
36605 your @sc{dvi} output program.
36607 @cindex documentation
36609 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
36610 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
36611 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
36612 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
36613 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
36614 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
36616 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
36617 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
36618 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
36619 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
36620 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
36621 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
36622 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
36623 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
36625 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
36626 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
36629 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
36630 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
36631 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
36638 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
36639 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
36640 Texinfo definitions file.
36642 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
36643 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
36644 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
36645 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
36646 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
36647 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
36648 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
36650 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
36651 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
36652 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
36653 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
36654 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
36657 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
36658 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
36659 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
36660 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
36666 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
36668 @node Installing GDB
36669 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
36670 @cindex installation
36673 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
36674 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
36675 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
36676 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
36677 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
36678 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
36682 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
36683 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
36685 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
36686 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
36688 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
36690 @item ISO C90 compiler
36691 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
36692 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
36696 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
36700 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
36701 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
36702 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
36703 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
36704 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
36705 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
36711 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
36713 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
36715 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
36716 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
36718 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
36720 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
36722 Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format})
36726 @cindex compressed debug sections
36727 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
36728 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
36729 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
36730 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
36731 information in such binaries.
36733 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
36734 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
36735 @url{http://zlib.net}.
36738 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
36739 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
36740 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
36741 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
36743 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
36744 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
36745 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
36746 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
36748 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
36749 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
36750 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
36752 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
36753 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
36754 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
36755 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
36756 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
36757 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
36758 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
36759 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
36762 @node Running Configure
36763 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
36764 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
36765 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
36766 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
36767 build the @code{gdb} program.
36769 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
36770 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
36771 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
36772 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
36775 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
36776 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
36777 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
36779 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
36780 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
36783 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
36784 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
36786 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
36787 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
36789 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
36790 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
36792 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
36793 @sc{gnu} include files
36795 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
36796 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
36798 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
36799 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
36801 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
36802 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
36804 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
36805 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
36807 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
36808 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
36811 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
36812 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
36813 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
36815 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
36816 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
36817 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
36823 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36824 ./configure @var{host}
36829 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
36830 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
36831 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
36832 correct value by examining your system.)
36834 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
36835 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
36836 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
36837 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
36840 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
36841 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
36842 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
36845 sh configure @var{host}
36848 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
36849 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
36850 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
36852 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
36853 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
36855 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
36856 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
36857 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
36858 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
36859 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
36860 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
36861 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
36862 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
36863 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36865 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
36866 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
36867 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
36868 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
36869 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
36871 @node Separate Objdir
36872 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
36874 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
36875 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
36876 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
36877 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
36878 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
36879 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
36880 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
36881 program specified there.
36883 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
36884 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
36885 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
36886 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
36887 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
36888 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
36890 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
36891 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
36895 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36898 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
36903 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
36904 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
36905 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
36906 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
36907 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
36908 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
36910 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
36911 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
36912 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
36913 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
36914 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36916 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
36917 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
36918 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
36919 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
36920 You specify a cross-debugging target by
36921 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
36923 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
36924 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
36925 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
36927 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
36928 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
36929 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
36930 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
36931 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
36933 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
36934 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
36935 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
36939 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
36941 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
36942 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
36943 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
36944 of information in the following pattern:
36947 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
36950 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
36951 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
36952 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
36954 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
36955 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
36956 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
36957 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
36958 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
36959 abbreviations---for example:
36962 % sh config.sub i386-linux
36964 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
36965 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
36966 % sh config.sub hp9k700
36968 % sh config.sub sun4
36969 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
36970 % sh config.sub sun3
36971 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
36972 % sh config.sub i986v
36973 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
36977 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
36978 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
36980 @node Configure Options
36981 @section @file{configure} Options
36983 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
36984 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
36985 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
36986 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
36989 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
36990 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
36991 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
36992 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
36993 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
36994 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
36999 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
37000 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
37005 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
37007 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
37008 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
37011 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
37012 Configure the source to install programs under directory
37015 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
37017 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
37018 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
37019 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
37020 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
37021 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
37022 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
37023 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
37024 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
37025 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
37026 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
37029 @item --norecursion
37030 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
37031 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
37033 @item --target=@var{target}
37034 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
37035 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
37036 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
37038 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
37040 @item @var{host} @dots{}
37041 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
37043 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
37046 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
37047 needed for special purposes only.
37049 @node System-wide configuration
37050 @section System-wide configuration and settings
37051 @cindex system-wide init file
37053 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
37054 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
37055 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
37057 Here is the corresponding configure option:
37060 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
37061 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
37065 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
37066 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
37070 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
37071 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
37072 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
37073 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
37074 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
37075 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
37078 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
37079 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
37080 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
37081 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
37082 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
37085 If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
37086 @option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
37087 data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
37088 time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
37089 system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
37090 @option{--data-directory} command-line option.
37091 Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
37092 initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
37093 started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
37097 * System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
37100 @node System-wide Configuration Scripts
37101 @subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
37102 @cindex system-wide configuration scripts
37104 The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
37105 (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
37106 a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
37107 automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
37108 configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
37109 should be able to source them by hand as needed.
37111 The following scripts are currently available:
37114 @item @file{elinos.py}
37116 @cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
37117 This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
37118 It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
37119 ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
37120 shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
37121 and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
37123 @item @file{wrs-linux.py}
37124 @pindex wrs-linux.py
37125 @cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
37126 This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
37127 Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
37128 the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
37132 @node Maintenance Commands
37133 @appendix Maintenance Commands
37134 @cindex maintenance commands
37135 @cindex internal commands
37137 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
37138 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
37139 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
37140 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
37141 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
37144 @kindex maint agent
37145 @kindex maint agent-eval
37146 @item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
37147 @itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
37148 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
37149 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
37150 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
37151 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
37152 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
37153 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
37154 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
37155 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
37156 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
37157 addition and return the sum.
37158 If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
37159 If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
37161 @kindex maint agent-printf
37162 @item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
37163 Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
37164 into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
37165 This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
37166 printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
37168 @kindex maint info breakpoints
37169 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
37170 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
37171 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
37172 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
37173 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
37178 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
37181 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
37184 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
37185 @code{longjmp} calls.
37187 @item longjmp resume
37188 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
37191 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
37194 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
37197 Shared library events.
37201 @kindex maint info bfds
37202 @item maint info bfds
37203 This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
37204 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
37206 @kindex set displaced-stepping
37207 @kindex show displaced-stepping
37208 @cindex displaced stepping support
37209 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
37210 @item set displaced-stepping
37211 @itemx show displaced-stepping
37212 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
37213 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
37214 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
37215 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
37216 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
37219 @item set displaced-stepping on
37220 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
37221 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
37223 @item set displaced-stepping off
37224 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
37225 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
37227 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
37228 @item set displaced-stepping auto
37229 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
37230 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
37231 architecture supports displaced stepping.
37234 @kindex maint check-psymtabs
37235 @item maint check-psymtabs
37236 Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
37237 Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
37239 @kindex maint check-symtabs
37240 @item maint check-symtabs
37241 Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
37243 @kindex maint expand-symtabs
37244 @item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
37245 Expand symbol tables.
37246 If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
37247 names matching @var{regexp}.
37249 @kindex maint cplus first_component
37250 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
37251 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
37253 @kindex maint cplus namespace
37254 @item maint cplus namespace
37255 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
37257 @kindex maint demangle
37258 @item maint demangle @var{name}
37259 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
37261 @kindex maint deprecate
37262 @kindex maint undeprecate
37263 @cindex deprecated commands
37264 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
37265 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
37266 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
37267 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
37268 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
37269 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
37270 the replacement as part of the warning.
37272 @kindex maint dump-me
37273 @item maint dump-me
37274 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
37275 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
37276 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
37277 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
37279 @kindex maint internal-error
37280 @kindex maint internal-warning
37281 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
37282 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
37283 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
37284 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
37285 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
37286 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
37287 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
37288 @value{GDBN} session.
37290 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
37291 used as the text of the error or warning message.
37293 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
37296 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
37297 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
37298 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
37299 debugging may prove unreliable.
37300 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
37301 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
37305 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
37306 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
37308 @kindex maint set internal-error
37309 @kindex maint show internal-error
37310 @kindex maint set internal-warning
37311 @kindex maint show internal-warning
37312 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
37313 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
37314 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
37315 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
37316 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
37317 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
37318 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
37319 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
37320 described in the table below.
37324 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
37325 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
37328 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
37329 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
37332 @kindex maint packet
37333 @item maint packet @var{text}
37334 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
37335 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
37336 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
37337 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
37340 @kindex maint print architecture
37341 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37342 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
37343 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
37345 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
37346 @item maint print c-tdesc
37347 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
37348 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
37349 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
37351 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
37352 @item maint print dummy-frames
37353 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
37356 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
37358 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
37359 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
37361 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
37363 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
37364 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
37365 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
37366 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
37370 Takes an optional file parameter.
37372 @kindex maint print registers
37373 @kindex maint print raw-registers
37374 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
37375 @kindex maint print register-groups
37376 @kindex maint print remote-registers
37377 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37378 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37379 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37380 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37381 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37382 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
37384 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
37385 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
37386 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
37387 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
37388 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
37389 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
37390 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
37391 and offsets in the `G' packets.
37393 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
37394 write the information.
37396 @kindex maint print reggroups
37397 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37398 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
37399 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
37402 The register groups info looks like this:
37405 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
37418 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
37420 @kindex maint print objfiles
37421 @cindex info for known object files
37422 @item maint print objfiles @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
37423 Print a dump of all known object files.
37424 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print object files whose names
37425 match @var{regexp}. For each object file, this command prints its name,
37426 address in memory, and all of its psymtabs and symtabs.
37428 @kindex maint print section-scripts
37429 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
37430 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
37431 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
37432 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
37433 matching @var{regexp}.
37434 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
37435 and the full path if known.
37436 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
37438 @kindex maint print statistics
37439 @cindex bcache statistics
37440 @item maint print statistics
37441 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
37442 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
37443 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
37444 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
37445 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
37446 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
37447 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
37448 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
37449 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
37450 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
37453 @kindex maint print target-stack
37454 @cindex target stack description
37455 @item maint print target-stack
37456 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
37457 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
37458 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
37459 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
37460 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
37463 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
37464 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
37466 @kindex maint print type
37467 @cindex type chain of a data type
37468 @item maint print type @var{expr}
37469 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
37470 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
37471 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
37472 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
37473 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
37475 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
37476 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
37477 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
37478 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
37479 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
37482 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
37483 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
37484 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
37485 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
37486 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
37487 always see the disassembly form.
37489 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
37492 (gdb) info addr argc
37493 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
37497 For more information on these expressions, see
37498 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
37500 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
37501 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
37502 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
37503 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
37504 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
37506 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
37507 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
37508 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
37509 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
37510 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
37511 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
37512 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
37513 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
37514 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
37516 @kindex maint set profile
37517 @kindex maint show profile
37518 @cindex profiling GDB
37519 @item maint set profile
37520 @itemx maint show profile
37521 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
37523 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
37524 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
37525 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
37526 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
37527 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
37528 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
37529 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
37531 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
37532 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
37534 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
37535 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
37536 @cindex hardware debug registers
37537 @item maint set show-debug-regs
37538 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
37539 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
37540 registers. Use @code{on} to enable, @code{off} to disable. If
37541 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
37542 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
37543 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
37545 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
37546 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
37547 @item maint set show-all-tib
37548 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
37549 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
37550 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
37553 @kindex maint set per-command
37554 @kindex maint show per-command
37555 @item maint set per-command
37556 @itemx maint show per-command
37557 @cindex resources used by commands
37559 @value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
37560 This is useful in debugging performance problems.
37563 @item maint set per-command space [on|off]
37564 @itemx maint show per-command space
37565 Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
37566 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
37567 took, following the command's own output.
37568 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37569 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37571 @item maint set per-command time [on|off]
37572 @itemx maint show per-command time
37573 Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
37575 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
37576 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
37577 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
37578 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
37579 CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
37580 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
37581 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
37582 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
37583 spent by the program been debugged.
37584 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37585 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37587 @item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
37588 @itemx maint show per-command symtab
37589 Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
37591 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
37595 number of symbol tables
37597 number of primary symbol tables
37599 number of blocks in the blockvector
37603 @kindex maint space
37604 @cindex memory used by commands
37605 @item maint space @var{value}
37606 An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
37607 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37610 @cindex time of command execution
37611 @item maint time @var{value}
37612 An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
37613 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37615 @kindex maint translate-address
37616 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
37617 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
37618 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
37619 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
37620 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
37621 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
37622 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
37624 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
37625 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
37626 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
37630 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
37631 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
37634 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
37635 @kindex set watchdog
37636 @cindex watchdog timer
37637 @cindex timeout for commands
37638 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
37639 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
37640 reports and error and the command is aborted.
37642 @item show watchdog
37643 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
37646 @node Remote Protocol
37647 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
37652 * Stop Reply Packets::
37653 * General Query Packets::
37654 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
37655 * Tracepoint Packets::
37656 * Host I/O Packets::
37658 * Notification Packets::
37659 * Remote Non-Stop::
37660 * Packet Acknowledgment::
37662 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
37663 * Library List Format::
37664 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
37665 * Memory Map Format::
37666 * Thread List Format::
37667 * Traceframe Info Format::
37668 * Branch Trace Format::
37674 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
37675 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
37676 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
37677 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
37679 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
37680 transmitted and received data, respectively.
37682 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
37683 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
37684 @cindex remote serial protocol
37685 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
37686 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
37687 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
37688 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
37689 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
37692 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37696 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
37698 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
37699 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
37700 eight bit unsigned checksum).
37702 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
37703 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
37706 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37709 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
37711 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
37712 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
37713 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
37715 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
37716 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
37717 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
37721 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37726 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
37727 once a connection is established.
37728 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
37730 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
37731 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
37732 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
37733 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
37734 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
37735 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
37736 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
37738 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
37739 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
37742 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
37743 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
37744 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
37745 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
37747 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
37748 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
37749 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
37751 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
37752 @anchor{Binary Data}
37753 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
37754 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
37755 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
37756 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
37757 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
37760 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
37761 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
37762 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
37763 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
37764 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
37765 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
37766 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
37767 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
37768 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
37771 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
37772 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
37773 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
37774 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
37775 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
37776 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
37777 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
37778 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
37779 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
37780 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
37781 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
37784 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
37785 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
37786 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
37787 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
37790 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
37791 error number. That number is not well defined.
37793 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
37794 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
37795 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
37796 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
37799 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
37800 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
37801 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
37802 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
37803 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
37804 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
37809 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
37810 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
37811 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
37812 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
37814 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
37815 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
37816 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
37817 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
37818 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
37819 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
37820 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
37821 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
37822 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
37825 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
37826 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
37827 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
37828 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
37829 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
37830 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
37833 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
37834 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
37835 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
37836 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
37837 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
37838 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
37839 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
37840 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
37841 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
37842 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
37843 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
37844 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
37845 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
37847 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
37848 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
37849 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
37852 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
37853 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
37855 Here are the packet descriptions.
37860 @cindex @samp{!} packet
37861 @anchor{extended mode}
37862 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
37863 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
37869 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
37873 @cindex @samp{?} packet
37874 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
37875 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
37876 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
37879 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37881 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
37882 @cindex @samp{A} packet
37883 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
37884 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
37885 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
37890 The arguments were set.
37896 @cindex @samp{b} packet
37897 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
37898 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
37900 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
37901 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
37902 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
37904 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
37905 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
37906 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
37907 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
37908 of view, nothing actually happened.}
37910 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
37911 @cindex @samp{B} packet
37912 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
37913 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
37915 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
37916 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
37918 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
37921 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
37922 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
37925 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37927 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
37930 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
37931 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
37934 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37936 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
37937 @cindex @samp{c} packet
37938 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
37939 resume at current address.
37941 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37945 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37947 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
37948 @cindex @samp{C} packet
37949 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
37950 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
37952 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37956 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37959 @cindex @samp{d} packet
37962 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
37963 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
37967 @cindex @samp{D} packet
37968 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
37969 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
37970 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
37972 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
37973 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
37974 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
37975 big-endian hex string.
37985 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
37986 @cindex @samp{F} packet
37987 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
37988 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
37989 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
37992 @anchor{read registers packet}
37993 @cindex @samp{g} packet
37994 Read general registers.
37998 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
37999 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
38000 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
38001 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
38002 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
38003 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
38004 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
38006 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
38007 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
38008 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
38009 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
38010 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
38011 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
38012 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
38013 have been collected, and both have zero value:
38017 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
38024 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
38025 @cindex @samp{G} packet
38026 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
38027 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
38037 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
38038 @cindex @samp{H} packet
38039 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
38040 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
38041 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
38042 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
38043 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
38044 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
38045 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38056 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
38057 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
38058 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
38059 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
38060 @c described. For example:
38062 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
38063 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
38064 @c otherwise returns current registers.
38066 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
38067 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
38068 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
38070 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
38071 @anchor{cycle step packet}
38072 @cindex @samp{i} packet
38073 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
38074 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
38075 step starting at that address.
38078 @cindex @samp{I} packet
38079 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
38083 @cindex @samp{k} packet
38086 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
38087 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
38090 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
38091 @cindex @samp{m} packet
38092 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
38093 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
38095 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
38096 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
38097 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
38098 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
38099 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
38100 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
38101 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
38102 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
38106 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
38107 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
38108 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
38109 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
38114 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38115 @cindex @samp{M} packet
38116 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
38117 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
38118 hexadecimal number.
38125 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
38130 @cindex @samp{p} packet
38131 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
38132 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
38133 register value is encoded.
38137 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
38138 the register's value
38142 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
38145 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
38146 @anchor{write register packet}
38147 @cindex @samp{P} packet
38148 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
38149 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
38150 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
38160 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
38161 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
38162 @cindex @samp{q} packet
38163 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
38164 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
38165 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
38168 @cindex @samp{r} packet
38169 Reset the entire system.
38171 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
38174 @cindex @samp{R} packet
38175 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
38176 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38178 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
38180 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
38181 @cindex @samp{s} packet
38182 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
38183 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
38185 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
38189 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38191 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
38192 @anchor{step with signal packet}
38193 @cindex @samp{S} packet
38194 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
38195 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
38197 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
38201 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38203 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
38204 @cindex @samp{t} packet
38205 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
38206 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
38207 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
38209 @item T @var{thread-id}
38210 @cindex @samp{T} packet
38211 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
38216 thread is still alive
38222 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
38223 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
38225 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
38226 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
38227 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
38228 The process ID is a
38229 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
38230 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
38231 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
38233 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
38234 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
38235 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
38236 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
38237 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
38238 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
38239 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
38240 @c stopping or restarting threads.
38242 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38248 @item @r{Any stop packet}
38249 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
38251 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
38254 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
38255 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
38256 @anchor{vCont packet}
38257 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
38258 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
38259 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
38260 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
38261 in their current state in non-stop mode.
38262 Specifying multiple
38263 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
38264 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38266 Currently supported actions are:
38272 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
38276 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
38279 @item r @var{start},@var{end}
38280 Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
38281 addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
38282 The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
38283 of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
38284 a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
38286 If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
38287 becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
38288 single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
38289 jumps to @var{start}).
38291 (A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
38292 the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
38293 in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
38297 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
38298 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
38299 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
38301 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
38302 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
38303 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
38304 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
38305 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
38306 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
38307 as an implementation detail.
38309 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
38310 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
38311 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
38312 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
38316 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38319 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
38320 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
38324 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
38325 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
38326 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
38328 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
38331 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
38332 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
38333 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
38334 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
38336 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
38337 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
38338 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
38339 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
38340 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
38341 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
38342 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
38343 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
38344 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
38345 packet is received.
38355 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38356 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
38357 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
38358 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
38359 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
38360 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
38361 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
38362 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
38363 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
38364 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
38365 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
38366 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
38374 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
38380 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
38381 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
38382 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
38383 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
38384 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
38385 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
38386 request is completed.
38388 @item vKill;@var{pid}
38389 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
38390 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
38391 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
38392 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
38393 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
38403 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
38404 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
38405 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
38406 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
38407 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
38408 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
38411 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
38413 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38419 @item @r{Any stop packet}
38420 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
38424 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
38425 @xref{Notification Packets}.
38427 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38429 @cindex @samp{X} packet
38430 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
38431 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
38432 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
38442 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
38443 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
38444 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
38445 @cindex @samp{z} packet
38446 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
38447 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
38448 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
38450 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
38453 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
38454 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
38455 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
38456 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
38457 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
38458 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
38460 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38461 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
38462 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
38463 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
38464 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
38465 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
38467 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
38468 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
38469 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
38470 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
38471 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
38472 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
38473 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
38474 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
38475 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
38476 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
38478 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
38479 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
38483 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38484 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
38485 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
38489 The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
38490 run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
38491 The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
38492 nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
38493 continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
38494 Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
38495 separators. Each expression has the following form:
38499 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38500 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
38501 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
38505 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
38507 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
38508 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
38509 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
38510 target, is not defined.}
38522 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38523 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
38524 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
38525 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
38526 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
38527 address @var{addr}.
38529 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
38530 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
38531 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
38533 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
38546 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38547 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38548 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
38549 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
38550 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38551 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38563 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38564 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38565 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
38566 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
38567 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38568 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38580 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38581 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38582 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
38583 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
38584 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38585 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38599 @node Stop Reply Packets
38600 @section Stop Reply Packets
38601 @cindex stop reply packets
38603 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
38604 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
38605 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
38606 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
38607 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
38608 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
38609 @value{GDBN} source code.
38611 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
38612 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
38613 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
38619 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38620 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
38621 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
38623 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
38624 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
38625 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38626 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
38627 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
38628 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
38629 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
38630 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
38634 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
38635 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
38636 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
38637 two-digit hex number.
38640 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
38641 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38644 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
38645 the core on which the stop event was detected.
38648 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
38649 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
38650 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
38651 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
38654 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
38655 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
38659 The currently defined stop reasons are:
38665 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
38668 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
38670 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
38671 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
38672 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
38674 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
38676 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
38677 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
38678 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
38679 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
38680 for more information.
38684 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38685 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
38686 applicable to certain targets.
38688 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
38689 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
38690 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
38691 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38694 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38695 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
38697 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
38698 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
38699 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
38700 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38702 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
38703 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
38704 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
38705 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
38706 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
38708 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
38709 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
38710 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
38711 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
38712 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
38715 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
38716 this very system call.
38718 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
38719 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
38720 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
38721 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
38722 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
38723 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
38727 @node General Query Packets
38728 @section General Query Packets
38729 @cindex remote query requests
38731 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
38732 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
38733 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
38734 sending information to and from the stub.
38736 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
38737 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
38738 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
38739 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
38744 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
38746 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
38749 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
38750 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
38751 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
38752 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
38755 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
38756 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
38757 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
38758 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
38759 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
38760 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
38761 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
38762 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
38763 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
38764 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
38767 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
38768 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
38769 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
38770 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
38771 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
38773 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
38779 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
38780 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
38782 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
38783 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
38784 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
38785 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
38786 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
38787 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
38788 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
38789 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
38790 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
38791 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
38792 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
38795 @cindex current thread, remote request
38796 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
38797 Return the current thread ID.
38801 @item QC @var{thread-id}
38802 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
38803 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38804 @item @r{(anything else)}
38805 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
38808 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
38809 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
38810 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
38811 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
38812 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
38813 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
38814 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
38816 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
38817 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
38818 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
38819 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
38820 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
38821 detect trailing zeros.
38826 An error (such as memory fault)
38827 @item C @var{crc32}
38828 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
38831 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
38832 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
38833 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
38834 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
38835 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
38836 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
38837 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
38838 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
38839 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
38840 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
38843 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38848 The request succeeded.
38851 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38854 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
38858 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38859 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38860 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
38861 address space randomization.
38864 @itemx qsThreadInfo
38865 @cindex list active threads, remote request
38866 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
38867 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
38868 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
38869 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
38870 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
38871 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
38872 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
38873 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
38875 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
38879 @item m @var{thread-id}
38881 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
38882 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
38884 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
38887 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
38888 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
38889 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
38890 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
38891 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
38892 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
38895 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
38896 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
38897 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
38898 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
38899 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
38901 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
38902 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
38904 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
38905 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
38906 information associated with the variable.)
38908 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
38909 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
38910 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
38911 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
38912 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
38913 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
38917 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
38918 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
38919 local storage requested.
38922 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38925 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
38928 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
38929 @cindex get thread information block address
38930 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
38931 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
38933 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
38937 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
38938 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
38939 thread information block.
38942 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
38943 address could not be retrieved.
38946 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
38949 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
38950 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
38951 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
38952 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
38953 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
38954 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
38955 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
38957 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
38961 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
38962 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
38963 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
38964 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
38965 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
38966 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
38967 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
38971 @cindex section offsets, remote request
38972 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
38973 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
38978 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
38979 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
38980 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
38981 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
38982 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
38983 segments by the supplied offsets.
38985 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
38986 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
38987 to the @code{Bss} section.}
38989 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
38990 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
38991 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
38992 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
38993 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
38994 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
38995 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
38996 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
38997 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
39000 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
39001 @cindex thread information, remote request
39002 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
39003 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
39004 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
39005 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
39007 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
39010 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
39014 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
39015 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
39017 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
39018 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
39023 The request succeeded.
39026 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39029 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
39033 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39034 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39035 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
39036 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
39038 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
39039 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
39040 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
39041 @anchor{QPassSignals}
39042 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
39043 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
39044 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
39045 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
39046 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
39047 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
39048 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
39049 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
39050 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
39055 The request succeeded.
39058 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39061 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
39065 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
39066 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
39067 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39068 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39070 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
39071 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
39072 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
39073 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
39074 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
39075 Others should be silently discarded.
39077 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
39078 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
39079 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
39080 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
39081 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
39082 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
39085 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
39086 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
39088 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
39089 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
39090 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
39091 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
39092 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
39097 The request succeeded.
39100 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39103 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
39107 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
39108 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
39109 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39110 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39112 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
39113 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
39114 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
39115 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
39116 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
39117 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
39118 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
39119 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
39120 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
39125 A command response with no output.
39127 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
39129 Indicate a badly formed request.
39131 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
39134 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
39135 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
39136 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
39139 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
39140 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
39142 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
39144 @cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
39145 @anchor{qSearch memory}
39146 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
39147 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
39148 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
39153 The pattern was not found.
39155 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
39157 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
39159 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
39162 @item QStartNoAckMode
39163 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
39164 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
39165 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
39166 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
39171 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
39172 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
39173 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
39174 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
39176 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
39179 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
39180 @cindex supported packets, remote query
39181 @cindex features of the remote protocol
39182 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
39183 @anchor{qSupported}
39184 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
39185 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
39186 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
39187 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
39188 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
39189 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
39190 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
39191 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
39192 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
39193 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
39194 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
39195 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
39196 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
39197 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
39201 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
39202 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
39203 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
39206 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
39207 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
39210 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
39211 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
39215 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
39216 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
39217 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
39218 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
39220 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
39221 need an associated value.
39223 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
39225 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
39226 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
39227 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
39228 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
39231 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
39232 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
39233 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
39234 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
39235 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
39237 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
39242 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
39243 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
39244 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
39245 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
39246 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
39249 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
39250 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
39251 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
39255 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
39256 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
39257 instruction reply packet}).
39260 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
39261 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
39262 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
39263 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
39264 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
39265 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
39266 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
39267 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
39268 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
39269 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
39270 all the features it supports.
39272 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
39273 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
39275 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
39276 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
39277 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
39280 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
39281 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
39282 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
39283 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
39285 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
39286 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
39287 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
39288 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
39289 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
39291 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
39293 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
39294 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
39295 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
39297 @tab Value Required
39301 @item @samp{PacketSize}
39306 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
39311 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
39316 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
39321 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
39326 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
39331 @item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
39336 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
39341 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
39346 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
39351 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
39356 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
39361 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
39366 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
39371 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39376 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
39381 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
39386 @item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
39391 @item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
39396 @item @samp{QNonStop}
39401 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
39406 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
39411 @item @samp{multiprocess}
39416 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
39421 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
39426 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
39431 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
39436 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
39441 @item @samp{QAgent}
39446 @item @samp{QAllow}
39451 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
39456 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
39461 @item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
39466 @item @samp{tracenz}
39471 @item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
39478 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
39481 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
39482 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
39483 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
39484 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
39485 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
39486 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
39487 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
39488 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
39489 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
39490 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
39492 @item qXfer:auxv:read
39493 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
39494 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
39496 @item qXfer:btrace:read
39497 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
39498 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
39500 @item qXfer:features:read
39501 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
39502 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
39504 @item qXfer:libraries:read
39505 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
39506 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
39508 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
39509 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
39510 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
39512 @item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
39513 The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
39514 @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
39515 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
39517 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
39518 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
39519 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
39521 @item qXfer:sdata:read
39522 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
39523 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
39525 @item qXfer:spu:read
39526 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
39527 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
39529 @item qXfer:spu:write
39530 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
39531 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
39533 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
39534 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
39535 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
39537 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
39538 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
39539 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
39541 @item qXfer:threads:read
39542 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
39543 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
39545 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
39546 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39547 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
39549 @item qXfer:uib:read
39550 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
39551 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
39553 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
39554 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
39555 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
39558 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
39559 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
39562 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
39563 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
39565 @item QStartNoAckMode
39566 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
39567 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
39570 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
39571 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
39572 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
39573 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
39574 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
39575 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
39576 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
39577 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
39578 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
39579 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
39580 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
39582 @item qXfer:osdata:read
39583 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
39584 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
39586 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
39587 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
39588 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
39589 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
39591 @item ConditionalTracepoints
39592 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
39593 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
39595 @item ReverseContinue
39596 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
39600 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
39603 @item TracepointSource
39604 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
39605 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
39608 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
39611 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
39613 @item QDisableRandomization
39614 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
39616 @item StaticTracepoint
39617 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
39618 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
39620 @item InstallInTrace
39621 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
39622 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
39624 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
39625 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
39626 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
39627 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
39629 @item QTBuffer:size
39630 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
39631 packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
39634 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
39635 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
39636 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
39638 @item BreakpointCommands
39639 @cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
39640 The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
39641 rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
39644 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
39647 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
39652 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
39653 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
39654 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
39655 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
39660 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39661 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39662 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
39663 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
39664 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
39668 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
39669 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
39671 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
39672 target has previously requested.
39674 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
39675 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
39681 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39682 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39683 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
39684 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
39685 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
39690 @itemx QTDisconnected
39697 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
39699 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39701 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
39702 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
39703 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
39704 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
39705 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
39706 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
39707 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
39708 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
39709 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
39710 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
39711 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
39715 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
39716 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
39717 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
39718 the thread's attributes.
39721 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
39722 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
39723 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
39742 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39744 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39745 @cindex read special object, remote request
39746 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
39747 @anchor{qXfer read}
39748 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
39749 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
39750 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
39751 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
39752 additional details about what data to access.
39754 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39755 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39756 formats, listed below.
39759 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39760 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
39761 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
39762 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
39764 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39765 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39767 @item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39768 @anchor{qXfer btrace read}
39770 Return a description of the current branch trace.
39771 @xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
39772 packet may have one of the following values:
39776 Returns all available branch trace.
39779 Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
39780 the last read request.
39783 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
39784 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39786 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39787 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
39788 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
39789 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
39790 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
39792 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39793 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39795 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39796 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
39797 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
39798 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39799 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39801 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
39802 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
39803 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
39805 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39806 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39808 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39809 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
39810 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
39811 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
39812 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
39813 stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
39814 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39815 (@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
39817 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
39818 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
39820 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39821 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39823 If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
39824 packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
39825 contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
39826 arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
39829 @item start=@var{address}
39830 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39831 link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
39832 then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
39833 chosen as the starting point.
39835 @item prev=@var{address}
39836 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39837 link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
39838 specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
39839 the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
39840 exists prior to the starting point.
39844 Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
39847 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39848 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
39849 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
39850 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39851 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39853 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39854 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39856 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39857 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
39859 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
39860 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
39861 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
39864 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39865 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39866 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39868 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39869 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
39870 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
39871 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39872 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39874 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39875 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39876 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39878 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39879 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
39880 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
39881 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
39882 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
39883 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
39884 in that context to be accessed.
39886 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39887 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39888 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39890 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39891 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
39892 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
39893 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39894 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39896 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39897 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39899 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39900 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
39902 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
39903 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
39904 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39906 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39907 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39909 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39910 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
39912 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
39913 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
39915 This packet is not probed by default.
39917 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39918 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
39919 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
39920 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
39921 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
39923 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39924 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39926 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39927 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
39928 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
39929 @xref{Operating System Information}.
39936 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
39937 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
39938 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
39939 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
39940 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
39944 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
39945 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
39946 than the @var{length} in the request.
39949 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
39950 There is no more data to be read.
39953 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
39956 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
39957 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
39960 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
39961 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
39964 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39965 @cindex write data into object, remote request
39966 @anchor{qXfer write}
39967 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
39968 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
39969 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
39970 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
39971 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
39974 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39975 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39976 formats, listed below.
39979 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39980 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
39981 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
39982 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39983 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
39985 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39986 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39987 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39989 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39990 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
39991 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
39992 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
39993 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
39994 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
39995 in that context to be accessed.
39997 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39998 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40004 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
40005 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
40008 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
40011 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
40012 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
40015 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
40016 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
40019 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
40020 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
40021 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
40022 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
40023 must respond with an empty packet.
40025 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
40026 @cindex query attached, remote request
40027 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
40028 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
40029 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
40030 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
40031 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
40032 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
40033 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
40035 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
40036 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
40037 the @code{quit} command.
40042 The remote server attached to an existing process.
40044 The remote server created a new process.
40046 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
40050 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using bts tracing.
40055 Branch tracing has been enabled.
40057 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
40061 Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
40066 Branch tracing has been disabled.
40068 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
40073 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
40074 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
40076 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
40077 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
40078 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
40081 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
40082 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
40085 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
40086 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
40089 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
40092 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
40093 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
40094 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
40096 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
40101 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
40104 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
40107 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
40111 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
40112 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
40115 * MIPS Register packet Format::
40116 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
40119 @node MIPS Register packet Format
40120 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
40121 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
40123 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
40124 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
40125 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
40126 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
40127 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
40128 most-significant -- least-significant.
40133 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
40134 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
40135 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
40138 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
40139 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
40144 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
40145 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
40146 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
40148 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
40153 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
40156 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
40159 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
40162 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
40166 @node Tracepoint Packets
40167 @section Tracepoint Packets
40168 @cindex tracepoint packets
40169 @cindex packets, tracepoint
40171 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
40172 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
40176 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
40177 @cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
40178 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
40179 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
40180 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
40181 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
40182 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
40183 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
40184 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
40185 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
40186 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
40187 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
40188 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
40194 The packet was understood and carried out.
40196 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
40198 The packet was not recognized.
40201 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
40202 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
40203 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
40204 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
40205 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
40206 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
40207 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
40209 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
40210 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
40211 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
40212 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
40213 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
40214 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
40215 tracepoint actions.
40217 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
40218 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
40224 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
40225 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
40226 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
40227 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
40228 not fit in a 32-bit word.
40230 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
40231 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
40232 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
40233 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
40234 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
40235 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
40236 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
40238 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
40239 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
40240 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
40241 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
40242 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
40243 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
40248 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
40249 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
40250 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
40251 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
40252 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
40253 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
40254 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
40255 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
40260 The packet was understood and carried out.
40262 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
40264 The packet was not recognized.
40267 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
40268 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
40269 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
40270 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
40271 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
40272 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
40273 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
40274 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
40276 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
40277 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
40278 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
40279 fit in a single packet.
40280 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
40281 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
40283 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
40284 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
40285 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
40286 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
40288 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
40289 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
40292 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
40293 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
40294 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
40295 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
40296 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
40297 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
40298 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
40301 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
40302 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
40303 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
40304 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
40305 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
40306 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
40307 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
40308 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
40309 mentioned in expressions.
40311 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
40312 @cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
40313 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
40314 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
40315 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
40317 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
40318 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
40319 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
40320 one of the following forms:
40324 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
40325 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
40326 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
40329 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
40330 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
40334 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
40335 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40336 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
40337 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
40339 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
40340 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40341 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
40342 is a hexadecimal number.
40344 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
40345 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40346 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
40347 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
40350 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
40351 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
40352 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
40355 @cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
40356 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
40357 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
40358 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
40359 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
40360 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
40361 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
40368 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
40370 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
40371 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
40372 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
40374 An error has occurred.
40376 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
40380 @cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
40381 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
40382 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
40383 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
40384 instruction reply packet}).
40387 @cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
40388 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
40390 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
40392 @cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
40393 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
40394 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
40395 of data from it will resume.
40397 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
40399 @cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
40400 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
40401 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
40402 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
40405 @cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
40406 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
40408 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
40409 @cindex @samp{QTro} packet
40410 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
40411 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
40412 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
40414 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
40415 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
40416 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
40417 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
40419 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
40420 @cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
40421 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
40422 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
40423 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
40424 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
40427 @cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
40428 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
40430 The reply has the form:
40434 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
40435 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
40436 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
40437 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
40441 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
40442 explanations as one of the optional fields:
40447 No trace has been run yet.
40449 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
40450 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
40451 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
40452 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
40453 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
40456 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
40458 @item tdisconnected:0
40459 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
40461 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
40462 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
40464 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
40465 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
40466 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
40467 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
40468 @var{text} is hex encoded.
40471 The trace stopped for some other reason.
40475 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
40476 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
40477 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
40478 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
40483 @item tframes:@var{n}
40484 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
40486 @item tcreated:@var{n}
40487 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
40488 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
40490 @item tsize:@var{n}
40491 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
40493 @item tfree:@var{n}
40494 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
40496 @item circular:@var{n}
40497 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
40498 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
40499 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
40502 @item disconn:@var{n}
40503 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
40504 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
40505 that the trace run will stop.
40509 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
40510 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
40511 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
40512 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
40513 address @var{addr}.
40517 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
40518 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
40519 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
40520 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
40521 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
40525 @item qTV:@var{var}
40526 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
40527 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
40528 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
40533 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
40534 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
40535 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
40536 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
40537 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
40538 program is running.
40541 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
40542 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
40547 @cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
40549 @cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
40550 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
40551 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
40552 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
40553 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
40554 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
40557 @cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
40559 @cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
40560 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
40561 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
40562 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
40563 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
40564 trace state variables.
40570 @cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
40571 @cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
40572 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
40573 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
40574 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
40575 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
40579 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
40581 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
40582 a comma-separated list of markers
40584 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
40586 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
40588 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
40592 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
40593 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
40595 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
40596 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
40597 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
40598 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
40601 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
40603 @cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
40604 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
40605 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
40606 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
40607 tracepoint markers.
40609 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
40610 @cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
40611 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
40612 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
40613 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
40614 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
40616 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
40617 @cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
40618 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
40619 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
40620 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
40621 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
40622 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
40623 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
40626 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
40627 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
40628 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
40630 @item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
40631 @anchor{QTBuffer-size}
40632 @cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
40633 This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
40634 @var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
40635 use whatever size it prefers.
40637 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
40638 @cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
40639 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
40640 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
40641 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
40645 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
40646 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
40647 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
40648 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
40649 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
40650 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
40651 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
40652 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
40653 it had executed in the original location.
40655 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
40656 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
40657 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
40658 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
40659 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
40660 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
40661 format of the request is:
40664 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
40666 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
40667 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
40668 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
40669 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
40670 memory starting at @var{to}.
40675 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
40676 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
40677 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
40679 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
40680 relocating the instruction.
40683 @node Host I/O Packets
40684 @section Host I/O Packets
40685 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
40686 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
40688 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
40689 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
40690 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
40691 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
40692 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
40693 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
40694 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
40695 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
40696 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
40697 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
40699 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
40700 its arguments. They have this format:
40704 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
40705 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
40706 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
40707 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
40708 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
40709 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
40710 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
40711 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
40712 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
40716 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
40720 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
40721 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
40722 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
40723 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
40724 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
40725 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
40726 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
40727 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
40728 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
40732 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
40736 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
40739 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
40740 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
40741 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
40742 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
40743 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
40744 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
40745 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
40747 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
40748 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
40749 -1 if an error occurs.
40751 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
40752 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
40753 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
40754 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
40755 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
40756 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
40757 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
40758 @var{count} was zero.
40760 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40761 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40762 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40763 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40764 some characters were escaped.
40766 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
40767 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
40768 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
40769 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
40770 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
40771 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
40772 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
40775 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
40776 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
40777 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
40779 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
40780 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
40781 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
40783 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40784 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40785 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40786 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40787 some characters were escaped.
40792 @section Interrupts
40793 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
40795 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
40796 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
40797 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
40798 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
40800 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
40801 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
40802 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
40803 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
40804 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
40806 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
40807 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
40808 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
40809 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
40810 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
40811 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
40812 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
40813 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
40815 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
40816 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
40817 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
40819 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
40820 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
40821 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
40822 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
40823 currently-executing threads and processes.
40824 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
40825 running program, it should send one of the stop
40826 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
40827 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
40828 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
40829 Interrupts received while the
40830 program is stopped are discarded.
40832 @node Notification Packets
40833 @section Notification Packets
40834 @cindex notification packets
40835 @cindex packets, notification
40837 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
40838 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
40839 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
40840 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
40841 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
40842 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
40845 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
40846 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
40847 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
40848 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
40849 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
40850 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
40851 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
40853 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
40854 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
40856 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
40857 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
40858 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
40859 not they understand it.
40861 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
40862 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
40863 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
40864 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
40867 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
40868 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
40869 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
40870 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
40871 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
40873 Each notification is comprised of three parts:
40875 @item @var{name}:@var{event}
40876 The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
40877 exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
40878 carrying the specific information about the notification.
40879 @var{name} is the name of the notification.
40881 The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
40882 acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
40885 The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
40886 @value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
40888 The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
40889 at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
40890 appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
40891 acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
40892 additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
40893 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
40894 synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
40895 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
40896 the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
40897 @value{GDBN} may not have received it.
40899 Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
40900 otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
40901 expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
40902 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
40903 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
40904 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
40906 After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
40907 sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
40908 stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
40909 @value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
40910 stub first, which the stub should process normally.
40912 Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
40913 events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
40914 normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
40915 packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
40916 other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
40919 If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
40920 @var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
40921 At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
40922 and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
40923 won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
40924 received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
40925 a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
40926 the process shall be repeated.
40928 The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
40931 <- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
40934 <- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
40936 <- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
40941 The following notifications are defined:
40942 @multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
40951 @tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
40952 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
40953 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
40955 @tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
40959 @node Remote Non-Stop
40960 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
40962 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
40963 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
40964 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
40965 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40967 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
40968 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
40969 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
40970 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
40971 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
40972 probe the target state after a mode change.
40974 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
40975 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
40976 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
40977 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
40978 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
40979 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
40980 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
40981 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
40982 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
40983 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
40984 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
40986 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
40987 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
40988 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
40989 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
40990 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
40991 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
40992 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
40993 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
40994 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
40995 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
40996 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
40999 @node Packet Acknowledgment
41000 @section Packet Acknowledgment
41002 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
41003 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
41004 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
41005 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
41006 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
41007 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
41008 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
41010 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
41011 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
41012 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
41013 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
41014 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
41016 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
41017 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
41018 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
41019 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
41021 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
41022 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
41023 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
41024 @pxref{qSupported}.
41025 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
41026 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
41027 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
41028 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
41029 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
41030 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
41031 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
41033 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
41034 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
41035 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
41037 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
41038 new connection is established,
41039 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
41040 for the current connection, once disabled.
41045 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
41046 does not get any direct output:
41051 @emph{target restarts}
41054 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
41058 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
41061 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
41066 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
41070 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
41074 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
41075 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
41076 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
41079 * File-I/O Overview::
41080 * Protocol Basics::
41081 * The F Request Packet::
41082 * The F Reply Packet::
41083 * The Ctrl-C Message::
41085 * List of Supported Calls::
41086 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
41088 * File-I/O Examples::
41091 @node File-I/O Overview
41092 @subsection File-I/O Overview
41093 @cindex file-i/o overview
41095 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
41096 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
41097 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
41098 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
41099 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
41100 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
41102 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
41103 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
41104 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
41105 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
41106 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
41108 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
41109 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
41110 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
41111 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
41112 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
41113 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
41114 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
41116 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
41117 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
41118 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
41119 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
41120 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
41123 (@value{GDBP}) continue
41124 <- target requests 'system call X'
41125 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
41126 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
41127 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
41128 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
41131 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
41132 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
41133 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
41134 system are not supported by this protocol.
41136 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
41138 @node Protocol Basics
41139 @subsection Protocol Basics
41140 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
41142 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
41143 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
41144 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
41145 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
41146 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
41147 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
41148 to call the appropriate host system call:
41152 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
41155 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
41156 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
41157 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
41158 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
41162 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
41166 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
41167 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
41168 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
41169 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
41173 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
41174 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
41177 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
41180 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
41183 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
41184 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
41185 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
41186 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
41191 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
41192 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
41199 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
41206 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
41207 the latest continue or step action.
41209 @node The F Request Packet
41210 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
41211 @cindex file-i/o request packet
41212 @cindex @code{F} request packet
41214 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
41217 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
41219 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
41220 This is just the name of the function.
41222 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
41223 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
41224 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
41225 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
41226 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
41227 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
41228 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
41234 @node The F Reply Packet
41235 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
41236 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
41237 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
41239 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
41243 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
41245 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
41247 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
41249 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
41251 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
41252 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
41253 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
41260 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
41267 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
41272 @node The Ctrl-C Message
41273 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
41274 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
41276 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
41277 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
41278 the target should behave as if it had
41279 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
41280 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
41281 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
41284 It's important for the target to know in which
41285 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
41289 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
41292 The system call on the host has been finished.
41296 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
41297 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
41298 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
41299 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
41300 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
41301 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
41303 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
41304 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
41305 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
41306 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
41307 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
41308 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
41309 or the full action has been completed.
41312 @subsection Console I/O
41313 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
41315 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
41316 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
41317 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
41318 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
41319 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
41320 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
41325 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
41327 system call is treated as finished.
41330 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
41334 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
41335 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
41339 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
41340 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
41341 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
41342 is stopped at the user's request.
41345 @node List of Supported Calls
41346 @subsection List of Supported Calls
41347 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
41364 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
41365 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
41370 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
41371 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
41375 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
41378 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
41382 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
41383 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
41387 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
41388 an error and open() fails.
41391 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
41392 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
41393 truncated to zero length.
41396 The file is opened in append mode.
41399 The file is opened for reading only.
41402 The file is opened for writing only.
41405 The file is opened for reading and writing.
41409 Other bits are silently ignored.
41413 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
41417 User has read permission.
41420 User has write permission.
41423 Group has read permission.
41426 Group has write permission.
41429 Others have read permission.
41432 Others have write permission.
41436 Other bits are silently ignored.
41439 @item Return value:
41440 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
41447 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
41450 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
41453 The requested access is not allowed.
41456 @var{pathname} was too long.
41459 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41462 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
41465 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
41466 write access was requested.
41469 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
41472 No space on device to create the file.
41475 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
41478 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
41482 The call was interrupted by the user.
41488 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
41489 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
41498 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
41500 @item Return value:
41501 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
41507 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
41510 The call was interrupted by the user.
41516 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
41517 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
41522 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
41526 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
41528 @item Return value:
41529 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
41530 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
41531 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
41537 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
41541 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41544 The call was interrupted by the user.
41550 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
41551 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
41556 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
41560 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
41562 @item Return value:
41563 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
41564 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
41571 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
41575 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41578 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
41579 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
41582 No space on device to write the data.
41585 The call was interrupted by the user.
41591 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
41592 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
41597 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
41601 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
41603 @var{flag} is one of:
41607 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
41610 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
41614 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
41618 @item Return value:
41619 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
41620 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
41621 value of -1 is returned.
41627 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
41630 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
41633 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
41636 The call was interrupted by the user.
41642 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
41643 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
41648 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
41652 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
41654 @item Return value:
41655 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41661 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
41665 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
41668 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
41672 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
41676 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
41677 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
41678 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
41681 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
41684 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41688 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
41691 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
41694 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41697 The device containing the file has no room for the new
41701 The call was interrupted by the user.
41707 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
41708 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
41713 int unlink(const char *pathname);
41717 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
41719 @item Return value:
41720 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41726 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41729 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
41732 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
41733 being used by another process.
41736 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41739 @var{pathname} was too long.
41742 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41745 A component of the path is not a directory.
41748 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41751 The call was interrupted by the user.
41757 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
41758 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
41759 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
41764 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
41765 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
41769 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
41770 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
41772 @item Return value:
41773 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41779 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
41782 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
41783 path is an empty string.
41786 A component of the path is not a directory.
41789 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41792 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41795 @var{pathname} was too long.
41798 The call was interrupted by the user.
41804 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
41805 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
41810 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
41814 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
41816 @item Return value:
41817 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
41823 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
41826 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41832 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
41833 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
41838 int isatty(int fd);
41842 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
41844 @item Return value:
41845 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
41851 The call was interrupted by the user.
41856 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
41857 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
41858 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
41859 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
41864 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
41865 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
41870 int system(const char *command);
41874 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
41876 @item Return value:
41877 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
41878 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
41879 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
41880 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
41881 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
41882 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
41883 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
41889 The call was interrupted by the user.
41894 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
41895 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
41896 the host is simplified before it's returned
41897 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
41898 is discarded, and the return value consists
41899 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
41901 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
41902 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
41903 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
41906 @item set remote system-call-allowed
41907 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
41908 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
41909 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
41911 @item show remote system-call-allowed
41912 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
41913 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
41917 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
41918 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
41919 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
41922 * Integral Datatypes::
41924 * Memory Transfer::
41929 @node Integral Datatypes
41930 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
41931 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
41933 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
41934 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
41935 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
41937 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
41938 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
41940 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
41942 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
41943 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
41945 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
41947 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
41948 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
41951 @node Pointer Values
41952 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
41953 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
41955 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
41956 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
41957 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
41958 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
41965 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
41966 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
41967 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
41968 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
41974 @node Memory Transfer
41975 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
41976 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
41978 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
41979 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
41980 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
41981 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
41982 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
41983 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
41984 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
41988 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
41989 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
41991 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
41992 is defined as follows:
41996 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
41997 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
41998 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
41999 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
42000 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
42001 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
42002 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
42003 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
42004 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
42005 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
42006 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
42007 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
42008 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
42012 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
42013 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
42014 structure is of size 64 bytes.
42016 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
42022 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
42025 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
42028 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
42029 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
42034 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
42039 These values have a host and file system dependent
42040 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
42041 support exact timing values.
42044 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
42045 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
42048 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
42049 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
42050 get truncated on the target.
42052 @node struct timeval
42053 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
42054 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
42056 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
42057 is defined as follows:
42061 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
42062 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
42066 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
42067 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
42068 structure is of size 8 bytes.
42071 @subsection Constants
42072 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
42074 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
42075 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
42076 values before and after the call as needed.
42087 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
42088 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
42090 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
42102 @node mode_t Values
42103 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
42104 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
42106 All values are given in octal representation.
42123 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
42124 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
42126 All values are given in decimal representation.
42151 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
42152 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
42155 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
42156 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
42165 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
42166 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
42168 All values are given in decimal representation.
42171 INT_MIN -2147483648
42173 UINT_MAX 4294967295
42174 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
42175 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
42176 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
42179 @node File-I/O Examples
42180 @subsection File-I/O Examples
42181 @cindex file-i/o examples
42183 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
42184 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
42187 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
42188 @emph{request memory read from target}
42191 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
42195 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
42196 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
42199 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42200 @emph{request memory write to target}
42201 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
42202 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
42206 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
42207 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
42210 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42214 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
42218 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42223 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
42227 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42228 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
42232 @node Library List Format
42233 @section Library List Format
42234 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
42236 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
42237 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
42238 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
42239 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
42240 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
42241 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
42242 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
42243 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
42244 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
42247 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
42248 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
42249 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
42250 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
42252 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
42253 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
42254 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
42255 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
42256 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
42257 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
42259 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42260 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
42262 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
42263 offset, looks like this:
42267 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
42268 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
42273 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
42274 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
42278 <library name="sharedlib.o">
42279 <section address="0x10000000"/>
42280 <section address="0x20000000"/>
42281 <section address="0x30000000"/>
42286 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
42289 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
42290 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
42291 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42292 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
42293 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42294 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
42295 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
42296 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
42297 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
42300 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
42301 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
42302 section for each library.
42304 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
42305 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
42306 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
42308 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
42309 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
42310 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
42311 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
42313 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
42314 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
42315 target, the following parameters are reported:
42319 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
42320 @code{struct link_map}.
42322 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
42323 (Thread Local Storage) access.
42325 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
42326 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
42327 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
42328 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
42330 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
42333 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
42334 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
42335 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
42337 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42338 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
42340 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
42344 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
42345 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
42347 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
42349 </library-list-svr>
42352 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
42355 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
42356 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
42357 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42358 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
42359 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
42360 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42361 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
42362 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
42363 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
42366 @node Memory Map Format
42367 @section Memory Map Format
42368 @cindex memory map format
42370 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
42371 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
42374 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
42375 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
42376 lists memory regions.
42378 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42379 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
42381 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42384 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42385 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
42386 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
42387 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
42393 Each region can be either:
42398 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
42402 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42407 A region of read-only memory:
42410 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42415 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
42419 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
42420 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
42426 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
42427 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
42428 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
42430 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
42433 <!-- ................................................... -->
42434 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
42435 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
42436 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
42437 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
42438 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
42439 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
42440 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
42441 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
42442 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
42443 and its type, or device. -->
42444 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
42445 start CDATA #REQUIRED
42446 length CDATA #REQUIRED
42447 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
42448 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
42449 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
42450 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42453 @node Thread List Format
42454 @section Thread List Format
42455 @cindex thread list format
42457 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
42458 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
42459 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
42460 the following structure:
42463 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42465 <thread id="id" core="0">
42466 ... description ...
42471 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
42472 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
42473 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
42474 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
42475 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
42477 @node Traceframe Info Format
42478 @section Traceframe Info Format
42479 @cindex traceframe info format
42481 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
42482 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
42483 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
42484 collected in a traceframe.
42486 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
42487 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
42489 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42490 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
42492 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42495 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42496 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
42497 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
42498 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
42504 Each traceframe block can be either:
42509 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
42510 @var{length} bytes from there:
42513 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42517 A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
42521 <tvar id="@var{number}"/>
42526 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
42529 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
42530 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42532 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
42533 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
42534 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
42536 <!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
42539 @node Branch Trace Format
42540 @section Branch Trace Format
42541 @cindex branch trace format
42543 In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
42544 @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
42545 represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
42546 branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
42548 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
42549 (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
42551 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42552 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
42554 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42557 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42559 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
42560 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
42569 A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
42570 and ending at @var{end}:
42573 <block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
42578 The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
42581 <!ELEMENT btrace (block)* >
42582 <!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42584 <!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
42585 <!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
42586 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
42589 @include agentexpr.texi
42591 @node Target Descriptions
42592 @appendix Target Descriptions
42593 @cindex target descriptions
42595 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
42596 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
42597 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
42598 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
42599 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
42600 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
42601 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
42605 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
42606 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
42608 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
42609 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
42610 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
42612 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
42613 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
42614 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
42617 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
42618 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
42619 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
42620 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
42621 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
42623 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42624 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
42627 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
42628 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
42629 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
42631 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
42634 @node Retrieving Descriptions
42635 @section Retrieving Descriptions
42637 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
42638 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
42639 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
42640 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
42641 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
42642 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
42643 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
42646 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
42647 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
42648 specify a file are:
42651 @cindex set tdesc filename
42652 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
42653 Read the target description from @var{path}.
42655 @cindex unset tdesc filename
42656 @item unset tdesc filename
42657 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
42658 will use the description supplied by the current target.
42660 @cindex show tdesc filename
42661 @item show tdesc filename
42662 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
42666 @node Target Description Format
42667 @section Target Description Format
42668 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
42670 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
42671 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
42672 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
42673 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
42674 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
42675 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
42676 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
42678 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
42679 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
42680 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
42681 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
42682 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
42684 Here is a simple target description:
42687 <target version="1.0">
42688 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
42693 This minimal description only says that the target uses
42694 the x86-64 architecture.
42696 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
42697 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
42698 are explained further below.
42701 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42702 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
42703 <target version="1.0">
42704 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
42705 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
42706 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
42707 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
42712 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
42713 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
42714 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
42715 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
42716 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
42717 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
42718 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
42719 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
42720 the version mismatch.
42722 @subsection Inclusion
42723 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
42726 @cindex <xi:include>
42729 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
42730 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
42731 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
42732 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
42733 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
42736 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
42740 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
42741 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
42742 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
42743 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
42744 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
42745 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
42746 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
42747 original description.
42749 @subsection Architecture
42750 @cindex <architecture>
42752 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
42755 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
42758 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42759 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42762 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
42764 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42765 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42767 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
42770 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
42773 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
42774 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
42776 @subsection Compatible Architecture
42777 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
42779 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42780 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42782 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
42785 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
42788 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42789 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42791 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
42792 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
42793 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
42794 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
42795 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
42796 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
42797 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
42800 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
42801 <compatible>spu</compatible>
42804 @subsection Features
42807 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
42808 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
42809 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
42813 <feature name="@var{name}">
42814 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
42820 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
42821 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
42822 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
42823 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
42827 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
42828 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
42829 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
42830 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
42831 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
42833 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
42834 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
42835 Types must be defined before they are used.
42838 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
42839 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
42840 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
42844 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
42848 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
42849 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
42850 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
42851 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
42854 <union id="@var{id}">
42855 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42861 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
42862 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
42863 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
42864 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
42865 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
42866 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
42867 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
42868 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
42871 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42872 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
42877 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
42878 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
42881 <struct id="@var{id}">
42882 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42888 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
42889 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
42890 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
42891 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
42895 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42896 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
42901 @subsection Registers
42904 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
42907 <reg name="@var{name}"
42908 bitsize="@var{size}"
42909 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
42910 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
42911 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
42912 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
42916 The components are as follows:
42921 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
42924 The register's size, in bits.
42927 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
42928 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
42929 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
42930 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
42931 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
42932 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
42933 in order of increasing register number.
42936 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
42937 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
42938 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
42939 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
42943 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
42944 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
42945 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
42946 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
42947 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
42948 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
42951 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
42952 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
42953 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
42954 in @code{info registers}.
42958 @node Predefined Target Types
42959 @section Predefined Target Types
42960 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
42962 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
42963 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
42964 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
42965 types. The currently supported types are:
42974 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42981 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42985 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
42986 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
42987 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
42988 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
42989 may be marked as data pointers.
42992 Single precision IEEE floating point.
42995 Double precision IEEE floating point.
42998 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
43001 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
43004 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
43007 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
43011 @node Standard Target Features
43012 @section Standard Target Features
43013 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
43015 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
43016 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
43017 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
43018 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
43019 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
43020 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
43021 can recognize them.
43023 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
43024 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
43025 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
43026 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
43027 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
43028 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
43029 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
43030 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
43032 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
43033 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
43034 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
43036 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
43037 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
43038 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
43039 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
43041 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
43042 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
43043 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
43046 * AArch64 Features::
43051 * Nios II Features::
43052 * PowerPC Features::
43053 * S/390 and System z Features::
43058 @node AArch64 Features
43059 @subsection AArch64 Features
43060 @cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
43062 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
43063 targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
43064 @samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
43066 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
43067 it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
43071 @subsection ARM Features
43072 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
43074 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
43076 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
43077 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
43079 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
43080 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
43081 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
43084 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
43085 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
43087 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
43088 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
43089 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
43090 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
43092 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
43093 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
43094 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
43095 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
43096 halves of the double-precision registers.
43098 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
43099 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
43100 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
43101 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
43102 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
43103 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
43105 @node i386 Features
43106 @subsection i386 Features
43107 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
43109 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
43110 targets. It should describe the following registers:
43114 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
43116 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
43118 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
43119 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
43121 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
43123 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
43124 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
43127 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
43129 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
43130 describe registers:
43134 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
43136 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
43141 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
43142 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
43143 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
43147 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
43149 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
43152 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
43153 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
43155 @node MIPS Features
43156 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
43157 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
43159 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
43160 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
43161 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
43164 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
43165 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
43166 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43168 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
43169 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
43170 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
43171 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43173 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
43174 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
43175 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
43176 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43178 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
43179 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
43180 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
43182 @node M68K Features
43183 @subsection M68K Features
43184 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
43187 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
43188 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
43189 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
43190 One of those features must be always present.
43191 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
43192 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
43193 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
43194 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
43196 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
43197 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
43198 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
43202 @node Nios II Features
43203 @subsection Nios II Features
43204 @cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
43206 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
43207 targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
43208 @samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
43209 @samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
43212 @node PowerPC Features
43213 @subsection PowerPC Features
43214 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
43216 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
43217 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
43218 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
43219 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43221 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
43222 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
43224 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
43225 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
43228 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
43229 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
43230 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
43231 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
43232 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
43233 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
43235 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
43236 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
43237 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
43238 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
43239 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
43240 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
43243 @node S/390 and System z Features
43244 @subsection S/390 and System z Features
43245 @cindex target descriptions, S/390 features
43246 @cindex target descriptions, System z features
43248 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.core} feature is required for S/390 and
43249 System z targets. It should contain the PSW and the 16 general
43250 registers. In particular, System z targets should provide the 64-bit
43251 registers @samp{pswm}, @samp{pswa}, and @samp{r0} through @samp{r15}.
43252 S/390 targets should provide the 32-bit versions of these registers.
43253 A System z target that runs in 31-bit addressing mode should provide
43254 32-bit versions of @samp{pswm} and @samp{pswa}, as well as the general
43255 register's upper halves @samp{r0h} through @samp{r15h}, and their
43256 lower halves @samp{r0l} through @samp{r15l}.
43258 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.fpr} feature is required. It should
43259 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f15}, and
43262 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.acr} feature is required. It should
43263 contain the 32-bit registers @samp{acr0} through @samp{acr15}.
43265 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.linux} feature is optional. It should
43266 contain the register @samp{orig_r2}, which is 64-bit wide on System z
43267 targets and 32-bit otherwise. In addition, the feature may contain
43268 the @samp{last_break} register, whose width depends on the addressing
43269 mode, as well as the @samp{system_call} register, which is always
43272 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.tdb} feature is optional. It should
43273 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{tdb0}, @samp{tac}, @samp{tct},
43274 @samp{atia}, and @samp{tr0} through @samp{tr15}.
43276 @node TIC6x Features
43277 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
43278 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
43279 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
43280 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
43281 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
43282 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
43284 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
43285 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
43286 through @samp{B31}.
43288 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
43289 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
43291 @node Operating System Information
43292 @appendix Operating System Information
43293 @cindex operating system information
43299 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
43300 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
43301 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
43302 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
43303 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
43304 on a different aspect of target.
43306 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
43307 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
43308 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
43309 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
43312 @appendixsection Process list
43313 @cindex operating system information, process list
43315 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
43316 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
43317 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
43318 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
43320 An example document is:
43323 <?xml version="1.0"?>
43324 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
43325 <osdata type="processes">
43327 <column name="pid">1</column>
43328 <column name="user">root</column>
43329 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
43330 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
43335 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
43336 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
43337 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
43338 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
43339 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
43340 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
43341 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
43343 @node Trace File Format
43344 @appendix Trace File Format
43345 @cindex trace file format
43347 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
43348 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
43350 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
43351 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
43352 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
43355 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
43356 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
43357 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
43358 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
43359 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
43362 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
43364 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
43365 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
43366 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
43367 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
43368 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
43369 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
43370 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
43373 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
43376 @item R @var{bytes}
43377 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
43378 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
43379 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
43380 hexadecimal encoding.
43382 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
43383 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
43384 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
43385 @var{length} bytes.
43387 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
43388 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
43389 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
43393 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
43396 @node Index Section Format
43397 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
43398 @cindex .gdb_index section format
43399 @cindex index section format
43401 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
43402 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
43403 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
43406 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
43407 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
43408 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
43409 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
43410 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
43411 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
43413 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
43417 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
43418 unless otherwise noted:
43422 The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
43423 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
43424 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
43425 and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
43426 symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
43427 (@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
43428 compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
43430 @value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
43431 by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
43432 GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
43433 currently not flagged as deprecated.
43436 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
43439 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
43440 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
43441 to the next offset.
43444 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
43447 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
43450 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
43454 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
43455 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
43456 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
43457 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
43458 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
43459 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
43460 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
43464 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
43465 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
43466 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
43467 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
43470 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
43471 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
43475 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
43478 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
43479 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
43482 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
43486 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
43487 the hash table is always a power of 2.
43489 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
43490 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
43491 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
43494 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
43495 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
43496 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
43498 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
43499 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
43500 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
43501 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
43506 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
43508 @item Versions 5 to 7
43509 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
43512 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
43514 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
43515 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
43516 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
43517 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
43520 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
43521 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
43522 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
43526 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
43527 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
43530 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
43531 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
43532 Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
43533 the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
43534 CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
43535 See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
43537 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
43540 Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
43541 If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
43542 CU index+attributes value for each use.
43544 The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
43550 This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
43552 These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
43554 The kind of the symbol in the CU.
43558 This value is reserved and should not be used.
43559 By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
43560 with previous versions of the index.
43562 The symbol is a type.
43564 The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
43566 The symbol is a function.
43568 Any other kind of symbol.
43570 These values are reserved.
43574 This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
43576 The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
43577 The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
43578 @value{GDBN} sources.
43582 This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
43583 global/static attributes in the index.
43586 is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
43587 language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
43590 case DW_TAG_typedef:
43591 case DW_TAG_base_type:
43592 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
43596 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
43598 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43600 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
43602 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
43604 case DW_TAG_constant:
43606 is_static = ! is_external;
43608 case DW_TAG_variable:
43610 is_static = ! is_external;
43612 case DW_TAG_namespace:
43616 case DW_TAG_class_type:
43617 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
43618 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
43619 case DW_TAG_union_type:
43620 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
43622 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43630 @appendix Manual pages
43634 * gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
43635 * gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
43636 * gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
43637 * gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
43643 @c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
43645 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
43646 gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
43647 [@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
43648 [@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
43649 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
43650 [@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
43651 [@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
43652 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
43653 [@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
43656 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
43657 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
43658 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
43659 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
43661 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
43662 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
43666 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
43669 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
43672 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
43675 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
43676 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
43679 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
43682 @value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
43683 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
43684 command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
43685 by using the command @code{help}.
43687 You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
43688 usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
43689 executable program as the argument:
43695 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
43701 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
43702 to debug a running process:
43710 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
43711 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
43712 With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
43714 Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
43716 @c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
43718 @item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
43719 Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
43721 @item run [@var{arglist}]
43722 Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
43725 Backtrace: display the program stack.
43727 @item print @var{expr}
43728 Display the value of an expression.
43731 Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
43734 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
43735 function calls in the line.
43737 @item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43738 look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
43740 @item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43741 type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
43744 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
43745 function calls in the line.
43747 @item help [@var{name}]
43748 Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
43749 about using @value{GDBN}.
43752 Exit from @value{GDBN}.
43756 For full details on @value{GDBN},
43757 see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43758 by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
43759 as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
43763 @c man begin OPTIONS gdb
43764 Any arguments other than options specify an executable
43765 file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
43766 encountered with no
43767 associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
43768 if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
43770 both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
43771 recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
43772 present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
43773 arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
43774 more usual convention.)
43776 All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
43777 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
43783 List all options, with brief explanations.
43785 @item -symbols=@var{file}
43786 @itemx -s @var{file}
43787 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
43790 Enable writing into executable and core files.
43792 @item -exec=@var{file}
43793 @itemx -e @var{file}
43794 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
43795 appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
43798 @item -se=@var{file}
43799 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
43802 @item -core=@var{file}
43803 @itemx -c @var{file}
43804 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
43806 @item -command=@var{file}
43807 @itemx -x @var{file}
43808 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
43810 @item -ex @var{command}
43811 Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
43813 @item -directory=@var{directory}
43814 @itemx -d @var{directory}
43815 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
43818 Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
43822 Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
43826 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
43827 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
43830 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
43831 files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
43832 Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
43833 commands in the command files.
43835 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
43836 download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
43837 more useful, the message
43840 Program exited normally.
43844 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
43845 terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
43847 @item -cd=@var{directory}
43848 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
43849 instead of the current directory.
43853 Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
43854 @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
43855 recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
43856 includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
43857 like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
43858 and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
43859 Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
43860 characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
43863 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
43864 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
43866 @item -tty=@var{device}
43867 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
43871 @c man begin SEEALSO gdb
43873 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43874 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43875 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43882 should give you access to the complete manual.
43884 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43885 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43889 @node gdbserver man
43890 @heading gdbserver man
43892 @c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
43894 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
43895 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43897 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43899 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43903 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
43904 @command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
43905 than the one which is running the program being debugged.
43908 @subheading Usage (server (target) side)
43911 Usage (server (target) side):
43914 First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
43915 the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
43916 @command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
43917 the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
43919 To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
43920 program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
43921 your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
43924 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
43927 For example, using a serial port, you might say:
43931 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
43932 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
43935 target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
43939 This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
43940 to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
43941 waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
43943 To use a TCP connection, you could say:
43946 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
43949 This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
43950 going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
43951 that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
43952 2345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
43953 want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
43954 ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
43955 @value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
43956 you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
43957 print an error message and exit.
43959 @command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
43960 This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
43963 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43966 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43967 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43969 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43970 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
43971 In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
43972 the program you want to debug.
43975 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43979 @subheading Usage (host side)
43985 You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
43986 @value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
43987 would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
43988 @option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
43989 That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
43990 new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
43991 (or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
43992 a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
43993 descriptor. For example:
43997 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
43998 (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
44001 (gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
44006 communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
44009 (gdb) target remote the-target:2345
44013 communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
44014 you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
44015 TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
44016 command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
44017 `Connection refused'.
44019 @command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
44022 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
44023 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
44026 @ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
44028 In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
44031 (gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
44034 The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
44038 @c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
44039 There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
44044 Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
44047 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
44050 The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
44051 with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
44052 a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
44053 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
44054 debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
44055 program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
44056 connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
44059 Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
44063 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
44066 The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
44067 of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
44068 else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
44069 @value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
44072 Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
44075 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
44078 In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
44079 command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
44080 close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
44081 debug several processes in the same session.
44084 In each of the modes you may specify these options:
44089 List all options, with brief explanations.
44092 This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
44095 @command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
44098 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
44101 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
44102 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
44105 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
44106 or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
44107 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
44108 the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
44111 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
44115 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
44117 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
44120 @item --remote-debug
44121 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
44122 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
44126 Specify a wrapper to launch programs
44127 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
44128 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
44129 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
44132 By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
44133 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
44134 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
44135 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
44137 @c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
44139 @c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
44140 @c QDisableRandomization.
44145 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
44147 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44148 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44149 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44155 should give you access to the complete manual.
44157 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44158 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44165 @c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
44168 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
44169 gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
44173 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
44174 Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
44175 Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
44176 crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
44177 limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
44178 running without any change.
44181 @c man begin OPTIONS gcore
44183 @item -o @var{filename}
44184 The optional argument
44185 @var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
44186 If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
44187 where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
44191 @c man begin SEEALSO gcore
44193 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44194 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44195 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44202 should give you access to the complete manual.
44204 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44205 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44212 @c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
44215 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
44216 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
44217 @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
44226 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
44227 These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
44228 @value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
44231 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
44232 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
44238 Please read more in
44240 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
44241 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
44248 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
44249 @item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
44251 @ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
44252 @item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
44254 System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
44255 @value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
44258 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
44259 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
44262 @ref{System-wide configuration}.
44266 User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
44267 @value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
44270 Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
44271 @value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
44274 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
44275 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
44278 @ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
44283 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
44285 gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
44287 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44288 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44289 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44295 should give you access to the complete manual.
44297 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44298 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44304 @node GNU Free Documentation License
44305 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
44308 @node Concept Index
44309 @unnumbered Concept Index
44313 @node Command and Variable Index
44314 @unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
44319 % I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
44321 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
44322 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
44323 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
44324 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
44325 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
44326 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
44327 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
44328 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
44329 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
44331 % Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.